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Customer Reviews

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 Vacuum tube phono preamplifier for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges (Silver)

MFR # 9120071658595

4.5 out of 5 stars
74 reviews
View this product
Nice upgrade

John S. from Cape Coral, FL on 7/3/2025

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Back in January I decided to do a major improvement to my 2 Channel stereo listening setup. I wound up going with the Rotel RA 6000 as the heart of the system and after all was said & done with speakers and other components, I was very pleased. I should also mention I upgraded my phono cartridge to the Audio Technica VM540 ML as that is a relevant point here. I was not unhappy with phono performance with the Rotel. But, I just stumbled across S2 Tube Box and thought "TUBES" why not? So, I ordered it and a 2` Audio Quest Evergreen cable which you will need as this connects between an unused input on your Receiver/Amp and your TT. Out of the box I was not really impressed with any big sonic difference. I listened to both sides of ARS "Boys from Doraville" and shut everything but the S2 down for the night. Letting the tubes cook 24 hours or so and heard the difference the next day listening to the bluesy "Treat Her Right" debut album. Knowing what I spent on the Rotel I figured it must have a decent phono pre, so I wasn`t expecting too much of an improvement but I was pleasantly surprised and only expect it to get better with use. Maybe I`ll upgrade the tubes after a bit.

Pros: Warm tube sound Small footprint Looks cool Price Lots of adjustments to fit different set ups

Cons: None yet

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0 of 0 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

DARRELL from Wichita,Ks. on 4/4/2025

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This was a perfect fit for. Cambridge AXR100,Planar 3 with a Ortofon bronze. Sounds amazing with plenty of versatility

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0 of 0 found this helpful

Everything You Want, Nothing You Don't

Pete from WEST DES MOINES, IA on 3/25/2025

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The Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 is a really fantastic sounding little phono pre. It has all the gain and load settings needed for everything from MM to finicky MC cartridges. And the tubes give it an excellent presence and shimmer. I upgraded to Gold Lion tubes which are better than the stock tubes when run in, but the stock tubes are quite excellent on their own. You won't find a better phono pre anywhere near $500.

Pros: Excellent staging and depth, very powerful and flexible, tubes sound fantastic.

Cons: Not one.

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6 of 6 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Yves from Glendale, CA on 3/18/2025

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Very pleased! Excellent upgrade to the Fosi tube phono preamp.

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0 of 0 found this helpful

Works

Skip from TOLEDO, OH on 2/12/2025

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Works. Read the instructions and get the settings right. Break it in and warm it up for use. I'm using it with Ortofon Bronze. Works better than the Yamaha AVR built in phono section. Call Crutchfield tech support for help if you need clarification. Good people.

Pros: Works

Cons: The instructions

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1 of 1 found this helpful

blue and red lights

Gabe from Colorado Spgs, CO on 1/18/2025

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nice LITTLE amp. I knew it was going to be small but wow. nice red glow from the tubes, easy to set up, very clean and warm sound . very simple design

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4 of 5 found this helpful

Amazing Sound Quality

Ernesto from Concord, CA on 12/24/2024

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Amazing Sound Quality. I had purchased a lower quality preamp and new my sound could be better. Project Box S2 exceeded all expectations!! Thanks Crutchfield for all your help.

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5 of 5 found this helpful

Well Crutchfield came through again with lightning same day shipping

Edward from HUNTINGTN BCH, CA on 11/23/2024

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Just pulled it out of the box and made all the appropriate settings for my setup very straight forward. I was running a Cambridge Solo and was happy but wanted more. That's a surprise what Audiophile wants more right lol. Anyway for my modest setup and combination it made a huge difference with no break-in or tube burn in right out of the box sounded amazing so anything else in time will just be the frosting on the cake. I wasn't expecting it to make such a huge difference but it has spinning my reference Album Miles Davis Kind of Blue. Definitely more open and smooth the horns are not brash like they were but at the same time everything is more clear. For me and my setup this S2 is magical and couldn't be happier .

Pros: Everything I wanted and more . Looking at the tubes is as therapeutic as listening to the music enjoyment it brings .This has brought my vinyl experience to another level it truly is magical with my setup.

Cons: None Except it does run warm because of the tubes as expected so make sure to leave adequate space around it .

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9 of 9 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Alan from Childersburg, AL on 11/7/2024

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Pro jet two box S2 works perfect for me. After fooling around , for a bit, I got the perfect sound for the speakers I have hooked up to Marantz PM 6007 sounds great!

Pros: Great turntable amp!!

Cons: None..

