About the Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B

Product Description

The Phono Box S3 B is a compact, affordable moving magnet and moving coil phono stage with dual-mono layout, discrete circuitry and balanced inputs and outputs. With its spacious, minimalist design layout, it is easily customisable to suit any connected cartridge, and offers unrivalled value for money and performance when connected to any matching analogue hi-fi system.

The Pro-Ject design team took the decision to employ fully symmetrical and discrete circuitry in the gain stage of the Phono Box S3 B. Discrete circuits involve no operational amplifiers (op-amps), and the result is a more neutral, natural, dynamic, and vivid sound. They are more complicated to put together and involve a greater variety of components, but the result when utilised in a well-organised electrical layout is a true high-end sound.

The Phono Box S3 B is extensively customisable so suit the moving magnet or moving coil cartridge it is connected to. With five Impedance (Ω), four Capacitance (pF) and four Gain options on offer, there are very few cartridges this box of tricks cannot accommodate.

As the Phono Box S3 B is equipped with both balanced inputs and outputs, it is also part of Pro-Ject’s True Balanced Connections concept. By connecting to a turntable with a moving coil cartridge and using one of Pro-Ject’s balanced connection cables, your analogue system can benefit from increased dynamics, less noise and improved signal-to-noise ratios. Going true balanced is like hearing parts of your music that were not there before.

This requires engineering that has never been seen at this price point and opens up iconic mid-level turntables, such as the Debut Pro, to the benefits of True Balanced Connections.

Elsewhere in the Phono Box S3 B design, the semi-passive RIAA equalisation stage is optimised for absolute accuracy and signal integrity. Depending on the outputs you are using, this stage is then either directly fed to the output stage (when using RCA outputs) or is connected to a balancing stage for onward balanced connections.

The Phono Box S3 B is finished in a steel chassis, covered by silver or black aluminium panels, for extreme rigidity and good electrical isolation. The neat minimalist aesthetic allows for good spacing between controls on the front panel and connections on the back panel, despite its smaller size. It also features an external power adapter, to keep the sensitive internal signals free from any interferences. 

True Balanced Connections

The interconnect cable between a record player and a phono stage is prone to pick up noise on the way. That noise and interference can stem from a lot of unavoidable sources, such as household applicances, wi-fi and bluetooth devices, other power cables and audio amplifiers. Unshielded (i.e. RCA) interconnects can amplify the picked-up noise and make it audible through your speakers, interfering with the pure musical signal.

Balanced (typically XLR) cable connections double the wires carrying the musical signal – with one side inverted. In this case noise still gets picked up by both wires, but with one side reversed. When the signals are re-joined at the phono stage, the picked-up noise is cancelled out by the opposing signals. The benefit of this is a louder, cleaner musical signal that has doubled in size with almost no remaining noise.

For more information about 'True Balanced Connections' click here.

Key Features:

  • NEW 5-pin mini XLR balanced input 
  • NEW balanced XLR outputs 
  • NEW fully symmetrical & discrete gain stage 
  • NEW easy settings adjustment on the faceplate 
  • MM & MC capable 
  • Dual mono design 
  • Semi-passive RIAA equalization 
  • Superior low noise / low distortion 
  • Aluminium casing protects against interference 
  • Available in silver or black 
  • Made in Europe 
      Shipping Information

      Thank you for considering Yorkshire AV for your next investment in your AV or HiFi setup.

      We are an approved retailer for all brands sold on our website, which means full manufacturers warranty and support as well as detailed product knowledge within our small business.

      We use an inventory tracking system which states if item(s) are in stock and if not, what are the likely lead times.

      Who do you use for delivery?

      Our primary delivery agent is DPD. Where orders are shipped directly from Yorkshire AV, we always use DPD who offer a fabulous service at competitive rates.

      If we drop ship (i.e. direct from the supplier) then the delivery agent is out of our control. It is generally DPD or UPS however - we rarely see other carriers used.

      Selecting "Next Day" delivery does not mean you'll receive your item the next day in some cases. It's the next day from when the item(s) are in stock with us. If there is an urgent need then please contact a member of staff via the Live Chat or telephone (01757 826111) to check on live stock levels.

      Certain product(s) are delayed in manufacturing due to semi-conductor shortages across the Globe. We'll keep you informed as to your order progress and a likely ETA once we get updates from the manufacturers.

      Returns

      Standard Returns 

      Our returns policy lasts for 28 days for all items in our store except those defined in section (1) below.

