Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B Phono Stage

The Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B is a high-performance MM and MC phono stage designed for premium turntable and vinyl systems. Combining Pro-Ject's True Balanced Connection technology with a fully discrete dual-mono circuit design, extensive cartridge adjustment and support for two turntables, it provides the flexibility required to get the best performance from a wide range of Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges.

The Phono Box DS3 B features a fully symmetrical and discrete gain stage, with no operational amplifiers used in the audio circuitry. This feeds a fully passive and discrete RIAA equalisation stage designed for excellent accuracy and signal integrity. Whether using conventional RCA or balanced connections, the internal architecture is designed to preserve the extremely low-level signal generated by a phono cartridge.

A major advantage of the Phono Box DS3 B is its extensive cartridge matching. Moving Coil cartridge impedance can be adjusted continuously from 10 to 1,000 Ohms, allowing loading to be fine-tuned while listening, while a fixed 47kOhm setting is provided for Moving Magnet cartridges. Capacitance can be selected between 50, 150, 300 and 400pF, while six gain settings of 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65dB accommodate cartridges with a wide range of output levels.

The Phono Box DS3 B can also connect to two turntables simultaneously. Its RCA phono input is complemented by balanced XLR and 5-pin mini-XLR inputs, while the unit remembers the impedance, capacitance and gain settings used for each input. This makes it particularly useful for systems with multiple turntables or tonearm and cartridge combinations.

Pro-Ject's True Balanced Connection system allows compatible turntables and cartridges to maintain a balanced signal path into the phono stage. Balanced XLR outputs are provided alongside conventional RCA outputs, with XLR operation adding an additional 6dB of gain to the selected setting.

A switchable 20Hz subsonic filter with an 18dB/octave slope helps control unwanted ultra-low-frequency signals caused by record warps and other sources. The electronics are housed within a rigid steel chassis surrounded by aluminium panels, helping isolate the sensitive phono circuitry from unwanted electrical interference.

With MM and MC support, True Balanced connectivity, two turntable inputs, continuously adjustable cartridge loading and fully discrete circuitry, the Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B is an advanced phono preamplifier for high-quality analogue HiFi systems.

Specifications

• Product Type – True Balanced MM/MC Phono Stage
• Cartridge Compatibility – Moving Magnet (MM) & Moving Coil (MC)
• Circuit Design – Fully Discrete, No Op-Amps
• Channel Configuration – Dual Mono
• Equalisation – Fully Passive & Discrete RIAA
• MM Input Impedance – 47kOhms
• MC Input Impedance – Continuously Variable 10–1,000 Ohms
• Input Capacitance – 50 / 150 / 300 / 400pF
• Gain Settings – 40 / 45 / 50 / 55 / 60 / 65dB
• XLR Output Gain – Selected Gain +6dB
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio – MM (40dB) – 104dBV / 111dBV A-Weighted
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio – MC (60dB) – 85dBV / 91dBV A-Weighted
• THD at 1kHz – MM – <0.001%
• THD at 1kHz – MC – <0.004%
• THD (20Hz–20kHz) – MM – <0.005%
• THD (20Hz–20kHz) – MC – <0.01%
• RIAA Accuracy – <0.25dB, 20Hz–20kHz
• Subsonic Filter – 20Hz at 18dB/Octave
• RCA Phono Input – 1 × Stereo Pair
• Balanced XLR Input – 1 × Stereo Pair
• Balanced Mini-XLR Input – 1 × 5-Pin Mini-XLR
• Unbalanced Output – 1 × Stereo RCA Pair
• Balanced Output – 1 × Stereo XLR Pair
• Trigger – 12V Trigger Input & Output
• Power Supply – 18V / 500mA DC
• Maximum Power Consumption – 18V / 290mA DC
• Standby Consumption – <0.5W
• Dimensions (W × H × D) – 206 × 72 × 194mm (205mm including sockets)
• Weight – 1.48kg without power supply

Key Features

• Premium Moving Magnet and Moving Coil phono preamplifier
• Pro-Ject True Balanced Connection technology
• Connect up to two turntables simultaneously
• Individual input settings stored in memory
• Fully symmetrical and discrete gain stage
• No operational amplifiers in the audio circuitry
• Dual-mono internal architecture
• Fully passive and discrete RIAA equalisation
• Continuously variable 10–1,000 Ohm MC impedance adjustment
• Fixed 47kOhm MM impedance
• Four selectable capacitance settings
• Six selectable gain settings
• Balanced XLR phono input
• 5-pin mini-XLR balanced phono input
• Conventional RCA phono input
• Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs
• Switchable 20Hz subsonic filter
• 12V trigger input and output
• Rigid steel chassis with aluminium outer panels
• Optional magnetic wooden side panels available separately
• Made in Europe

What's in the Box

• Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B Phono Stage
• 18V / 500mA DC Power Supply
• Product Documentation

Available Finishes

• Black
• Silver