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2 of 2 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Paul from Keyport, NJ on 8/16/2024

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So far so good. Played 3 albums then left the pro ject tube box on for 48 hours to burn tubes in. The sound seemed to open up with tighter bass. Still in the early listening stage. The delivery from Crutchfield was quick.

Pros: Quick delivery from Crutchfield

Cons: None yet

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3 of 3 found this helpful

Not so sure.

James from Oreland, PA on 7/2/2024

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Made my system hum.

Pros: Looks

Cons: Caused a hum other preamps didn't have

Crutchfield response on 7/3/2024
James contacted our Customer Support team and set up a return. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

4 of 5 found this helpful

Performed as designed.

James from MONTEVALLO, AL on 3/20/2024

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I bought this phono pre amp to try a moving coil cartridge. I'm 70 years old and never used a moving coil before. Growing up in the 1960s I never knew what a moving coil was, never heard one, or even cared. Back then I was playing records and would go to the drug store and buy a new 'needle' if mine broke. 1 dollar and 25 cents would get you a new one. They would fit a Stanton or Shure cart. So I have a Denon 103 using it on my Technics 1200 turntable and running it into a Marantz 40n amp and connecting to Klipsch Heresy 4 speakers. Nothing high end here, cause I'm not a high end person. Rather spend my money on jazz records. So, using the Project pre amp I decided to use my formula of evaluation. Sounds Better-No Change-Sounds Worse. I used 5 different amps/receivers. Marantz 40n, Leak Stereo 230, Musical Fidelity A1, Technics SA5150, Marantz 2215B. I used my regular cart Grando Timber 3 and then the Denon 103. Every amp I used with the Project and Grado there was really no change in sound quality. Using the Denon the sound was different than the Grado, a little more laid back. Now the Musical Fidelity has both MM/MC phono preamp. The Project sounded better than the built in using the Denon. But I don't use the A1 because I'm hesitant on sticking in the middle shelf of my console because it runs very hot (165 degrees hot) but it sounds incredible. So I recommend the Project because it performs as designed. I use 470 ohm load, 60 db gain with the Denon.

Pros: It offers MC option with different ohm loads

Cons: Probably overpriced

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15 of 17 found this helpful

Worth it.

Crutchfield customer from Woodstock, NY on 3/18/2024

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NAD C368 integrated, ortofon 2M bronze, Klipsch RP-8000f towers, Technics sl-1500c, SVS pro sub. I rebuilt my System over the last couple of years & I've been very happy with it. NAD phono stage was better than expected with a very low noise floor but low fixed gain setting. I wanted more. I play a lot of records & stream. Wanted to try tubes because. vinyl. I have decent mid-hi-fi & didn't want to under or overspend. This hit the spot. Stock tubes are surprisingly good. It looks like a toy, but sounds amazing. Soundstage really opened up much wider & a bit deeper. Great imaging/detail. Lush, warm, clear & no hum/fuzz at all. Made me appreciate my whole chain & lost my desire to upgrade any of my gear other than play w/ carts/roll tubes. I have heard other high-end pres & imho you would have to spend double or more to best this thing. Wife was shocked by the sound. I will live with the tubes for a while before rolling in some gold lions. Stock tubes are good. Help me appreciate the potential in my whole chain . Very easy set up & hard to find any faults at this price. If using an integrated/on board pre in your TT, it's a no brainer. Open my horns up nicely. Everything is tight and smooth. I'm gonna hold onto this one for a while. If space is a concern, this takes up no room at all. Front panel adjustable gain is a plus. Enjoy. Thanks, Crutchfield advisor for helping me make my choice.

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18 of 18 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Tru from Shepherdsville, Ky on 3/15/2024

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I will say that Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 became a really good buy. It took around twenty hours to get it to start sounding like the amp I thought it could be.

Pros: It takes a while to burn in as it takes around twenty hours to get the soundstage to relay a presence. It takes a while to get it to warm up.

Cons: I, like most of us who purchased this piece thought it would be of some substance. (In the form of a tuner or small CD player). If this phono amp was made in America the price would be ok, but being made overseas it is way overpriced. It fits in the palm of your hand. It does work but If I had known the size of it I would have passed as it sits with all the other audio gear it looks like a toy.

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1 of 20 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Robert from Houston, DE on 1/23/2024

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Combined with Genalex Gold lion 12AX7 tubes and the Ortofon AM Black cartridge it is the best sound I have heard so far. I am waiting for an upgraded 18 Volt power supply from ebay to make it better than using it with the witching power supply.