      To be eligible for a refund, your item must be unused/unopened and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging. 

      If you return the item to us within 14 days of purchasing, you will be offered a full refund or exchange. If your return comes to us after 14 days of purchasing and is opened, we will refund the full amount less 20%. Unused items returned up to 28 days after purchasing will be fully refunded.

      It's the responsibility of the customer to return the items at your cost. Yorkshire AV are able to arrange collection - please contact us for a quote.

      You must ensure goods are shipped in their original packaging if they are damaged/not working. Manufacturers will not accept returns and Yorkshire AV can not be held responsible for any damage in transit.

      Several types of goods are exempt from being returned.

      (1) Examples of non-returnable items: 

      • Gift cards 
      • HiFi Racks
      • Second hand units / clearance products
      • Headphones (due to listener hygiene)
      • Custom cables
      • Special order items (items that we order in for you/were not in stock at the time of order)

      To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase. 
      Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer. 

      Please complete your return via your customer account by clicking here.

      There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable). Those are where:

      • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error 
      • Any item that is returned more than 28 days after delivery 

      There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable). Those are where:

      • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error 
      • Where the item wasn't marked with an extended returns policy at the end of the checkout process

      Refunds (if applicable) 

      Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. 

      Items that have been opened will be listed on our "Clearance" section. We charge a 20% fee from the total item value which will be deducted from any refund amount applicable.

      If your returns are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within 2-3 days. Costs of shipping will be deducted from any refund amount.

      Late or missing refunds (if applicable) 
      If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again. 
      Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted. 

      Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted. 

      If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at info@yorkshireav.co.uk. 

      Sale items (if applicable) 
      Only regular priced items may be refunded, unfortunately sale items/clearance products cannot be refunded. 

      Exchanges (if applicable) 
      We only replace items if they are defective or damaged. If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at info@yorkshireav.co.uk and send your item to: Yorkshire AV LTD, Unit 6 Wood Farm, Doncaster Road, GOOLE, DN14 0JF, United Kingdom. 

      Shipping 
      To return your product, you should mail your product to: Yorkshire AV LTD, Unit 6 Wood Farm, Doncaster Road, GOOLE, DN14 0JF, United Kingdom 

      You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund. 

      Please complete your return via your customer account by clicking here.

      Warranty

      By default, our brands follow their standard manufacturers warranty terms and length.

      For extended Warranty (should this be offered with your product), please ensure you complete the Extended Warranty registration form that was emailed to you.

      Warranty claims within the warranty period are underpinned by the manufacturer. With any extended warranty claims - Yorkshire AV act as your agent to the authorised repair centre.

      Shipping charges are excluded from any warranty claim. Original packaging and receipts must be provided else the claim will be rejected.

      For any questions or issues - please contact us directly.

      Finance

      We’ve got you covered, as we have finance options available for people with varying circumstances. Yorkshire AV believes that you shouldn’t have to pinch your pockets to be able to purchase our products. You can pay in affordable monthly instalments to better suit your needs and budget.

      To help you purchase from Yorkshire AV, we have partnered with Kandoo, a regulated credit broker to offer all our customers a range of highly flexible finance options. Kandoo is a comparison service that searches to find you the best Personal Loan option that’s right for you.

      You can apply here - then continue your purchase from us.

      FAQs

      Please read our FAQs page to find out more.

      Do you have a real store?

      Yes! We have a store set in a quaint location with plenty of parking even for HGV's! We have a dedicated demonstration room for Headphones/portable audio, 2 channel HiFi and one of the most advanced home cinema rooms in the country.

      Can I home demonstrate products?

      In most cases yes. Simply contact us with your requirements and if it's on the shop floor - we can arrange a home demonstration.

      Do you ship from store?

      In most cases yes. We have a store front with products such as cables and smaller products physically to hand. We also have a dedicated warehouse a few minutes away with over 1200sq m of products stored. Some products are shipped direct from manufacturers - as it's not practical / cost effective to store every variant of every product. We are very efficient at stock management however.

      Can I return a product?

      Yes! So long as it's new/unused and in the same condition it was delivered to you, we will gladly refund you up to 14 days from purchase. Please raise a request via your Account area to start the return process.

      Do you offer installation?

      Absolutely - we have a dedicated, in-house team of installers who travel the UK installing lovely hifi and home cinema solutions. Contact us to discuss pricing.

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