Pro-Ject MC Step Up Box DS3 B - NEW

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General:

A New/Old Way to Upgrade Your MC

Low output MC cartridges send an output that’s about a tenth the output of MM cartridges. This means they require a specialty phono preamp with more gain & different electrical parameters… unless you add a step-up transformer to prep the signal for your MM phono stage!

The MC Step-Up Box DS3 B works very differently from a phono preamplifier. The windings ratio of the transformer determines the gain factor. As it’s a passive device that doesn’t require a power supply, no additional power can be produced. The increase in voltage is achieved by a corresponding decrease in current.

As there is no amplification, the MC Step-Up Box DS3 B is remarkably low in noise & distortion with a lively, dynamic & natural sonic signature.

Lundahl LL 1678 Transformer – Balanced Capability

For the MC Step Up Box DS3 B we use high quality Lundahl LL 1678 audio transformers to ensure that all musical detail passes through. You can set the transformer ratio with a push of a button on the back panel. Use single-ended RCA or go balanced with the XLR input & output to benefit from low-noise, interference-free signal transmission. Select the input & output with the buttons on the front. Additionally you can adjust the gain level at 24 or 30dB.

Why Use a Step-Up Transformer?

Once upon a time, step-up transformers were all but required for the optimal handling of a low output MC cartridge’s signal. Active amplification technology was simply too noisy back then (defeating the purpose of the low output design). A step-up transformer removes active amplification from the equation & passively boosts the signal the old-fashioned way. Operating entirely apart from mains power, it’s an opportunity to silently add 24 or 30dB, which amounts to an output that’s comparable to MM cartridges (this is why a step-up transformer’s output is connected to an MM phono preamp input). Needless to say, modern active amplification has improved by leaps & bounds. MC phono preamps can apply all the necessary gain without inducing excessive noise levels… yet there remains a niche population of critical listeners who continue to swear by the performance of the step-up transformer. It’s just a different approach that, pending your low output cartridge and MM preamp, may be just what you’re after!

Designed & Handmade in Europe

The Step-Up Box DS3 B is carefully designed and handmade in Europe. Our goal is to develop a technically flawless device in a housing that is only as big as necessary. Due to the timeless design & rigid aluminum chassis, the MC Step-Up Box DS3 B is built to last an eternity. With high-quality materials and components and a well-thought-out design, Pro-Ject brings the concept of MC step-up transformers back into the conversation.

Balanced XLR
Interference free
A balanced connection can extract the final musical information, effectively filtering out any noise from interferences stemming from our noisy, modern homes.

Settings
Match your cartridge
Switch the in- and output & adjust the gain on the front. The cartridge impedance can be set on the back with a push of a button.

Ownership:
Brand New

Connections:
RCA, XLR

Cosmetic Condition:
New = Factory sealed and unopened. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Specs:
Frequency response 10Hz - 55kHz:+/- 1dB
Recommended load:47 kOhm / 100pF
Transformation ratio:1:16, 1:32
*nput MC:1x pair RCA phono sockets, XLR
Output:1x pair RCA phono sockets, XLR
Weight:1740 g

Dimensions:
WxHxD:206 x 79 x 197 (209 with sockets) mm

Weight:
3.8 lbs.

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best