Pro-Ject – Vinyl NRS Box S3 & Debut PRO S Turntable
All Image Credit: Project
Looking to breath new life into your old battered vinyl collection, Pro-Ject has just the device. The new Vinyl NRS Box S3 removes the crackles, pops and other noises common to older records, making them sound almost new.
It connects between the phono stage and amplifier and uses a digital signal processing algorithm at 24-bit / 96kHz to clean up the sound. It also includes a hard-wired bypass feature so that when playing your pristine vinyl you do not have to remove it from your signal chain.
Basic Operation
The incoming line level signal is digitized to a bit depth of 24-bits at a sampling rate of 96 KHz. If the input is too high, the overflow LED will light. You can then activate the -6 dB switch to lower the gain.
De-Crackling is achieved by using the high frequency components as markers for them and filtering out the main signal so as not to interfere with their detection. These peaks are then detected and processed by the DSP algorithm. Sensitivity is adjusted using the front panel potentiometer with the LED giving you instant feedback on the process. According to Pro-Ject crackling can be reduced by up to 8dB, if not required just turn the front control to OFF.
The defeatable vinyl noise reduction is achieved by first separating the audio into two frequency bands and then driving two expanders which are used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. According to Pro-Ject this technique offers up to 8dB of noise reduction without any audible noise modulations.
Features:
- De-Crackling function to reduce clicks
- Noise reduction for vinyl records
- Reduces noise of the turntable drive
- Processing based on DSP with 24 bits
- 96 kHz sampling rate for precise processing
- Galvanic pure bypass if switched OFF
- Ideal transfer characteristics and linearity
- De-Crackling with adjustable sensitivity
- Line-level operation
- Compact design in standard S3-line case
- Full aluminum housing
- Available in silver or black
Technical Specifications:
- Input voltage, typically: 300-500 mVrms
- Max. input voltage (clipping): 4.4Vpp, 1.55Vrms
- Internal sampling: 96 KHz/24bits
- Internal processing: 56 bit accumulator, double precision
- Frequency response 20Hz to 20 kHz: -0.6 dB / +0,1dB
- Frequency response 30Hz to 20 kHz: -0.2 dB / +0,1dB
- Clip indication: -0.6 dB below real clipping
- Bypass mode: galvanic linked together (Rlink<0.3 ohm)
- THD: <0.009% (500 mVrms Input Level)
- VNRS noise/rumble reduce: up to 8dB (20Hz to 20 kHz)
- De-Click reduce (basic): 8 dB (3kHz to 20 kHz)
- De-Click reduce (intensity): 12 dB (2kHz to 20 kHz)
Debut PRO S Turntable
Project has also just released an upgrade to their Debut PRO turntable, the new and improved Debut PRO S.
While keeping many of the innovations made with the Debut PRO, the Debut PRO S is better suited to systems where you need to change between turntable cartridges. One of the key features of the new turntable is the S-shaped tonearm that provides more control over cartridge selection and setup. Its aluminum tube is mounted into a precision-milled bearing housing, which sits on a mounting plate that allows for height (VTA-Vertical Tracking Angle) adjustment. If you have several cartridges then quick cartridge swap is supported by the SME-type headshell. Both azimuth and bias adjustments are also available.
The Debut PRO S comes with a pre-installed Pro-Ject Pick-IT S2 C moving magnet cartridge, but the new arm and full range of arm adjustments should allow for the cartridge and headshell of your choice.
The new 10″ S-shape tonearm required a larger and more stable MDF main chassis that was machine made and is finished in matte black. The sub-platter is driven by a flat rubber belt by an electronically regulated synchronous motor whose mounting plate is decoupled from the main chassis using TPE damped fixing points. All contributing to reduced vibrational interference.
Like the PRO, the PRO S includes a diamond-cut aluminum sub-platter and three height-adjustable, damped metal feet.
Included items; dust cover, a Connect-IT E phono cable, 7” single adapter, felt mat and separate power supply.
Technical Specifications:
- Speed: 33, 45/(78) (electronic speed change/round belt)
- Drive system: belt drive with electronic speed control
- Platter & bearing: 300mm, die cast aluminum platter with TPE damping and felt mat
- Wow & flutter: 33: +/-0,16%; 45: +/-0,14%
- Speed drift: 33: +/-0,40%; 45: +/-0,50%
- Signal to noise: 68dB
- Tonearm: 10“ S-shape aluminum; SME connector
- Effective arm length/mass: 254 mm / 8 g
- Overhang: 16 mm
Availability: Now
MSRP:
- Vinyl NRS Box S3:
- $334.00
- £289.00
- Debut PRO S:
- $923.00
- £799.00
Head to Pro-Ject’s website for more info on the Debut PRO S and the Vinyl NRS Box S3.
See my post on the Pro-Ject X Series Balanced Output Turntables.
Want to know more about turntable drives? Checkout Vinyl Turntable Drive Techniques and Turntable Motor Noise and Vibration.
Interested in the basics of tonearm and phono cartridge design then checkout these posts:
