Review on 🔘 Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 - Black by Kirk Womack

I've recently returned to vinyl after a 30 year hiatus. I bought a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo last November and am very happy with it. My current setup consists of Evo, Yamaha a-s301 and Klipsh rp160m. As I built my vinyl collection, some records sounded better than others. That was to be expected, but even those that sounded better didn't fare well in terms of separation and fidelity. I was beginning to think that maybe the amp wasn't very good for playing vinyl, or that I was just getting used to digital. I am streaming music from YouTube and listening to FLAC through Raspberry Pi using Hifiberry Digi+ Pro HAT with MoOde Audio over a-s301 coax cable. Sounds good. Let's get back to vinyl. When I started researching new amps, I became aware of external phono preamps. Prices ranged from $25 to $2,500 and up. I decided to see what was available in the sub $200 price range and bought a Pro-Ject Phono Box S2. It was way out of my budget but I thought it should go well with the Evo and all the reviews I could find were positive. Suffice it to say that I'm not (yet) looking for a new amp anymore. . S2 changed the rules of the game. It's really quiet. Recordings that were previously inaudible due to crackling and crackling now sound good. Recordings that already sounded good are phenomenal. There's better bass, better separation, and better dynamic range. This is the vinyl sound I've been longing for. If you're using the built-in phono stage on a lower-end amp or turntable, buy a quality external device. I think the $100-$200 range would be a significant improvement for most. A few records that sound fantastic: • ⁠ Bob Marley: Rastaman Vibration • ⁠ Art Blakey: Roots and Herbs • ⁠ Fania All Stars: Live at Yankee Stadium • ⁠ Sharon Jones and Dap Kings: Soul Time