{"product_id":"pro-ject-phono-box-ds3-b-phono-stage","title":"Pro-Ject - Phono Box DS3 B Phono Stage","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrue balanced in and out, dual-mono, fully discrete, six gain settings up to 65dB and stepless 10–1000Ω loading — with RIAA accuracy inside a quarter of a decibel.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA moving-coil cartridge puts out something in the region of 0.3 millivolts. Amplifying that by a factor of nearly two thousand while keeping the noise floor below it is the hardest job in domestic audio, and it is the job the Phono Box DS3 B is built for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe answer Pro-Ject arrived at is a true balanced, dual-mono, fully discrete circuit. Balanced because the cartridge is a floating differential source and treating it as one rejects common-mode noise the single-ended convention throws away. Dual-mono because the two channels never share a supply rail or a ground return. Discrete because op-amps, however good, impose their own character on a signal this small.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe connections reflect that. There is a 5-pin mini-XLR input for turntables like the X1 B whose tonearms terminate that way, a pair of full-size XLR inputs, and a pair of RCAs. Outputs are XLR and RCA. The XLR wiring is pin 1 ground, pin 2 hot, pin 3 cold, which is the AES convention and will interoperate with any modern balanced preamp. Using the XLR outputs adds 6dB to whichever gain setting you have chosen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdjustment is thorough: six gain steps from 40 to 65dB in 5dB increments, stepless impedance from 10 to 1,000Ω plus a fixed 47kΩ for moving-magnet, and four capacitance values. RIAA accuracy is a published 0.25dB across the band, distortion is under 0.001% on moving-magnet, and there is a subsonic filter at 20Hz rolling off at 18dB per octave.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne correction to a claim that circulates about this box: it does not offer Decca, Columbia or Teldec equalisation curves. Pro-Ject publishes RIAA only. If you need alternative curves, that is the RS2, not the DS3 B.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrue balanced, dual-mono, fully discrete circuit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBalanced input and balanced output — 5-pin mini-XLR, full-size XLR and RCA all provided\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSix gain settings: 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65dB, plus 6dB more when using the XLR outputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStepless 10–1,000Ω moving-coil loading, or a fixed 47kΩ for moving-magnet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFour input capacitance values: 50, 150, 300 and 400pF\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRIAA accuracy within 0.25dB, 20Hz–20kHz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubsonic filter at 20Hz, 18dB per octave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moving-magnet and moving-coil phono preamplifier, true balanced and dual-mono\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGain:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40 \/ 45 \/ 50 \/ 55 \/ 60 \/ 65dB, plus 6dB when using the XLR outputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInput impedance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stepless 10Ω to 1,000Ω, or fixed 47kΩ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInput capacitance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50 \/ 150 \/ 300 \/ 400pF\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhere the controls are:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not published. Pro-Ject does not state in the material we could find whether these are front-panel, rear-panel or underside controls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignal-to-noise ratio, MM at 40dB:\u003c\/strong\u003e 104dBV and 111dBV, A-weighted. Pro-Ject publishes both figures without labelling which applies to the RCA output and which to the XLR\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignal-to-noise ratio, MC at 60dB:\u003c\/strong\u003e 85dBV and 91dBV, A-weighted, published the same unlabelled way\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTHD at 1kHz:\u003c\/strong\u003e Less than 0.001% (MM); less than 0.004% (MC)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTHD, 20Hz–20kHz:\u003c\/strong\u003e Less than 0.005% (MM); less than 0.01% (MC)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRIAA accuracy:\u003c\/strong\u003e Less than 0.25dB, 20Hz–20kHz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlternate EQ curves:\u003c\/strong\u003e None. RIAA only — Pro-Ject publishes no Decca, Columbia or Teldec curve for this model\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSubsonic filter:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20Hz, 18dB per octave\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInputs:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 x 5-pin mini-XLR, 1 pair XLR, 1 pair RCA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutputs:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 pair XLR, 1 pair RCA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXLR wiring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pin 1 ground, pin 2 hot, pin 3 cold\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCircuit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully discrete, true balanced, dual-mono\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChannel separation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not published. Pro-Ject publishes no channel separation or crosstalk figure for any product in the Phono Box or Tube Box range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower supply:\u003c\/strong\u003e External, 18V DC \/ 500mA. The unit draws a maximum of 290mA; standby under 0.5W\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 206 x 72 x 194 mm (W x H x D); 205mm deep including sockets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1,480g without the power supply\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry of manufacture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Made in Europe. Pro-Ject does not name a specific country\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWarranty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Two years from date of purchase, extendable to three years by registering the product with Pro-Ject and subscribing to their newsletter. Pro-Ject states that warranty is administered by the local distributor and that terms can vary by region; no separate United States term is published. Coverage requires purchase from an authorised dealer — The ’In Groove is one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Sumiko","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":42511762817230,"sku":"9120097829351","price":799.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Silver","offer_id":42511762849998,"sku":"9120097829375","price":799.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0558\/5027\/0926\/files\/PhonoBoxDS3B-1-1.webp?v=1712814472","url":"https:\/\/www.theingroove.com\/products\/pro-ject-phono-box-ds3-b-phono-stage","provider":"The 'In' Groove","version":"1.0","type":"link"}