I streamed tons of FLAC files through my Squeezebox Touch and spun good old CDs in an attempt to get a read on the sonic signature of the Pre Box SE. What I discovered is that it was a pretty neutral performer, maybe leaning slightly towards the cool side. It was a perfect match for my Revox A722 power amp, which is a full, rich sounding amp. I would imagine the SE would also be a wonderful partner for a tube amp, providing precise and quiet operation.

I cued up a wide variety of music to put the Pre Box SE through its paces. Some of the discs I spun included Sound System: The Island Anthology by legendary reggae band Steel Pulse, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust (RykoDisc version), a lost classic from Wood, Songs From Stamford Hill, the great new album by Lisa Hannigan, Passengers, and the 2011 remasters of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and The Dark Side of The Moon. Across the board, and regardless of musical genre, the Pre Box SE was consistently engaging.

Conclusion:

I found very little to quibble about in evaluating Pro-Ject Audio’s magnificent little Pre Box Special Edition. Maybe the long break in time was a minor sticking point, but once you let the circuits burn in you are home free. It did run a bit warm to the touch, which probably is due to the small enclosure. For me this was an easy trade off, as the small size made it easy to integrate into any system in the house.  

Pro-Ject Audio has been an underground audiophile favorite for a number of years now.  Their inexpensive turntables and phono accessories have a cult following. They have managed to expand their market with smartly designed compact electronics, especially in Europe and Asia where space is at a premium.  The fact they sound terrific is the icing on the cake. At $499, the Pro-Ject Pre Box SE is around a $175 premium over the standard Pre Box. It gets you double the inputs, an LED display, and it is upgradeable with an external power supply.
I would love to hear the Pre Box SE with the Amp Box, which comes in mono or stereo configuration. I had one local dealer tell me it was a great combination.

I am impressed enough with the Pro-Ject Pre Box SE that I will be adding it to my bedroom system. That I have cables in that system costing more than the Pre-Box is rather amusing, but that is how enamored I am with it. Down the road I plan on matching it to a tube amp as well. For those on a budget who need a remote controlled, no nonsense, solidly performing preamp, the Pro-Ject Pre Box SE is it.

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3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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