Most external phono stages usually do and these project budget preamp are remarkably well performing units for the money. These main members of the box variety of electronic equipment have not proved unimpressive with some innovative attributes. From cd players to speakers and most everything in between, in multiple lines ranging from the e line, c line, s line, ds line, and rs line in ascending price order. Jan 14, 20 stepping into the pro ject room in the venetian i spied an entire wall of little boxesliterally dozens of them. The dealer also said he played around with the tube box ds when it came in and had problems getting the controls working properly until he called project and discovered that the documentation stated to do the opposite of what needs to be done to get everything working properly. Part 2 phono stage comparison project tube box ds and ear. The speed box ds performs this change by the push of a button between 33 and 45 rpm. Repeating the test using the usb feed from my roon core a nuc. I have a vpi classic turntable with a ortofon 2m blue. It offers full support for the highest resolution of digital formats and features a. Based around the same ak4490 da converter as the new dac box ds2 ultra, the pre box ds2 digital accommodates usb, optical and coaxial inputs for playback of high resolution music files upto 32bit 768 khz pcm and dsd256 dop.
Boasting exceptional performance and flexibility with almost any mm or mc cartridge, and a subsonic filter that prevents ultra low rumble below 20hz, makes the project phono box ds the best choice in its price class. Pair it with a compact usb dac like projects pre box s2 and you have a very nice, smallfootprint digital source for streamed and locally stored music. The case size is identical to the maia cd allowing them to be used together as i did in one of the box designs cases see system photo above giving a proper hifi system thats about the same size as a hardback edition of lord of the rings for those of you that actually bothered to read it and didnt just watch the films. Norbert schmied, from the companys us representatives, sumiko, handily pointed me toward the dacs and streamers. The ak4490 from asahi kasei microdevices is a highend converter with five digital filters builtin for further.
Cambridge azur, project phono box s and moon 110lp. Mar 21, 2018 that extends to just how easy project makes it to transfer your vinyl to digital files theres no necessity to install a driver, so just download some recording software free from the internet, plug in the usb and away you go and the sound quality of the files in line with the phono box usb vs innate performance. The massive metal casing is elegant and effectively protects. The newest offering in the rs variety pitches into a region that is rather less of a project comfort zone. View and download boxdesign project tube box ds instructions for use online. If youve invested in a quality turntable, to get the best sound youll really need a dedicated phono preamp, such the project phono box ds. Boxdesign project tube box ds instructions for use pdf. Project may be best known for their turntables, but they offer a dizzying array of products through their box designs line as well. But, the company has a whole range of electronic components under its box design range of which this, the project box design streambox ds, is part at only 20cm wide, its narrower than its peers and has a much smaller footprint, making it easy to accommodate in an overcrowded. The dac box ds is the least good looking here by some way compared to the meridian director, for example, it looks like it has come from a previous century with its fussy display and blocky appearance. Apr 18, 2014 this video is about pro ject speedbox test on music hall mmf5. Using hiquality, quartz regulation and filtered circuitry, motor speed is regulated for better stability, silky smooth operation and low noise into the drive motor.
For the first time all setup options can be made from the front panel display, making fidgety dipswitches or jumpers obsolete. It offers full support for the highest resolution of digital formats and features a phono input. In order to achieve maximum performance and reliability you should study these instruction manual carefully. Add to this the entire fiasco surrounding dab digital radio as well as the fact this is an alternative reason why a digital streaming device of some kind makes perfect sense, and that its just as easy to locate a better. Lab points audiophilegrade phono preamp allows you to plug a turntable directly into a stereo system, amplifier, computer, or any other device that takes line level input gold plated rca inputs and outputs high quality metal casing offers shielding from both vibration and electromagnetic interference new green dc po. Theres a lot to get your head around with project audio systems audio hardware. Pro ject puts the money into the circuit parts instead of into big metal box.
