Latest news with #ProJect
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
It's a good day for head-fi fans: two big audiophile brands just released small headphones amps, and you might want both
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Campfire Audio Relay is a USB-C DAC/amp for headphones Pro-Ject Head Box E is a very small desktop headphones amp Campfire Audio Relay: $229 / £229 | Pro-Ject Head Box E: £89 (about $120) Two of our favorite hi-fi firms have released two very different headphone amps. One's designed to live on your desktop, and the other in your pocket or purse, but both promise a significant audio upgrade for fans of the best wired headphones and best wired earbuds. The amps are the Campfire Audio Relay, a portable headphone DAC/amp with a USB-C connection; and the Pro-Ject Head Box E, a compact desktop headphone amplifier. Both are available from July 2025, and both cost less than you might expect. Campfire Relay and Pro-Ject Head Box E: key features and pricing Let's start with the most affordable of the pair, the Pro-Ject Head Box E. That's just £89 / €119 (around $120 / AU$180), and unlike similarly priced amps it doesn't use an integrated chipset for its amplification: Pro-Ject says that it has used carefully selected discrete components to deliver a sound that punches above the amp's modest price tag. The Head Box E delivers 665 milliwatts into 32 ohms, and it's deliberately simple: it has a pair of 6.3mm and a 3.5mm headphone outs on the front – which can be used simultaneously for shared listening – and RCAs on the back. The RCA out is bypassed so it can send unaltered audio to your hi-fi system. According to Pro-Ject, it "outperforms the headphone stages typically found in stereo amps". The Campfire Audio Relay is even smaller, and it's built around the AKM 4493 SEQ DAC chip that according to Campfire, delivers "just the right amount of color and a touch of a classic analogue sound signature." It has 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm outputs and USB-C for wide connectivity with phones, tablets and computers. The Relay has selectable high/low gain, six filter modes and variable bit rates up to 32-bit / 768kHz, and it supports both PCM and DSD playback. The Campfire Audio Relay is £229 / $299 / AU$399 and if you're in London this weekend you'll be able to check it out at CanJam London. You might also like The best wired headphones 2025, all tested by us The best headphone DACs of 2025 so far This Bluetooth DAC and headphone amp is stunningly well-priced
Forbes
18-06-2025
- Forbes
Pro-Ject's Uni Box S3 Streaming Amplifier With WiiM OS And A Warm Analog Sound
the new Uni Box S3 from Pro-Ject is an integrated streaming amplifier that keeps analog signals ... More separate from digital signals. Pro-Ject Audio Systems has launched the Uni Box S3, an integrated amplifier with WiiM OS streaming technology. Pro-Ject has taken a different approach from many other streaming amplifiers, preserving the analog character of the sound by keeping the analog signal path intact. Many streaming amplifiers convert all signals to digital, but the Uni Box S3 keeps analog sources analog. That means a turntable, FM tuner or other line-level devices retain their original sonic character. The new Uni Box S3 is built around the same dual-mono architecture as Pro-Ject's acclaimed MaiA S3. At the heart of the Uni Box S3's streaming system is the WiiM OS streaming technology which provides support for Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, TuneIn and lots of other digital streaming services. A Cirrus Logic DAC takes care of the playback with support for digital files up to 24-bit/192kHz. Many streaming amplifiers convert all signals to digital, but the Uni Box S3 keeps analog sources ... More analog. That means a turntable, FM tuner or other line-level devices retain their original sonic character. This new amplifier is controlled using the Pro-Ject Home smartphone app, which makes setting everything up straightforward. There is support for multi-room playback with other future Pro-Ject devices. Users can even stream connected analog sources such as a turntable to other compatible devices in the home. The Uni Box S3 includes a moving magnet phono stage for a turntable, plus an analog volume control with a motorized potentiometer. There is a dedicated headphone amp with a full-size 6.3mm output, which many purely digital devices eschew for Bluetooth wireless connectivity. When it comes to Inputs, there are three analog, three digital, HDMI eARC for TV audio, plus wireless inputs using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1. Outputs include gold-plated speaker terminals and a variable RCA output for subwoofers or second zones. The Pro-Ject Uni Box S3 has plenty of analog and digital inputs as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a ... More subwoofer output. Not only does the Uni Box S3 manage to keep the rich and lifelike character of analog sound, but it is also designed with sustainability in mind. The compact design means the case has significantly less aluminum than full-size amplifiers. By separating the analog amplifier from the streaming module of the Uni Box S3, even if streaming technology evolves or becomes obsolete, the amplifier can still perform as a high-quality analog sound system. The Pro-Ject Uni Box S3 is built in Europe and is available now in silver or black Finnishes. The price is $1,099 / £699.00 / €799. Henley Audio exclusively distributes Pro-Ject in the U.K.
WIRED
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
The Pro-Ject Flatten It Uses Heat to Fix Warped Records
Photograph: Chris Haslam A quick trip to a thrift store plus five minutes with a hair dryer, and Rod Stewart's Greatest Hits was warped almost to the point of no return. Two hours in Flatten It, however, and it's as good as nearly-new, with no discernible damage to the grooves. Putting the records in and setting the clock is a simple if time-consuming process, but it works brilliantly. I've been able to resurrect a few old favorites that haven't played properly since 1993, and for that I owe Pro-Ject a debt of thanks. A Worthy Competitor Photograph: Chris Haslam At $1,000 MSRP, you're going to need to be a wealthy and fastidious collector or a record store or dealer to make it worth your while. For most of us, we'll want to wait until a well-heeled friend or local store has shelled out for one. If you stumble across Ringo's spare but warped copy of The White Album , it'll be a wise investment. Most casual collectors will find it more useful for restoring nostalgic favorites than valuable gems. Pro-Ject's Flatten It isn't the only solution. Brave souls who don't want to buy vinyl accessories have been putting their warped records under heavy flat surfaces for years, and even in the oven. Don't do that. There are other options: Japanese audio brand Orb has the DF-01iA+, which costs around $1,500, while Vinyl Flat offers a cheaper solution featuring a simple record clamp and heated blanket for a total of $224, although I've not tested either yet. For now, the Flatten It remains the best solution I've tried. It works a treat.