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12 of 12 found this helpful

Excellent unit

william from FREDERICKSBURG, VA on 1/19/2024

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Excellent sound..remember the tunes are used for amplification...not buffering like some reviews compared this to a Chinese Amazon $70 tube preamp..I agree those sound OK but you'll hear the difference in this tube amplification preamp..$500 ..yea but there's a reason..plus have a good turntable and cart to match...

Pros: Sound...getting from Crutchfield..best co out there ..wish you had more selection...but I've been dealing with them from the 80s with Bill c...company is just as good as it was then..no bs

Cons: Cost as always ..gets pretty warm ..lift it up to get air circulation

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4 of 5 found this helpful

Disappointing experience

Ralph from Orange, CA on 1/3/2024

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First let me say that Crutchfield's customer service is stellar but unfortunately they were at the mercy of the manufacturer. My experience with Pro-Ject's Tube Box S2 Preamp was short lived and disappointing. The TBS2 stopped working 5 months after (2yr) warranty expired. For the price I paid I expect much longer lifespan! Other than referring me to their repair center the company was of no help. The cost for "out of warranty repair" was not worth the added expense for this item. Now I'm without my vinyl music. The unit was great when functioning but I cannot recommend the Tube Box S2. I'm hoping my Pro-Ject turntable has better luck. Disappointing purchase, especially since the TBS2 was highly recommended.

Pros: Nice sounding and good looking tube preamp. when I works.

Cons: Questionable build quality & warranty for a mid -range preamp.

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11 of 18 found this helpful

Big Difference

Kevin from Oak Forest, IL on 12/29/2023

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I have been running my turntable through my phono input on my Marantz for years and after starting to feel unsatisfied and knowing I could get better sound I looked into preamps, specifically tubed preamps. Customer service was great in helping me make my final decision, spending time answering questions and with matching settings to my system and cartridge. WOW! what a improvement, the sound is so much more full and defined in all ranges. I am picking up nuances and tones in my vinyl that I never heard before. Live albums sound like your there and I even can hear different individuals in some crowds. the tubes that came with sounded nice even before breaking them in but after research I did tube roll and switched to Mullard 12ax7/ECC82's which warmed the tones even more for me. still breaking in and getting better every day. Ditch the phone inputs or built in preamps and go with this, you won't be disappointed, I have not been and will not be looking back.

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9 of 9 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Brian from Dickinson, ND on 12/11/2023

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good to go

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0 of 1 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

George from Staten Island, NY on 12/11/2023

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Great Preamp, i would recommend it to anyone looking for a flexible & robust Preamp.

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1 of 1 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Cary from West Hollywood, CA on 9/30/2023

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I purchased this after the need of a preamp that offered multiple load options for my new Hana EL cartridge. I realized coming from my previous Denon dl110, that I can no longer use my Schitt Mani II to get the maximum output needed. Since I prefer the characteristics of tube output, this box was my first choice. It is best to warm up the box at least 30 minutes before use is best. I find that mostly true when using tube equipment. You will notice right away that the sound was a little muddy at first but as I continue playing, it gets better. I then did a 12 hour break in with just leaving the box on for the tubes to warm up. the results was much better, but I figure the restriction is the stock tubes itself. I have since replaced the tubes with a pair matching NOS GE 12AX7A/7025/ECC83 tubes that was better fit for my needs. There are many options and one can find reviews online. With that in mind and cost is why I give 4 stars.

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2 of 3 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Farmingdale, Maine on 9/19/2023

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This paired so nicely with my Carbon eco, Klipsch Cornwall 4s and a recapped Sansui Au-d11. Outstanding

Pros: Smooth sound

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3 of 3 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Keith from Rice Lake, WI on 9/2/2023

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The product is well-built nice high-end, mid range and base is not muddy. My only complaint is that the instructions could've been better for cartridge took me two days to finally get it figured out upgraded tubes which made a big difference more depth more soundstage all around Fuller sound. Overall, I would highly recommend it could be a little cheaper though. But for what you get, you can't complain.

Pros: The soundstage is phenomenal Great bill quality

Cons: Owners manual could help out more with setting for different cartridges , could've been a little cheaper.

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3 of 3 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Paul from Geneva, IL on 8/23/2023

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The Tube Box S2 significantly enhanced the sound quality from my vinyl records. There is more definition between voices and instruments, and overall the sound just sounds more live. As a musician, this is important to me because I hear live music every day: me playing guitar. Excellent product, excellent service!

