The ultimate digital-and-analog combo upgrade for your hi-fi? Pro-Ject's new box is a turntable pre-amp, digital streamer, HDMI input, DAC, and headphone amp in one (and that's not even all of it)

Pro-Ject Pre Box S3 shot from a close angle on a white surface

(Image credit: Pro-Ject)

All your analog, digital and wireless audio through a single pre-amp
13 inputs and outputs including streaming from aptX HD
£499 (about $685 / AU$985)

Pro-Ject – maker of some of the best turntables available – has announced a new compact stereo pre-amp that's designed to make today's hi-fi systems simpler. The Pre Box S3 unites your vinyl and digital sources, your TV's audio and your wireless streaming in a single component that acts as a control centre for all your audio needs.

This is a pre-amp so it doesn't contain its own amplification for passive speakers, but you can use it to connect to active speakers or a power amp, as well as to be the source and controller for an existing hi-fi setup. And it looks like a smart option for those of us whose audio diet isn't limited to a single source or to streaming audio.

Design-wise, it's a typically minimalist Pro-Ject affair reminiscent of previous products such as the recently launched Pro-Ject Head Box S3: Pro-Ject likes to keep things clean and uncluttered rather than add unnecessary bells and whistles.

Pro-Ject Pre Box S3 underneath a Pro-Ject tube amplifier, between a Pro-Ject turntable and speaker against a white wall. — (Image credit: Pro-Ject)

Pro-Ject Pre Box S3: key features and pricing

The Pre Box S3 features a phono stage for moving magnet turntables, a DAC for digital sources delivering up to 24-bit/192kHz audio, an analog preamp with a motor driven volume control, HDMI with eARC for your TV, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD receiving up to 24-bit/48kHz audio, and a headphone amplifier designed for headphones of 16 to 600 ohms, which covers even very demanding models among the best wired headphones.

There are plenty of connections here: two line-level RCA inputs for CD players and other external sound sources, a MM phono input, two optical Toslink S/PDIFs, a coax S/PDIF, USB-C supporting PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz, and that aforementioned HDMI.

Outputs are generous too. There's a variable RCA for your power amp, a 6.3mm headphone out, a fixed-level line out for second zones or external equipment and a dedicated subwoofer out. There's also a 12V trigger for external devices and RS232 for custom or multi-room integration.

The Pro-Ject Pre Box S3 is £499 (about $685 / AU$985) and you can have yours in a choice of black or silver.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

TOPICS