Pro-Ject has launched two new valve-based phono stages with the Tube Box E and Tube Box S3 B.
The Tube Box E takes inspiration from the Tube Box S2 but is built with more affordable components for its lower (£240) price point. While at the other end of the scale, the new Tube Box S3 B adds balanced technology, a larger chassis and upgraded components to deliver a premium experience for £529.
The Tube Box E caters for both moving-magnet (MM) and moving-coil (MC) cartridges and features a fully discrete, dual-mono design (without using op-amps) for lower noise while also being more easily maintained over time thanks to replaceable valves, allowing users to upgrade them later on. There’s also a subsonic filter on offer alongside settings for tuning capacitance and impedance.
Also valve-based, the Tube Box S3 B boasts a fully symmetrical and discrete gain stage, which when paired with a balanced-ready turntable via its 5-Pin Mini XLR input, maintains a balanced signal path throughout. Add to this a wide range of gain, capacitance (MM) and impedance (MC) options within its aluminium enclosure plus the option to connect two turntables, and its price tag seems more than justified.