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3 of 3 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Joseph Paul from Saratoga Spgs, NY on 7/24/2023

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When I switched to this external phono preamp, I was amazed how the sound improved. I am loving it and it rekindled my passion for vinyl. Joe

Pros: The sound

Cons: The owner's manual could be more informative.

Crutchfield response on

1 of 1 found this helpful

Awesome product!

David from Huntley, IL on 4/24/2023

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Wow! Just wow! This phono amplifier is awesome and it delivers! It was a little complicated to set up, but the guys at Pro-ject were easy to contact and walked me through it.

Pros: Great Sound. Reliable and tubes!

Cons: A little complicated to set up, but all the switches and gain are an integral part of why this unit is so good. It is worth it.

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5 of 5 found this helpful

rich and clear sounding phono preamp

Marc from Mechanicsville, VA on 4/12/2023

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This tube box is well built and added a richer sound to my system. I upgraded from the Rolls VP 130 and immediately noticed that the low end and quiet white noise that was always present, disappeared. I also can tell that the music has more body to it and the tube box S2 added more clarity to the sound. My only complaint is the power button is not a mechanical switch. All my other components will power on when I turn on the power strip that I use for my stereo. I now I need to manually turn on this component. A small price to pay to get one step closer to sonic nirvana.

Pros: Clear and full sound with that tuby gooodness

Cons: Not a mechanical power switch

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2 of 2 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

David from Philadelphia, PA on 3/28/2023

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This was a game changer for my setup; 2 Polk RTi A7, HK 3770, and UTurn turntable with the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge. It immediately made a difference. Hard to explain, but it sounds a lot more crisp; almost like I can hear each individual instrument. Only wish I had made this purchase earlier.

Pros: Much better sound and very small footprint

Cons: A little expensive

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6 of 6 found this helpful

This is a REAL tube preamp

Andrew from PALMETTO, FL on 3/6/2023

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This is an awesome product, it's really a 5 star except when I tried the "subsonic filter" feature the left speakers stop working. I'm fine not using it, debating checking if I'm within return policy.

Pros: Add that "tube warmth" to your system. Dip switches help you optimize for your specific cartridge Tubes are protected to prevent accidental breakage from impact Ability to increase DB to get the right volume for you

Cons: My subsonic filter button does not work as it shuts off my left signal. Not a huge deal for me, I guess. I'm a little nervous about finding replacement tubes down the road but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it I suppose.

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4 of 4 found this helpful

Great unit with help from advisor

Photoboy from Englewood, Florida on 2/19/2023

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Once correctly set it's actually quite good, but a warning for near sighted folks, the print in the manual is ridiculously small as are the dip switch settings so get your good sighted friends to help, lol. My cartridge capacitance requirement was in between settings and I was a bit confused about dip switch settings but a quick late Sunday afternoon call to Andrew at Crutchfield answered my questions. The correct setting makes all the difference in the world so be sure to get it right. Once this unit is broken in I'm sure the sound will get even better.

Pros: Big open sound worth the cost.

Cons: Small print in instruction manual and small dip switches, wish unit was a tad bigger, not half rack size but somewhere between that and the way it is.

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1 of 1 found this helpful

Sound Ive been looking for!

Christopher from Wailuku, HI on 1/23/2023

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Loving the tube box S2, great sounding preamp with a small footprint. A must have for someone looking to upgrade from the built in preamp.

Pros: Great sound Good price point Small footprint

Cons: Gets pretty warm

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0 of 0 found this helpful

Pure, warm and rich...

Guy from Alexandria, VA on 11/27/2022

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A well engineered preamp.

Pros: There is a great deal of audio engineering in this small preamp. Versatile, as it handles both MM and MC.

Cons: A Signature 10 was not included.

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1 of 1 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Kathryn from Wexford, PA on 9/9/2022

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I'm stepping up from a Schiit's Mani and I was happy with it. I even consider keeping it but as soon as I listened with the Pro-Ject S2 connected. all bets were off! I'm amazed by the sound.

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7 of 7 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Brian from Eagle, CO on 9/8/2022

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Compact size and delivers a smooth warm sound to my vinyl. Be sure to check your stylus for its type. Follow the instructions to select the proper PIN switches on the bottom of the pre-amp for your stylus. Packaging is excellent and arrived safely.

