Getting back my Vinyl Sound with a Pro-Ject Tube Box S Phono Preamplifier

This video isn't just a simple review of the Tube Box S - It's more to do with watching me go through a process of elimination, trying to find out why my vinyl didn't sound like vinyl anymore before finally making things right again by dropping £300 on a Phono Pre-Amp. Yes, it's expensive, but you'll find that expensive things usually are. ;-) Purchasing links below: CLICK SHOW MORE

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[voltvids]

You know why that preamp is humming?... It doesn't know the words! :)

[rupertcooper]

Hi there! Great video! Just one thing. When powering on an audio system, the last thing to be turned on should always be the amplifier (typically sources, then equalizers, then amplifiers). That way transient pops are prevented from hitting the delicate speakers downstream. Professional audio systems often incorporate a sequencer that turns on the devices one by one automatically.

[brunster]

I personally love the "convoluted" process of playing and listening to music on older equipment. I love the whole process of turning this knob, then that, pressing a series of buttons etc etc. My wife however says my set up is a pile of old crap as she can't operate it. So I brought a Vortexbox and Squeezebox so she could have all her CD's available on demand. This also is a pile of crap as the choice of music is so overwhelming she cant work out what to select.
So she has now brought a portable CD player ghettoblaster sort of thing which she can operate and leaves my "old crap" alone. Sorted.

[TheRealMrCods]

Haha reminds me of my brothers stereo system. Was like starting up a spacecraft with all the switches.

[lbochtler]

I looked at the schematic of the Pioneer Receiver, and well the problem is most likley dried up electrolytic capacitors in the signal path of the phono preamp. I would recommend replacing them with same value WIMA MKS2 capacitors, and call it a day. I had similar happen to the phono preamp in a amp i worked on, and replacing the caps fixed the issue. Also, you would be amazed at what new caps can do in terms of sound in vintage gear. I replaced the caps in almost all my optonica amps, and they sound many times better now.

If you do it yourself, i would recommend getting a desoldering station / gun, as it will not damage the circuit boards.
Also, the same thing happened in a pioneer receiver that is awaiting restoration, its a SX780. Its preamp is built different, but it still has a electrolytic cap directly in the low voltage signal path (straight after the cartridge)

[Vintagesoundz]

Great video, one tip for anyone into hifi, always switch on the amp last and then switch off the amp first when turning it all off. had it before where you turn on the amp then turn on everything else and you can get a nasty pop through the speakers. Always follow the procedure when powering up and down: always switch on the amp last and then switch off the amp.

[McRocket]

I sincerely hope your hearing problems are soon rectified fully.

[dgetzin]

You have a high output moving coil cartridge! How exotic. The fact that your preamp can accomodate this spec is part of the huge improvement in sound.

[JerryEricsson]

Years ago, I found a Pioneer PL-50 turntable. Now I had one exactly like that when I was overseas, but had to sell it when I left to come home, so this was a thrilling find. When it arrived, I found the belt from the belt drive had lost it;s ability to drive the table so I replaced that, and a bit of oil brought the old unit back to life. The cartridge was like new but my current stereo system had no phono in, so I got a cheap adapter and tried that. Like yours mine put an almighty buzz on the output and even adding larger caps to the PS didn't help much. So one day I saw an old SONY receiver for sale on Ebay, a few bids and that was mine. WOW did that make a difference. This is a complete amp/receiver in one. I never looked up her wattage, but she can drive two sets of speakers, one has 18 inch woofers, the other mid-range and tweeters. The tunes that hit my old ears sound a bit like they did before I left most of my hearing in the jungles of Vietnam. Hearing aides, they say will not bring it all back, but the ones the VA gives me do make a huge difference. Now the problem is, I am getting to lazy to get up and play records any more, and since I have most of the music on MP3's and my hearing aides are bluetooth, I can send the music to my ears from my laptop. Nothing compared to the big system, but at least I get to hear the tunes and that, to my old ears brings back the days before the war, when all I cared about was music, beer and broads.

