Pro-Ject Vinyl NRS Box S3 - LP Record Noise Reduction System

The Problem with Old Vinyl

Most vinyl collectors have old or damaged records that cannot be replaced by a new pressing. There’s also plenty of music not uploaded to streaming platforms and vinyl may be the only option for reproducing the music. Though there’s no doubt that some noise and clicks are part of the vinyl experience, at excessive levels it’s no longer charming and a prized record might just be destined to stay on the shelf the remainder of its life. Pro-Ject saw this as a solvable problem, and now we want to bring those records back to your rotation. The solution has arrived. We call it Vinyl NRS Box S3.

How does it work?

First connect the output of your phono preamplifier to Vinyl NRS Box S3. In operation, the line-level signal is digitized with a depth of 24bits and a sampling rate of 96kHz. If the input signal is too loud, an overload LED will alert you. You can then activate the -6dB switch for more manageable gain.

De-Crackle

The real magic happens in the digital domain where the signal is filtered so as not to interfere with the processing itself. High- frequency artifacts are used as a marker for crackles. The dedicated algorithm can now detect these peaks. You can easily adjust the sensitivity with the potentiometer on the front. The LED gives you instant feedback on the processing. Crackle can be reduced by up to 8dB (a big improvement for the listening experience). If you don’t want to use the de-crackle function, just turn the potentiometer fully left and the algorithm will go into bypass mode.

Vinyl Noise Reduction System (VNRS)

The signal is first separated into two frequency bands. It is then fed to two expanders which increase the signal-to-noise ratio. There are no audible noise modulations with this technique, and we are able to reduce noise by up to 8dB.

Connection & Setup

The Vinyl NRS Box S3 is connected between the phono preamp and your line preamp or integrated amplifier. When you turn it on, Vinyl NRS Box S3 is immediately active. When you don’t want it in the signal chain, simply turn it off and the device is bypassed. The inputs are galvanically connected to the outputs for no-impact relay in bypass.

There are two de-crackling intensity algorithms available. The basic algorithm processes the signal only slightly, the advanced one processes it more heavily. Always try the basic setting first, adjusting the intensity with the potentiometer. By pressing the “Intensity” button you can engage the advanced mode if desired and/or if necessary. The LED indicates when clicks & crackles are reduced. If you‘re happy with the de-crackling setting but you can still hear a lot of noise, you can now activate the Vinyl Noise Reduction feature by pressing the VNRS button. There is only one preset for the Vinyl Noise Reduction feature and it cannot be customized in the same way the de-crackling adjustment can be.

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 aluminium housing
• Available in silver or black

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