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9 of 10 found this helpful

Excellent Mid-Fi System Upgrade Option

Blaise from Morgan Hill, CA on 8/20/2022

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Bought a scratch-n-dent version (tiny scratch under the unit). It replaced a 1.0 version Schiit Mani, which was a decent preamp but nothing extraordinary. The Tube Box came with 1 JJ ECC83S and 1 Psvane 12AX7 tube and I replaced them with new production Mullard 12AX7s that I had laying around. Using it with an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge on a Technics SL-1500C table. (I found the Technics' onboard phono preamp to be nothing special, similar to the Mani and phono input on a Marantz PM7000N. Useable but nothing special. Settings on the dipswitches in this case are pin 3=ON, all others OFF, gain=43. Let your ears be your guide, but I tend to set-and-forget. After a bit of a warmup, the rather clinical/analytical nature of my setup was transformed into a warmer, more pleasing sound - after some tube break-in time. Treble frequencies sounded a tad softer (versus harsh or sibilant, but still crisp), bass was a little more forward but not muddy or mushy. Everything was a little more lively without being wooly. Old vinyl sounded great, newer vinyl also. Sound stage was improved, and there was a bit more depth to everything. Marantz Source Direct mode also sounded fantastic - richer and more...organic? Musical? Make sure you let it break-in for a day before final judgement. The magic seemed to happen at hour 3 for me - day 2 was a listening blast.

Pros: - Small footprint - Lifts your mid-fi system up a few notches - Scratch-n-dent FTW

Cons: - Runs a tad hot, but these are tubes - End up spending more money on vinyl

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17 of 18 found this helpful

Awesome Preamp!

Anthony from PHOENIX, AZ on 8/13/2022

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I've grown accustomed to tubes in my guitar amps and thought why not give it a try with my record player preamp. Well, this thing makes everything sound better. Adds a lot of warmth to my setup. Next I want to try adding some Genalex Gold Lion tubes.

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3 of 3 found this helpful

Great warm Sound

Jimmy from Fresno, CA on 7/27/2022

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After hooking up the pro-ject S2 and letting in burn in, I'm back into vinyl. The sound is fantastic and my collection sounds better than ever. Its a must for serious vinyl lovers.

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4 of 4 found this helpful

Pre-amp makes incredible difference

Joel from South Lyon, MI on 7/24/2022

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Oh my heavens! Paired this with a pro-ject Carbon turntable and my Sonos system and the sound is infinitely richer than the the T1 with the built in pre-amp. I can't believe the difference. Amazing!

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3 of 3 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Justin from Kingsport, TN on 5/25/2022

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Great warm and rich sound! A little distorted on the high end. But, I have read that upgrading the tubs will fix that.

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2 of 3 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Jesus from Albuquerque , NM on 4/24/2022

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Very good sound I like it!

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0 of 0 found this helpful

Meh

Glen from CASTLE ROCK, CO on 4/14/2022

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It's a solid box and it sounds good enough but I'm not convinced that it sounds miles better than the $60 tube preamp it replaced. But I do like how adjustable it is and that it will work with either MM or MC, so I kept it. Lukewarm for me on this one.

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3 of 11 found this helpful

Money well spent

David from Fridley on 3/19/2022

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Just hooked this up to my rig yesterday, so far very very impressed. Directions are pretty confusing when it comes to configuring the multiple "sliders" at the bottom of the unit. Called Crutchfield customer support - very helpful with the right adjustments for my MoFi UltraTracker cartridge. Overall this little box elevates my vinyl audio to a whole new level. Running Emotiva amps and sub, MoFi StudioDeck turntable and Q Acoustic towers. WOW! $500 really well spent..

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7 of 7 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Thomas from Washington, DC on 2/24/2022

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Had been using my very elaborate and hi end Sony AVR's embedded preamp, as assumed sound quality differential from separate phono preamp would not be that noticeable. Thought that i would dip my toes in and see how a more moderately priced tube preamp would sound, and was very pleasantly surprised! Immediately noticeable sound quality enhancement was apparent to my entire family - no "audiophiles" amongst us and know there are much more (and less) elaborate ways to go about increasing one's enjoyment to our music listening experience, but the S2 was a great addition for me.

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7 of 7 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Enrique from San Francisco, CA on 2/14/2022

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Perfect addition to my System. My records have come to complete life.

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2 of 2 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Joshua from Chino Hills, CA on 2/6/2022

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It's a really amazing phono amp. I love it. It's also really cool you have the option to swap out tubes to shape your sound even further.

Pros: Made in Europe. High quality build. Compact. Form factor. Simple and clean.

Cons: Pricy but you get what you pay for.

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7 of 7 found this helpful

Tubes

Crutchfield customer from Birmingham, AL on 1/17/2022

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Great little preamp, and great service from Crutchfield!

