Фонокорректоры — Pro-Ject Phono Box E BT 5

The Phono Box E BT 5 from Pro-Ject Audio Systems combines an MM phono stage and a Bluetooth transmitter in one small case. Pro-Ject presents it as a way to turn any turntable with an MM cartridge into a wireless streamer, while still allowing a normal cable connection to a hi-fi amplifier. It sits in the entry level E line of the Box Design range and buyers can choose between black and white versions.

Key specs that matter

Connections include two inputs - a phono input on RCA sockets and a line input on a 3.5 mm jack - and two outputs, a 3.5 mm analogue line out and the Bluetooth link. The phono input loads the cartridge with 47 kohm and 100 pF and provides 34 dB of gain. The line input takes up to 800 mV. Noise is specified at 74 dB A-weighted, THD below 0.04 percent and RIAA accuracy within 0.5 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The wireless section uses Bluetooth 5.2 with the aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs, and range reaches 10 m. Power comes from an external 18 V, 500 mA DC supply, with a working draw of 200 mA DC and under 1 W in standby. The case is 120 x 32 x 100 mm and weighs 280 g without the adapter.

Engineering and use context

The unit applies RIAA equalisation to the cartridge signal, then either passes it to the analogue output or converts it for transmission over Bluetooth. Support for aptX HD and aptX Adaptive lets compatible receivers take a higher resolution stream than basic Bluetooth codecs allow. The separate line input means a second analogue source, for example a CD player, a tape deck or a phone with a headphone output, can also be sent wirelessly, which makes the box useful as a general Bluetooth transmitter for older equipment. Only moving magnet cartridges are covered, since there is no MC setting. The small case fits beside a turntable on the same shelf, and the analogue line output allows a short cable run to a nearby amplifier or powered speaker.

Pairing

Any MM cartridge designed for the standard load is a match for the phono input. Wireless headphones, active Bluetooth speakers and Bluetooth receivers connected to an amplifier can take the stream, ideally with aptX HD or aptX Adaptive support. For a wired system the line out connects to an amplifier through a mini-jack to RCA cable.

Alternatives

The Pro-Ject Phono Box E is a wired MM stage in the same case size with 40 dB of gain and one pair of RCA sockets for input and output.