Pre box ds2 digital fulfills every need the modern audiophile has. Oct 07, 2019 with a nod to the past, plus the benefit of some 28 years experience of design and manufacturing, project launches its most refined sub. Yes, either the pro ject tube box s or ds will greatly outperform the builtin phono section of whats currently in your amp. Apr 25, 2012 project box design stream box ds rear view. Features include 24192 spdif, toslink and async usb as well as pcm. Apr 12, 2016 cambridge azur, pro ject phono box s and moon 110lp. My unhappy project phono box ds experience vinyl engine.
Designed and engineered to the highest of standards for a superior sound, its highlights include selected amplifier modules, audiophilegrade capacitors and smd surface mount device implementation. Project products are available at tong lee, low yat plaza, kuala lumpur. The schiit dac will also be more plugandplay than the project, the schiit includes an external linear psu, and as i mentioned in another thread projects current ability to support the pre box s2 digital leaves much to be desired. Ive been umming and arghing about getting the project tubebox ds to replace my project phono box mkii but i am now wondering whether its just worth paying the extra.
This precision tube phono preamplifier benefits from outstanding circuit. Ive outlined a few software and networking issues, but i. Nov 11, 2014 the project box ds cd player was used as a transport driving the chord hugo. Linnenberg vivace lynx hilo phatlab audio phantasy. Project phono box ds phono preamp black audio advice.
Ive outlined a few software and networking issues, but i dont think any of them is a dealbreaker. Project audio head box ds da converter and headphone amp. Lab points audiophilegrade phono preamp allows you to plug a turntable directly into a stereo system, amplifier, computer, or any other device that takes line level input gold plated rca inputs and outputs high quality metal casing offers shielding from both vibration and. While projects streambox ds may be a handy size, we found it lacking in its ability to deliver the goods tested. Maia ds is futureproof and can be upgraded with maia power box ds for almost double power power box maia ds acts as one power supply solution and powers up to 5 project products, like cd, streamer and turntable. Hazard warning for the user, the unit or possible misuse important notice.
Theyre best known for their turntables but this austrian company also make boxdesign electronics small price, smaller form factor. It also tells us that the noise floor is 89db for the mm setting and 79db for the mc. In addition to a highquality, durable drive is essential for the perfect cd playback as well. New records, old records, they all sound layered with more detail and depth than i thought my rig had in it. Yes, either the project tube box s or ds will greatly outperform the builtin phono section of whats currently in your amp. The project box ds cd player was used as a transport driving the chord hugo.
Dac pro ject dac box ds this austrian brand is mostly famous for its turntables and it still makes a wide range of competitive designs. Project tube box ds2 premium phono preamplifier with tube output and highend sound. This dac sits in the middle of projects range and is designed and built in the eu. The upnp support is par for the course, and theres a screwin aerial to fit on the back of the unit for wireless connectivity, which is a welcome addition to the wired ethernet option. As bad as the obviously defective phono box ds unit sounded, the tube box s sounds tremendous. Project dac box ds2 ultra, plus classic and vte r vte l turntables p ro ject audio systems came out big and strong at high end 2016, and for very good reason.
Luxman c12 preamp, hafler 220 amp, avid 102 speakers. Project pre box s2 digital impression thread page 3. The cd box ds as well as cd box s is designed exclusively for playing audio cds on the red book standard by philips and is in this discipline, a true master of his trade. Boasting exceptional performance and flexibility with almost any mm or mc cartridge, and a subsonic filter that prevents ultra low rumble below 20hz, makes the pro ject phono box ds the best choice in its price class. The project stream box ds front panel presents a single button. It works very well as a cd transport, and oh yes it is a pretty good cd player too. A 12volt trigger switch option is also provided so other components connected to the pre box ds can be power activated at the same time. Project dac box ds2 ultra, plus classic and vte r vte l. Simpletouse, high quality sound, astonishing value, longterm stability and good service. The project audio head box ds is a great compact dacamp that can. Project cd box ds2 transport noir lecteurs cd sur son.