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0 of 0 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Kenneth from Indianapolis, IN on 1/16/2022

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Excellent product may be a little pricey but works very well.

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2 of 2 found this helpful

Noticeably better sound quality

Crutchfield customer from Portland, OR on 1/2/2022

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I wanted an upgrade from my cheap Chinese tube-buffered $50.00 phono stage amp and this was the only "affordable" option. Still not cheap at almost $500, but also not $2k like some on the market. My records seem to come alive after I connected this amp to my U-Turn Orbit Plus turntable with Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge. The sound quality jumped tremendously in both directions, bass and treble, as did the clarity and definition. While I still find this piece of equipment overpriced for what it is, it did a tremendous job of improving my listening experience.

Pros: Sound quality, workmanship, performance, user friendly

Cons: Price; needs to be correctly "jumpered" to your particular cartridge to give the best performance.

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7 of 7 found this helpful

Great Bang for the $

Crutchfield customer from Beverly, MA on 12/28/2021

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Seems just about broken in at 25hrs and performing as advertised. Definitely added a bit of warmth and depth to SS (vs Phono Box) and CXA81. Not huge amounts but easily perceptible and welcome. Looking forward to rolling in the future as others have reported some promising results. Doubt you can do better unless you're willing pay 2x or more for phono stage or go to a tube amp.

Pros: Price and ability to roll

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2 of 2 found this helpful

Immediate Improvement

Lawrence from GLENVIEW, IL on 12/18/2021

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Did some research that matched this to my 2M Bronze cartridge. Fortunately the terrible directions reference 2M Red so I was able to puzzle through dip switch settings. The rest went smoothly. The interconnects and amp have not burned in yet and the sound improvement over my Cambridge azure 651p are remarkable. This is particularly true of my Beatles In Mono set through my new S HD 660S headphones which no longer sounds dull and muddy. Listening to "Where Have I Known You Before? " Return To Forever.. more detail, bigger soundstage, greater musicality through my CM 10 towers and Rotel gear. Very happy and looking forward to burn in to see where this box goes. Love the gain buttons.

Pros: Set for your cartridge; bigger soundstage and more natural sound. Gain adjustments.

Cons: Directions are terrible . took some Googling

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7 of 7 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Louisville, CO on 11/20/2021

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Perfect entry into the world of tube amps. The sound produced is noticeably superior to my previous amp. The amp produces warm and natural sound. The sonic quality of Tube Box S2 is impressive, offering a big improvement over my Phono Box S.A perfect upgrade for my Elys 2 MM Cartridge.

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6 of 8 found this helpful

Intro to high fidelity...

Crutchfield customer from Arlington, TX on 8/15/2021

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Great warm sound and better seperation.

Pros: Great low cost transition to high fidelity.

Cons: Runs a bit hot. But I made accomodations for such.

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4 of 4 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from La Marque, TX on 8/10/2021

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Satisfied with it, but wish it had more gain selections. Love Crutchfield prompt delivery.

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1 of 1 found this helpful

Solidly built, sounds fantastic

A from OWINGS MILLS, MD on 8/7/2021

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This little guy packs a sonic punch and was just what I needed to tweak my system. I recently purchased a relatively low output Sumiko Moonstone MM cartridge that was really suffering due to a fixed gain of 39dB on my previous phono stage. Lots of flexibility with gain and loading with the Pro- Ject and now at 50dB of gain my system is sounding great. I had been wanting to experiment with "tubes" to see if it really made a sonic difference. A load of critics complain this is not a "true" valve amp, but a hybrid, and thus no good. I can't disagree with them on the hybrid classification but I strongly refute their statements about the sound quality. Though the tubes are only a part of the amplification chain they make a huge difference to my ear... very open soundstage, silky smooth in the mids, and backgrounds that are dead quiet. I burned these in for about 100hrs and that made a noticeable improvement sonically. The unit comes standard with some East European tubes (I'm told JJ ECC83 ) and while they sounded nice, on the advice of a trusted source I purchased a matched pair of Mullard 12 AX7, replaced the stock tubes (easy to do) and after burning those in they offered an even richer sound and punchier bass. Clearly, the tube stage here does make a difference and is not just window dressing as some would claim! This thing is built like a tank, offers good options for proper cartridge matching and seems a great value compared to other competitors. No regrets.

