Pro-Ject Phono Box S phonostage review - mega-shootout

*Pro-Ject Phono Box S*
BASS
DYNAMICS 3
EXTENSION 5
CONTROL, DEFINITION 4

TREBLE
DETAIL REFINEMENT 5
EXTENSION 5

MIDRANGE
NATURALNESS 3
SIBILANCE-FREE 4

TONALITY & HARMONICS 4
DETAIL & CLARITY 4
IMAGING 4
SOUNDSTAGING 4
RHYTHM AND TIMING 4

OVERALL SCORE FOR Pro-Ject Phono Box S = 49/120.

*Emotiva XPS-1*
BASS
DYNAMICS 5
EXTENSION 3
CONTROL, DEFINITION 2

TREBLE
DETAIL REFINEMENT 4
EXTENSION 5

MIDRANGE
NATURALNESS 4
SIBILANCE-FREE 4

TONALITY & HARMONICS 4
DETAIL & CLARITY 4
IMAGING 4
SOUNDSTAGING 4
RHYTHM AND TIMING 4

OVERALL SCORE FOR Emotiva XPS-1 = 47/120.
************
Dear Friends, this is the mega 8-phonostages shootout-and-review series.
Carrying on from the GroupA ($70-80) and GroupB ($90-120) cartridges shootout and reviews in the past few months,
I have now proceeded, as promised 3 months ago, to bring forth this review series so as to rigorously compare and find out:
Of these more AFFORDABLE phono stages, which are the ones THAT WILL really bring us the VINYL ANALOGUE magic, dynamics and beauty? :-D

Actually I have started preparing for this mega phonostage shootout since eight months ago, January 2016.
Three of them were kindly lent to me by a few of my friends.
The other FIVE, :-D I bought them with my own monies.
Though costly, this has been my sincerest wish to do this at my own sacrifice for all of you.

Preparing, running in (each is runned-in for at least 150hours each), and testing & auditioning them against one another has been hard work. It has also been enjoyable, and interesting to realise many amazing findings!!!

A total of SIX cartridges were used throughout the testing:
***the top two performing carts from GroupA ($70-80): the Grado Black, and the Goldring Elan
***the top three performing carts from GroupB ($90-120): the Nagaoka MP-110, the Goldring Elektra, and the Grado Green.
and the fourth performing cart from GroupB, and the one ubiquitously deployed in many Pro-Ject turntables: the Ortofon 2M Red.

Other equipment used in my capacity:
Avid Sequel turntable with SME V arm, Technics SL1200Mk5 (with Furutech Monza LP stabilizer and Herbie’s Way Excellent Mat),
Shunyata Hydra Triton and cabling throughout,
Vitus RI-100 integrated amplifier, B&W804D speakers, and Dali Kubik Free + Kubik Extra stereo active speakers.

The eight phono stages in this review series proudly are:
From Austria:
1...PRO-JECT PHONO BOX S,
From the U.K.:
2…CAMBRIDGE AUDIO 651P,
3…GRAHAM SLEE GRAM AMP 2 SPECIAL EDITION,
4…REGA FONO MM MK2,
5…MUSICAL FIDELITY V90-LPS,
and from the U.S.:
6…U-Turn Pluto,
7…Schiit Mani,
8…Emotiva XPS-1.

Let’s go my friends!!!

Vinyl lives,
ian :-D

***********

Music Attribution:

[IvanDSM]

Martin is right! This preamp does sound like cheap MP3s! Thanks for the very well thought out video, Ian! I especially liked your commentary on 3:42, it makes sense that excess around the 500hz range would make the sound muddy. You're helping a lot of people with these videos!

[oldschoolaudioenthusiast]

Looking forward to the 2nd and 1st tier evaluations! Anxious to find out how my U-Turn Pluto did in your testing. Thanks for everything you do in support of our vinyl passion! Take care and be well my friend.

[dixielandfarm]

I am not surprised by this - in general, I find the more I read about Project products online the more it seems to be a bit of emperors clothes and not quite up to the hype received in audiophile circles.

[steventing]

Hi Ian,

Glad to see you're back in action. Thanks for the review.

[marktose]

Thanks so much for all the time you are taking to compare the phono stages.  Just completed a test of the Phono Box S myself this week and your descriptions of the sound put into words what I cannot!  Definitely agree with your assessment!  I tried different settings with the switches for my MM cartridge, but could never get the sound I was looking for, especially in the upper midrange to treble region.  Looking forward to learning more about "Tier II" next week.  Hope all is well in Singapore!  Your friend in vinyl,     "Big T"

[kawada]

Great review. This is one that is available at a local record shop that I was thinking of picking. Glad this review tells me otherwise. Eagerly waiting for the winner of this shootout. Best regards!

[oryandunn]

Hey Ian, Thanks for all the reviews.  I can't imagine how time consuming it is!  I can't wait to hear about the Mani and the Pluto.I'm curious if you'll be going to the F1 race this weekend.  If I had the means, the Singapore GP would be very high on my list of events to attend.

[margroningen]

Thanks for posting this. I guess I'll have to look for an better Phono box (with USB), since I espect the Project BoX USB sibbling will be more of the same.

[SupraWes]

Excellent review as always Ian. Well my current preamp didn't fall into this 3rd tier so that is a good thing, I guess we will find it's fate in the coming weeks. Thank you for the time and detail you put into these, cheers!

[CSari-poey]

Fantastic review as usual. Waiting for the rest to be post.

[yunkie]

Very nice description and explanation of the items, even for this Midwestern white boy!

[marcusl]

Looking forward to your review of the Schiit Mani as I'm considering getting one of those :)

[dacman]

I'm disappointed I didn't find this video earlier. I just got the Phono Box S.... It's better than the built in phono eq of my TEAC TN-300 though... I guess I'll upgrade later.

[the_last_song]

Can't wait to find out what the best one of those preamps is. Thanks for all your effort! :-)

[Edcarpenter]

Great job, as usual. My question is, can the differences in these phono preamps be heard on a humble system consisting of a NAD 316bee amp and a Pro Ject Carbon turntable with Ortophon 2M Blue cartridge? Also, looking forward to your take on the U Turn Pluto. Will that be coming soon? Much thanks.

[MrMrpony]

Love the anechoic chamber comment 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

I’m curious about the project tube s2 🤔

[Shuddersfield]

Hi ian, thanks once again for your efforts. It's invaluable for us vinyl freaks to get honest reviews from someone just like us. I can't remember if I asked if you will be reviewing more expensive preamps in the future? I can understand if you won't as you re paying for this yourself. You're one in a million Ian, thanks :))

[Elizabethandfamily]

I am spinning Erik Clapton August on my TT with my 1982 audio technica at155lc cart and my fab phono pre schiit mani good day mr Ian

[vs_]

What do you think about art dj i i? I have entry level teac 180 bt and looking for not expensive phonocorrector up to 50$ or so. What would you recommend?

[arielrodriguez]

Can you review the Project phono tube box S2?