The phono stage for the person who just discovered their amplifier does not have one. Fixed 40dB of moving-magnet gain, 47kΩ and 120pF, no switches to get wrong, and it costs less than a couple of records. Most integrated amplifiers made after about 1990 dropped the phono input, and a great many turntables have no preamp built in. The Phono Box E exists to close that gap for the least money Pro-Ject can manage while still building something that measures properly. There are no switches, no DIP banks and nothing to set. Gain is fixed at 40dB, input impedance is fixed at 47kΩ and capacitance at 120pF — which is the standard moving-magnet loading almost every MM cartridge is designed around. A 5mV cartridge input produces 500mV out, which is a healthy line level for any amplifier input. Signal-to-noise is a published 88dB A-weighted, which for a stage at this price is respectable rather than apologetic. Pro-Ject’s manual notes that the Phono Box E will also work with a high-output moving coil. There is no separate MC setting; a high-output MC simply runs through the same fixed 40dB and 47kΩ. A low-output moving coil will not work here — you want the Phono Box S2 or above for that. Two small honesty notes on the published figures. Pro-Ject’s web page gives THD as less than 0.05% while their PDF datasheet says less than 0.04%. Their web page gives RIAA accuracy as a symmetrical maximum deviation of 0.5dB while the PDF gives an asymmetrical +0.5/−0.2dB. Both figures in each pair come from Pro-Ject, and both are listed below. Features Fixed 40dB moving-magnet gain — nothing to set up, nothing to get wrong Standard 47kΩ / 120pF moving-magnet loading 88dB A-weighted signal-to-noise ratio Gold-plated RCA input and output Will also accept a high-output moving coil through the same fixed settings External power supply keeps the transformer away from the phono circuit Specifications Type: Moving-magnet phono preamplifier Cartridge support: Moving-magnet. Pro-Ject’s manual notes it will also accept a high-output moving coil, but there is no separate MC gain or loading setting — an MC simply runs through the fixed MM values. Not suitable for low-output moving coils Adjustments: None. The circuit is fixed-value with no switches Gain: 40dB, fixed Input impedance: 47kΩ, fixed Input capacitance: 120pF, fixed Output level: 500mV at 1kHz for a 5mV / 1kHz input Signal-to-noise ratio: 88dB, A-weighted THD: Less than 0.05% on Pro-Ject’s web page; less than 0.04% in their PDF datasheet. Both are manufacturer figures and they do not agree RIAA accuracy: Maximum deviation 0.5dB, 20Hz–20kHz on the web page; +0.5 / −0.2dB in the PDF datasheet. Again, two manufacturer figures that do not agree Subsonic filter: None published Alternate EQ curves: None. RIAA only Channel separation: Not published. Pro-Ject publishes no channel separation or crosstalk figure for any product in the Phono Box or Tube Box range. Inputs: 1 pair gold-plated RCA Outputs: 1 pair gold-plated RCA Power supply: External wall supply, 18V DC / 500mA. The unit itself draws 20mA DC; standby consumption is under 1W Dimensions: 120 x 32 x 100 mm (W x H x D). Depth with sockets is given as 106mm on the web page and 115mm in the PDF Weight: 269g without the power supply Country of manufacture: Not published for this model Warranty: 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.
