Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Pro-Ject Juke Box S2

The Juke Box S2 is a Pro-Ject Audio Systems one-box stereo record deck housing a phono stage, a Bluetooth receiver, a preamplifier and a power amplifier inside the chassis, so a pair of passive speakers completes the system. Pro-Ject developed it from the earlier Juke Box E, moving to an acrylic platter and a Pro-Ject cartridge of its own, and the launch MSRP was EUR 699 including VAT. Rather than lacquer, the frame comes in walnut or eucalyptus wood. Pro-Ject aimed it at listeners who have no space for a stack of separate two-channel electronics.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 2 x 50 W into 4 ohm. Bluetooth and a single analogue line input serve as sources, and there are speaker terminals, a fixed line out, a variable out and a phono out. Changing between 33 and 45 rpm is manual. Speed variance is 0.8 % at 33 rpm and 0.7 % at 45 rpm, and wow and flutter is 0.29 % and 0.27 %. The 8.6 inch aluminium tonearm pivots on sapphire bearings and offers 218.5 mm effective length, 22.0 mm of overhang and 8.0 g of effective mass. Its pre-mounted counterweight covers cartridges of 3 to 5.5 g, and a 0 to 25 mN tracking force range is preset to 18 mN. Maximum consumption is 150 W. The unit measures 415 x 118 x 334 mm (WxHxD) and weighs 5 kg net.

Engineering and use context

A low vibration synchronous motor with a DC power supply turns the 300 mm acrylic platter through a silicone belt, and the platter spins on a stainless steel bearing seated in bronze. The pre-mounted cartridge is the Pick it 25A, with tracking force and anti-skating set at the factory, and the phono section applies RIAA equalisation. Special feet decouple the deck from its support. A high contrast display sits on top, the sockets are gold-plated, and an acrylic lid and an IR remote control are included. Through the rear line input, a CD player or other second source can use the built-in amplifier.

Pairing

Pro-Ject explains that turntables with built-in speakers pick up vibration and place the speakers too close together, while active speakers fed straight from a deck limit cable length to about 1.2 m. With the amplifier inside the Juke Box S2, the speakers can stand far apart, reducing the risk of acoustic feedback. The variable output can also feed a subwoofer or powered speakers.

Alternatives

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is the sister one-box model using an ABS polymer platter, electronic speed change and a pre-mounted Ortofon OM5e.