Head Box S3 B - Headphone amplifier
silver - Pro-Ject

• Head Box S3 B - Headphone amplifier - silver - Pro-Ject

Compact, upmarket class with consistently balanced design
The Head Box S3 B from Pro-Ject marks a sophisticated and technically sophisticated entry into the world of balanced headphone amplifiers. Despite its compact housing format, it is based on a fully-fledged balanced circuit topology and is therefore clearly positioned above classic entry-level solutions. The device combines high flexibility, clean signal processing and practical power reserves in a space-saving design.
With an output power of up to 770 mW into 32 ohms in unbalanced mode, the Head Box S3 B easily drives the majority of dynamic as well as magnetostatic headphones. The extremely low distortion values ensure precise, controlled and artifact-free reproduction across the entire dynamic range. In balanced operation in particular, the listener benefits from a significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio and excellent channel separation, which is reflected in stable spatial imaging and increased detail resolution.
On the input side, both an unbalanced RCA and a balanced XLR input are available, which can be conveniently selected via a switch on the front. This is supplemented by an RCA bypass output, via which the input signal can be passed on loss-free to a downstream integrated amplifier or another component. This allows the Head Box S3 B to be seamlessly integrated into a wide variety of hi-fi setups.
The device is particularly versatile when it comes to the headphone outputs: Four connections on the front - 6.3 mm jack, 3.5 mm jack, 4.4 mm Pentaconn and 4-pin XLR - cover both unbalanced and balanced cabling standards. Two headphones can be operated in parallel, which makes the Head Box S3 B attractive for shared listening or comparison purposes.
All in all, the Pro-Ject Head Box S3 B presents itself as a technically mature, flexible headphone amplifier that convincingly combines compact dimensions with audiophile ambitions and practical features.

Highlights and features

• NEW Unique, fully balanced headphone amplifier topology
• NEW Powerstage with two TPA6120A2 chips
• NEW 770 mW balanced output power
• NEW Fully balanced signal chain for RCA and XLR inputs
• NEW Balanced headphone outputs: 4.4 mm and XLR
• NEW Redefines balanced headphone amplifiers in its price class
• Unbalanced headphone outputs: 3.5 mm and 6.3 mm
• Bypass RCA output for additional amplifier
• High-quality housing made entirely of aluminum
• High-quality controls and buttons made entirely of aluminum
• Color options: Available in silver or black
• Made in Europe

Technical specifications

• Output power: 670 mW/16 Ohm, 770 mW/32 Ohm, 300 mW/300 Ohm
• Headphone output: 3.5 mm, 6.3 mm, 4.4 mm balanced, 4-pin balanced XLR
• SNR: > 115 dB "A"-weighted at 1 kHz
• THD: < 0.002 % at 1 kHz @ 500 mV input
• Crosstalk: < -81 dB at 10 kHz
• Gain: 15 dB / 9 dB (RCA input / XLR input)
• Frequency response: < -0.25 dB at 20 Hz-20 kHz
• Analog inputs: 1 pair RCA/cinch, 1 pair XLR
• Analog loop outputs: 1 pair RCA
• Headphone impedance: min. 8 Ohm
• Power supply: 18 V/1 A DC, 110-240 V, 50/60 Hz
• Standby power consumption: < 0.5 W
• Dimensions W x H x D: 206 x 55 x 153 (170) mm
• Weight: 950 g without power supply unit