Projects stream box s2 ultra is a nifty little product with lots of applications. Projects speed box ds offers a simple upgrade to your turntable, giving it precision speed control for pitch perfect playback. The speed box ds is a very useful accessory for many pro ject turntables that do not offer a builtin electronic speed change. Pro ject s dac box ds2 ultra is very compact and surprisingly affordable, due to the amazing efficiency of the design box series concept. My unhappy project phono box ds experience steve hoffman. Project puts the money into the circuit parts instead of into big metal box. Upgrade to best possible turntable performance with convenient speed changeover through keypress. But under its box design subbrand, project also sells an extensive line of. If you already own a dac box ds, you can download a free upgrade from project to add dsd capability, and all units of the dac box ds sold will now include this muchrequested feature.
Project stream box ds dear music lover, thank you for purchasing the project audio stream box ds. As far back as the mid nineties, the company made integrated amplifiers, but its only recently that the electronics range has really taken off in the uk. Stream box ds net includes powerful audiophilefeatures. Project dac box ds digital to analog converter black.
For the first time all setup options can be made from the front panel. The speed box ds is a very useful accessory for many project turntables that do not offer a builtin electronic speed change. This video is about project speedbox test on music hall mmf5. Dac project dac box ds this austrian brand is mostly famous for its turntables and it still makes a wide range of competitive designs. Here project have really pulled out the stops in the minaturisation game. The phono box ds2 usb has one of the most complete featuresets of any phono stage on the market. Stepping into the project room in the venetian i spied an entire wall of little boxesliterally dozens of them. Projects dac box ds2 ultra is very compact and surprisingly affordable, due to the amazing efficiency of the design box series concept. To date so normal, but then the pro ject begins to deviate from the standard somewhat. They had so many new products that it is nearly impossible for a humble guy like me to keep track of them all. If you are looking for a good sounding cd transport, check out the project box ds. Pro jects speed box ds offers a simple upgrade to your turntable, giving it precision speed control for pitch perfect playback. Pro ject stream box ds network player as with so a lot of matters in the whole world these days, music is going virtual.
The pre box s2 digital goes for 349 euro, does mqa and dsd and takes in usb, coax, and optical signals. That extends to just how easy project makes it to transfer your vinyl to digital files theres no necessity to install a driver, so just download some recording software free from the internet, plug in the usb and away you go and the sound quality of the files in line with the phono box usb vs innate performance. Its a highly adjustable phono preamplifier for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges with analogue, digital and usb outputs, effectively allowing it to integrate into any audio system. Project phono box ds plus component phonograph preamplifier. Apr 28, 20 i need a crane to pick my jaw up off the floor. Thanks to a recent upgrade from project, the dac box ds now supports dsd audio playback at 24bit192 khz. Project phono box ds mmmc phono pre amp richer sounds. If youve invested in a quality turntable, to get the best sound youll really need a dedicated phono preamp, such the pro ject phono box ds. Project stream box s2 ultra music streamer soundstage. Most external phono stages usually do and these pro ject budget preamp are remarkably well performing units for the money.
The newest offering in the rs variety pitches into a region that is rather less of a pro ject comfort zone. Project is a name youd associate more with oldschool turntables than fancydan, streaming technology. Im using in the mm position with 40db gain and the 167 pf capacitance setting which is perfect for the vast majority of mm cartridges one is likely to use with this. Yesterday i picked up a new project phono box ds and was looking forward to not only the possibility of slightly better sound than my trusty old cambridge audio 640p no complaints about its sound really but especially the adjustments since the 640p is rather inflexible with its 220pfonly capacitance for mm and 100ohmonly impedance for mc. The pre box ds is designed to sit perfectly with the amp box ds or amp box ds mono power amplifiers to offer a rich, detailed, true hifi performance.