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18 of 18 found this helpful

Exactly what I needed

Adam from TROY, MI on 6/9/2021

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I have a turntable setup that runs a little too bright and figured I'd balance it out with a phono preamp, which I needed anyways. My setup is a Pro-Ject Carbon Debut Evo with the stylus upgraded to the Moonstone, Denon DRA-800h and the Klipsch RP8000fs. I love the sound, but like I said, a little too bright. Tried another very well reviewed SS phono preamp but wasn't the best match, mainly because the gain wasn't enough after the stylus upgrade as the moonstone is putting out 3.0mV. Returned the other preamp (thanks for the effortless return, Crutchfield) and picked this guy up. After setting it to match my stylus/cartridge and hooked it up I was a little under satisfied. Sounded a bit flat and not great dynamics. I kept using it daily and after a week or so this PJ Tune Box really opened up! It perfectly balanced my system and I just can't stop going through my record collection to see what everything sounds like. I don't know if it was break-in or what but the soundstage on this is huge and the sound is perfectly warm, dynamics spot in and just sounds so much better than the built in phono stage. I highly recommend!! If you try this preamp, make sure you give it some time, you won't regret it.

Pros: Spacious sound stage, great dynamics and beautifully warm.

Cons: Takes a while to break in. Takes about a half hour of warming up to get the best sound.

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8 of 8 found this helpful

Can't recommend enough

Benjamin Moore from Water Valley, MS on 5/21/2021

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Can't recommend this enough. Running a 2010ish Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (Red 2m) through a NAD C316BEE (v1) to a pair of Polk RT1 a1s. Had been using the NAD pp2 preamp, and always enjoyed my set up but knew I could get more warmth by introducing some tubes. This is such an easy way to do that, and the impact was much more than I was expecting. I feel like it's particularly effective in my set up, where I'm always wanting a little more low-end from these (otherwise great) Polk bookshelf speakers. This give me a much nicer low-end, deeper and tighter. Feels like a wider sound stage, etc. Really happy with it.

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5 of 5 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Philadelphia, PA on 5/19/2021

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Not an expert but so far so good

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Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Ben from San Luis Obispo, CA on 5/13/2021

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So my setup is an Audio Technica AT-LP40WN turntable, with the onboard phono preamp going to a Yamaha A-S501 amp, which powers a pair of KEF Q150 speakers. The As a newbie, I've been pretty happy with this setup, but can tell there's lots of room for improvement. I had previously upgraded the the provided AT-VM95E bonded elliptical stylus on the turntable to the AT-VM95SH shibata. It clearly sounded better, but have been on the fence about by how much. I had some second thoughts about the benefit of the shibata over the much cheaper eliptical nude stylus. The sound was enjoyable, but it felt thin and not as exciting as I'd expected. Enter the Tube Box S2. It honestly sounds like I have a whole new system. I've done comparison with the previous stylus now that I'm running through the Box, and it's night and day. I've found that the bass and treble controls on my amp now flavor the sound much more strongly, everything sounds fuller and there's more on both ends. The connection has no noise at all, which is great. TBC I don't have anything other than the onboard preamp and the phono on the amp to compare the sound to. I went with this expensive little guy because I do eventually plan on moving to a better table with a moving coil cartridge, and tubes make me happy in a childish way.

Pros: Sounds great, easy to set up, looks good, small form factor, gain controls on the front

Cons: 'spensive

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4 of 4 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Michael from MANVILLE, RI on 5/1/2021

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Had a chance to listen to this wonderful little tube amp for a few days now and I am extremely impressed. My equipment includes; a Pro-Ject Essential III with an acrylic platter upgrade, Ortofon M2 Bronze cartridge and vintage PS Audio 4.6 preamp and 100C amp (both solid state) and, Vandersteen 2Ce speakers. Solid bass and extended highs that are bright but not shrill. The midrange seems perfect. Playing the reissue of "Music for Bang, Baaroom and Harp" by Analogue Productions (this disc is a must have for serious vinyl collectors) was simply eye opening. Highly recommended!!

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4 of 4 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Lamoure, ND on 4/13/2021

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We absolutely love this with our Pro-Ject Carbon Evo in satin blue. Marvelous sound and it looks good too.

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0 of 1 found this helpful

Can Vinyl Sound Too Warm?

Tim from San Jose, CA on 4/3/2021

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Others seem to have had success with this unit, but unfortunately it was not a good fit in my system. I found that its output was quite low, and warm to the point of muddiness. Crutchfield made the return easy, and I was glad to have a chance to try it out.

Pros: Can be matched to a wide variety of cartridges

Cons: Low output, muddy reproduction

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5 of 16 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Washington, DC on 3/24/2021

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Not opened, waiting to move in new house.

