What was surprising about the S2 was its midrange ability. Bass also improved substantially with the MC10. It was now deep with palpable presence and scale.

One-size-fits-all phono stages are one of the best today since they are easy to set up. While there are a lot of phono amplifiers, the ideal option is a versatile model offering clarity, precision, and detail. And the model that can give you all of these is the Phono Box S2. The initial impressions we had was that the Phono Box S2 is an incredibly capable device. We dropped on some vinyl and cranked it up.The kind of hi-fi system a first-time quality conscious buyer might choose. I know all about the theory of spending plenty on a signal source and skimping on the amp and speakers. But that's not the route first-time audio buyers like to travel. They'll splurge on the speakers and skimp on the rest of the gear. Take that to the bank.

Replacing both existing DS and DS+ models with a smaller, simpler design, the Phono Box S2 Ultra has adjustable loading and impedance options to offer a useful degree of setup flexibility. But the most notable aspect of the new design is that it is fully discrete, with no op-amps in the circuit. Both of these features are rare but not unheard of at the price point and the intention with both aspects is the reduction of unwanted noise. Another design feature is the use of polystyrene capacitors in key parts of the circuit and a split RIAA circuit so that it adheres closely to the recognised equalisation curve. You’ll also find the product’s features listed in front, which is essential if you’re purchasing it from a physical store. Inside, you will find the preamplifier itself. We chose the silver-coloured unit, and it looks incredibly sleek and classy.Our experience with the Phono Box S2 was great. It delivered subtle yet fantastic audio, which proves that it’s an upgrade from the previous Phono Box S. All of these were more than what we had expected from a low-budget phono amp. It has an input impedance of 10 Ohm/ 100 Ohm/ 1 kOhm / 47 kOhm. For its capacitance, it is 100pF/ 200pF/ 320pF/ 420pF. The sounds it produced let us experience a rich and emotional feel to the music. With its bass, it was calm and soothing and didn’t give off an overpowering impact. Although the unit is small, it feels solid, durable, and reliable. Also, it can accommodate the largest RCA plugs. Specifications We’re incredibly amazed at how a little phono stage can improve audio sounds in a snap. But we’re definitely not complaining. We loved everything about it.

With some speakers you might find subsonic noise causes a real problem. You’ll see the bass cones moving wildly as they struggle to reproduce inaudibly deep bass sounds. Cutting in below 20Hz, the subsonic filter protects the woofers from wear and tear and ensures the bass you do hear is less distorted. The case also comes with matte sandpaper feel while its faceplate is crafted from brushed aluminium. Do note that the area is only visible as a brushed portion when your lighting is near perfect. This simplicity starts at the S2's facia which is bereft of embellishment save for its Pro-Ject logo, model number and solitary on/off power switch.

Pro-Ject utilised the Phono Box S same amplifier modules and components for the newer S2. With that, the phono amplifier delivers excellent audio quality. Aside from that, It has a solid chassis made of layers of metal and aluminium. Switchable Input Impedance, Gain, and Capacitance Settings Now, we will focus on the design and functions of the preamplifier in this part of our Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 review.