Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B Balanced Phono Preamplifier
The Tube Boxes have been an integral part of Pro-Ject's product portfolio for many years. Now, the Tube Box DS3 B adds balanced in and outputs to the beloved tube amplification. This precision tube phono preamplifier benefits from outstanding circuit technology from Dr. Sykora and uses high grade components throughout.
Connect your turntable either with the 5-pin mini XLR cable or standard XLR cables and profit from the balanced signal transmission. Symmetrical, also called balanced, transmissions consist of a hot and a cold (also called + and -) signal. Both signal chains effectively carry the same musical information. The Tube Box DS3 B can extract the final musical information out of the +/- signals and remove all noise that was potentially added along the transmission.
All components including tube output and polypropylene capacitors are audiophile grade and guarantee a breathtaking sound experience.
Cartridge Loading Options: You can connect two turntables at the same time & easily set every parameter on the front panel. Each input's settings are stored in the memory.
Large ranges from 40dB up to 65dB are possible. You can perfectly match it with a wide variety of cartridges and integrate it into the rest of your hi-fi system, matching the volume levels accurately to other sources like CD players or streaming devices.
Load impedance can be set continuously via potentiometer, a system invented by Pro-Ject Audio Systems. It allows you to seamlessly adjust the impedance during playback and immediately assess the impact of different loading options. This is necessary to find just the right load impedance for your cartridge. No other manufacturers implement this feature in this extreme way.
E88CC Vacuum Tubes: The E88CC tubes perform with low noise and microphonics. Enjoy the detailed low end paired with warm highs.
External Power Supply: The Tube Box DS3 B is powered from an external adapter. It is important to keep all the parts which can radiate electromagnetic fields out of the amplifier range. This is the reason why Pro-Ject use an outboard power supply. Due to legal requirements, this power supply must be a switch mode type with guaranteed stand-by mode power consumption 0.1W.
An outboard power supply with linear construction is even better, because it can offer much cleaner power. When you want to manufacture such clean and really high-end power supplies, you have to use a transformer with a very low core saturation and preferably with shielding between primary and secondary windings.
Made in Europe: The Tube Box DS3 B is carefully designed and handmade in Europe using high-quality materials.
Our Take On The Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B
The Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B Balanced Phono Preamplifier combines the timeless allure of tube amplification with modern advancements in audio technology. Designed to extract the finest musical details, it offers balanced XLR inputs and outputs for pristine signal transmission, eliminating noise effectively through symmetrical signal processing. With dual mono design, precise RIAA equalisation, and compatibility with both MM and MC cartridges, it ensures unmatched flexibility. The innovative potentiometer allows seamless adjustment of load impedance during playback, enhancing the performance of your turntable cartridges. Audiophile-grade components, including E88CC vacuum tubes and polypropylene capacitors, deliver a rich, warm sound with exceptional clarity. Built in Europe with a durable aluminium casing, the Tube Box DS3 B is available in silver or black, providing style and substance for high-end audio systems.
We think that the Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B would be attractive even if you only wanted to use it in single ended mode. It is beautifully constructed, has low-noise tubes to amplify the signal in a beautiful natural way, can accept both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges and has all the settings to help them sound their absolute best. And then you get to the main reason this model is such a knockout. It also offers True Balanced Connection when used with a Balanced Turntable like the Pro-Ject X2 B equipped with a moving coil cartridge. All you need is the Connect It Phono S Mini XLR Balanced Cable to connect the turntable to this phono preamp. You can then connect to your amplifier via RCA or balanced XLR cables, the latter being the obvious preference for a true balanced connection.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Valve/Tube MM/MC Phono Preamplifier with True Balanced Connection
- Tubes: 2x E88CC / 6922
- 5-pin Balanced Mini XLR input
- Single Ended RCA & Balanced XLR inputs
- Single Ended RCA & Balanced XLR outputs
- Precise RIAA Equalisation
- Ultra-Low Noise Circuitry
- Easy Settings Adjustment on the Faceplate
- MM & MC Capable
- Dual Mono Design
- Continuously Variable Input Impedance Loading
- Most precise MC Cartridge Matching
- Superior Low Noise / Low Distortion Design
- Trigger In and Out
- Aluminium Casing Protects against Interference
- Input Impedance: Stepless 10 – 1,000 Ohms or fixed 47k Ohms
- Input Capacitance: 50, 150, 300, 400 pF
- Gain (+ 6dB using XLR Out): 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 dB
- Output Voltage Typically: 500 mV/1kHz at 5mV/1kHz (at 40dB)
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 104dBV, 87dBV – 'A' weighted
- THD: < 0.03%
- RIAA-Equalization Curve Accuracy: +/- 0.5dB / 20Hz - 20kHz
- Subsonic Filter: at 20Hz with 18dB/octave
- Inputs: One 5-pin Mini XLR, One pair RCA Phono Sockets, One pair Balanced XLR
- Line-level Outputs: One pair Single Ended RCA, One pair Balanced XLR
- Trigger In/Out: 12V on/off detector
- Power Supply DC: 18V/500mA
- Power Consumption: 18V/max. 290mA DC, <0.5 W in standby
- Designed & Handmade in Europe
- Available Finishes: Black, Silver
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 206 x 70 x 194 (205 with sockets) mm
- Weight: 1.56 kg without power supply
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
- Lean more about ProJect
Note: All Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.