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2 of 28 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Charlottesville, VA on 3/16/2021

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Worth the price! Flexible adjustable phono stage with interchangeable tubes. Doesn't softer, but excites with a dynamic, punchy sound and great spatial representation.

Pros: Well built Warm and smooth Good punch and details Versatile

Cons: None yet...

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5 of 5 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Dripping Spgs, TX on 3/4/2021

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Brought my albums to life. Enjoying it immensely. Sound feels expanded and more detailed.

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5 of 5 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Nampa , ID on 2/19/2021

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Excellent device, only complaint is it took a while to figure out the settings for my specific cartridge.

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1 of 1 found this helpful

Built to Grow as Your Vinyl Experience Grows

Jack from NASHVILLE, TN on 10/9/2020

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This is a really great preamp that gives you a lot of benefits and flexibility to grow in your vinyl experience. Being able to adjust to fit the specs of your cartridge is really important and the gain adjustment makes a huge difference. The sound leans very warm with my Ortofon 2M Bronze. Both are new so I suspect the break-in period will really increase the dynamic range but it sounds great. The tubes are replaceable if you want to experiment and it supports a moving coil cartridge....so this is a great foundation to grow with you. Very glad I made the choice. It sounds rich and fantastic.

Pros: Real tube amplification; not assisting a digital amp Super solid build Absolutely no extra noise Highly adjustable to match your cartridge

Cons: Though not complex, Just know it's not meant to be "plug and play" It will take resarch. You need to know the specs of your cartridge and fiddle with the gain. Once it's set right, you're good. Instruction manual is pretty poor. You may have to call for help.

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14 of 14 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from S San Fran, CA on 8/31/2020

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I'm so happy with the preamp. It works perfectly with my Technics SL 1210 GR. When using either the Ortofon Red or Blue Cartridges .Made it sounds much better after replacing the stock tubes with the new Re-Issue Mullard 12ax7 Platinum Grade from Upscale audio Well worth the exchange Highly recommended.

Pros: Small and easy to use.

Cons: None.

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9 of 9 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Baraboo, WI on 8/22/2020

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I tried it on an old preamp where the sound through the existing phono input was bad. I hooked it up to the turntable and put it through the auxiliary jack on the preamp. The sound was totally improved. I also tried it up next to the NAD PP 2e and the tube was better, though the NAD did improve the sound as well.

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4 of 5 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from Cleveland Hts, OH on 5/31/2020

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Excellent customer service. Amazingly warm tube amp

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2 of 2 found this helpful

good phono option

Crutchfield customer from Kittanning, PA on 5/21/2020

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Great little phono preamp. I do like the fact that you can adjust gain and cartridge loading. Do not be afraid because it has tubes. Basically a solid state phono preamp with a tube buffer stage. Takes about 20 hours of playing before the tube stage breaks in. I do think you would be hard pressed to find something better at this price point . I did try a few at this price point and this is the one to go with. If you do not want to mess with settings, just plug and play. You will be fine. Excellent service from Crutchfield.

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10 of 12 found this helpful

A very nice upgrade

Crutchfield customer from West Hartford, CT on 5/17/2020

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I was getting bored in quarantine and decided to experiment. I had been using the phono input on my Yamaha RX-A1080 with my Thorens TD-160C and Shure V15III cartridge. I was very happy with the sound but wanted to see if it could be improved. The Tube Box S2 appeared to be a good starting point. I had read some good reviews and opinion pieces that supported that point. The only discrepancy seems to be whether the tubes in the output stage are just buffers. Another point of differing opinions is whether or not to burn in the unit first. I was in no rush and figured I'd burn mine in, 18hrs later I plugged in the TT. I found the results up to my expectations!. The sound opened up and had a better presence than the Yamaha. Absolutely no regrets on this upgrade.

Pros: Very nice sound compact size can tube roll discrete circuitry instead of opamps

Cons: you may have to do a bit of research on your cartridge to know what settings to start using with your setup

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11 of 13 found this helpful

Awesome

Crutchfield customer from American Fork, UT on 4/4/2020

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Awesome

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0 of 1 found this helpful

Amazing pre amp

Crutchfield customer from Apo, AE on 3/8/2020

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Fantastic preamp, clear powerful amplification with a smige of tubey goodness.

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1 of 1 found this helpful

Pro-Ject Tube Box S2

Crutchfield customer from White Plains, NY on 8/8/2019

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Just beautiful sounding phono pre-amp designed to work with many cartridges. Easy to use and it looks great on the rack.

Pros: Great sounding.

Cons: None yet.

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7 of 7 found this helpful

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