Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2: Integrated Amplifier from Austria
An interesting novelty has appeared in the DS2 series of components of the Austrian company Pro-Ject – the Stereo Box DS2 integrated amplifier. While retaining its recognizable design and compact dimensions, corresponding to the rest of the series, this device is in many ways unique for devices of this class in the Pro-Ject catalog.
The Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2 is housed in an aluminum and steel enclosure that is available in black or silver finishes. The output power of the Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2 is 80 W for each of the channels when operating on a load with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and increases to 135 W when working on 4-ohm acoustics, which indicates the high quality of its output stages. The amplifier is built on the principle of dual mono, which provides good separation of stereo channels.
The preamp section of the Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2 is no less interesting – there are not only three line inputs, but also a phono preamp input for working with both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges. In addition, the Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2 provides separate adjustable and non-adjustable outputs, as well as trigger input and output. Wireless technologies are not forgotten either – the amplifier is equipped with a built-in Bluetooth-module with support for the aptX codec. To ensure maximum stability when using a wireless connection, Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2 is equipped with an external antenna.
The volume control in the amplifier is based on a high-end motorized potentiometer, and a separate built-in amplifier is used for connecting headphones. And as a very interesting additional function in the Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2, we can mention the ability to control the amplifier not only using the traditional remote control, but also through the proprietary Box Control mobile application.
The cost of the Pro-Ject Stereo Box DS2 integrated amplifier in Russia is 70 thousand rubles in the standard finish and 74 thousand with side panels made of natural wood.