Pro-Ject Phono Box II Preamp (MC/MM Pickups, Hard Gold-Plated RCA/RCA Sockets), Black

I bought this Pro-Ject Phono Box Mk2 because of the lack of m.c. input in a recently acquired pre-amp. It’s extremely good for the price and I give it four stars (and an additional star for the speed of delivery). However, I decided to return it, only for the reason that it didn’t match the other components in my system (I suspected that this might be the case). This is an important point: equipment of this sort can only be as good as the rest of the set-up. Further, a phono stage should be thought of not as some means of creating a performance of its own but as not obstructing or degrading or colouring the flow from the preceding elements. In other words, how much does the unit let through of the information which the precedent equipment is retrieving from the record? This where I think this product was deficient — not because there was anything wrong with it per se but merely because it wasn’t on a par with the rest. (I’ve now acquired a higher spec’d phono stage, also by Pro-Ject—a Phono Box DS+. This gives a much more refined result — as it ought to at twice the size and four times the price!)I’ve no hesitation in saying that those who need a phono stage, have modest to middle grade equipment, and don’t wish to spend megabucks won’t be disappointed by this product. In the case of high grade equipment a phono stage of a higher spec will probably be necessary.One other consideration: those whose taste is for simple, electronically generated music, and those who find digital sound acceptable, needn’t be overly concerned: this product will serve them perfectly. Those whose preference is for real musical instruments played by skilled musicians and for trained voices, recorded in real environments by the best techniques of the analogue era, might find that the attendant sonic subtlety and refinement can be relayed to a satisfactory degree only through higher grade equipment.This product’s easy to use: "plug and play" says it all! It’s also light and compact.I hope these comments will help prospective purchasers of the Pro-Ject Phono Box Mk2.

Picture is wrong, I received the mark ii with the logo in the bottom left.I have a Systemdek II with a Linn Basik Tonearm, which I recently bought out of the loft and serviced with a new connecting cable. I have that connected to a Cambridge AM10 which has a MM phono stage (not brilliant, but OK).Bought this after reading good things, and it was really easy to set up. unplug the phono leads from the amp, and plug them into the box, attach the ground cable . Then plug the out RCAs into one of your amps digital ports. So far so good. Put on Pink Floyd DSOTM, and ugh sound is not great, Read Manual, run earth from phono pre-amp to earth on amp. Retry DSOTM...... Awesome. I was picking out different instruments, and it all sounded great to my earIt does make a difference, more laid back than the Cambridge phono stage, and just like I think I remember from years past. Really enjoyable.Nice buy for the price, and I think I would recommend for record decks for say up to £250

Corrects the raw turntable sound (adds bass and mid tones) and does it pretty well. Unlike an amp with a real phono section, it lacks a good earth connection (no earth plug!) and the phono hum is still audible.

Bought a turntable off eBay only to discover my amplifier didn't have a phono input. I know, I didn't think it through!Rescue by this Pro-Ject phono amp though and now happily making my way through a box of records I got for free. On the good condition records, the sound is superb.I don't think anything will rescue those records that weren't so well looked after, but this phono amp lessens the blow of even that.A simple bit of kit that sits discreetly in the corner and performs magnificently.

Small box with a nice build mm and mc. Power supply in the box with UK plug. Great sound too. No phono cables included but that's fine as you can pick your own elsewhere.

Used 5 times linked to pro ject essential II and it popped and stopped working. Waste of money and Better off with far cheaper more reliable basic model.

Decided to buy this to compliment my Sony PS-HX500 turntable, the Sony has a built in phono stage and lets you switch between the internal or out to your own,the Sony is an expensive unit and sounds pretty decent! Audiophiles have complained that for the price of sonys turntable the Sony's built in stage is not good enough for the price,so I got this after reading good things about it,and yes what a difference !!!!decided to connect it all up to my recording studio and record the same part of a record using the internal stage and this one to do an A/B test.the Project phono box MK2 was notably more dynamic, Bass and low mids were less muddy and more defined and separated, overall ritcherthere was also some better high end clarity.waveform analysis showed the track was more dynamic,it had less self noise and a louder signal overall.playing back the Sony internal stage was quite shocking to hear, notably flatter, les warmth whilst also being slightly muddy too,overall I'd say( I mean its all relative to what you had before,) but this box improved the sound in a way that REALLY noticeable doing an a/b test.

Can't comment on the quality of the music played through this,as it was a mistake order for a turntable which didn't end up needing a phono preamp. However, the packaging it comes in is very protective and the box itself felt very high quality. Strong metal casing.The problem however is that this is NOT THE MK2!! The mk2 phono preamp (to my knowledge) has the logo/emblem at the bottom left of the box, not centred. Also I've seen the phono box ii to have usb? Please correct me if I'm wrong and I'll take this section out of the review.