Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 Phono Pre-amplifier

A small box that takes vinyl seriously

The Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 is a compact moving magnet and moving coil phono preamplifier built to give turntables without a phono input a proper home. A dual mono layout, audiophile-grade WIMA capacitors and precise RIAA equalisation keep records clean and detailed. Switches on the underside let you match it to almost any cartridge.

Why You'll Love It

• Fits any cartridge. Four gain levels of 40, 43, 60 and 63 dB, plus switchable input impedance and capacitance, let you dial the S2 in for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.
• Quiet where it counts. A switchable subsonic filter at -12 dB and 20 Hz trims rumble and warp noise before it reaches your speakers.
• Built to stay clean. The aluminium and metal sandwich housing shields the circuit from electromagnetic interference and vibration, so you hear the record and not the room.

Under the Hood

• Dual mono design. Left and right channels run their own amplification modules for better separation.
• Audiophile-grade parts. Polypropylene WIMA capacitors and audiophile-grade amplification modules handle the signal.
• Precise RIAA. RIAA accuracy stays within 0.4 dB across 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

CHT Insider Verdict

The Phono Box S2 is one of the easier ways to add a flexible, quiet phono stage to a system that lacks one. The wide range of gain and loading options means it will happily partner an entry cartridge today and a better one later.

Pro Tip: Set the gain to 40 or 43 dB for a moving magnet cartridge and 60 or 63 dB for a moving coil. Start low and move up until the volume matches your other sources without hiss.