[middle_pickup]

Praying for your hearing. I would be crushed to lose my ears! Thanks for the video; great info!

[Telssa]

I have a Tube Box S similar to his, but with gain buttons. I think it makes a worthwhile difference, prompting me to buy an Ortofon 2m bronze cartridge. Improvements are not massive, but are discernable, and the enjoyment has been greater. The tube box is a good introduction to valves.

[prestonrenify]

Wow, can't help but wonder how you have time to create so many super reviews. Thanks again. I have all the albums you leafed through. No equipment presently, but still have my albums. I used to be a serious audiophile in the 60s & 70s.

[slashtiger]

Good choice. My amplifier is the Sony STR-DB1070 stereo receiver (i.e. it has a built-in tuner, for those of you who didn't grasp that) from the early 2000s. It still came with a built-in phono pre-stage, and it sounds great to me. So, as long as this amp remains in service, so will the phono pre-stage. However, whenever I do switch to a different amp, this Project may well be one of the options I'd consider for being able to play my records.

By the way, for those of you interested: I have a Technics SL-1200mkII turntable which I use with a Stanton Stanton 500EE MkII cartridge.

[scott]

The Rolling Stones cover had me laughing. Can't believe they added a real zipper.

[apersonthingy]

I was watching your new Mission Impossible video (E1) and the pioneer receiver (SX-3600) in the outro jumped right out at me. I immediately thought of videos that may feature it, then I remembered that this one showed it briefly.

The reason it really got my attention is I found the Pioneer SX-3500 (From 1980) on the curb, dirty, with the cord chopped off a while ago. I cleaned it up and gave it a new cord, re-ran the tuner string, and now it's working beautifully. I never noticed before that you basically have the same machine. It's in very good condition, and it even shines in the light. The window almost looks like it isn't there because it's so clear. I was almost shocked to see that you have it.

It's a fantastic machine, I absolutely love it. Luckily, the Pre-amp in mine is still working beautifully.

The only difference I see between the two is the SX-3600 has two tape monitors, and the 3500 only has one.

I love it so much that it's the only piece of audio equipment I've found so far (I've found quite a few gems) that I've decided I don't want to get rid of in the foreseeable future.

The only thing I wish it had was more power. The 3500 is only 20 watts per channel, and it looks like the 3600 is the same (judging by the VU meters).

Within the last month, I replaced my old speakers and receiver with some Sherwood stuff. While the speakers in that system are INCREDIBLE, I feel as if the receiver in the new system, despite being several years newer, significantly more powerful AND having a 5 band graphic equalizer, still doesn't sound anywhere near as good. DEFINITELY hold on to that as long as you can.

I have since moved the 3500 and old speakers to the bedroom, hooked up to a turntable there.

[jameslamb]

Still running my Quad 33/303 combination, even have the matching FM3 receiver. 1960 something and still going strong. Old Dual turntable with Shure cartridge, very analogue. Glad you got yours working properly.

[Samara.Weaving]

2 videos in one day, you're spoiling us 😂😂😂😂😂

[EposVox]

Definitely a treat for yourself - it's quite expensive! Nice video.

[KingCorny]

@Techmoan the humm can be caused by unshielded chinch cables. Had the same problem. I bought a Pro-Ject turntable, came with an Ortofon 2M Red and a cheap ground/ chinch cable combo. Replaced the cheap inclueded cables with braided cables and the humm was gone.

[mhammer]

Hello Mat. Early eighties I used to buy albums and play them as a master for reel to reel tapes and sometimes cassettes. When I would play them straight out of the jacket they had some microscopic particles that would make some noise using my Pioneer direct drive turntable. I came up with the idea to spray the record with rubbing alcohol and play it wet. I would spray enough on that you could not see the grooves, a layer that I smoothed out with the fine felt cover on the bottle. This alcohol layer took out all static and noise. If I looked real close I could see the stylus making small waves as the record revolved. The alcohol never seemed to affect the record material. I would update the spray as required while the record played because of evaporation.