Pro-Ject CD Box DS3

A compact slot-loading CD player with a drive dedicated to audio CDs and a Texas Instruments PCM1796 converter: it plays through its analogue RCA output or feeds an external DAC digitally.

CD Box DS3: drive and chassis

The CD Box DS3 does one job: it plays audio CDs to the Red Book standard. Its slot-loading drive is optimised for 1:1 reading of CD-DA and works with the Blue Tiger CD-80 servo that Stream Unlimited developed. According to the Italian distributor it also reads CD-R and CD-RW discs. Pro-Ject points out that a machine built only for CDs tends to play stereo discs better than a DVD or Blu-ray player does.

The chassis is solid aluminium, chosen because folded sheet metal lacks the torsional stiffness and mechanical accuracy needed to keep the laser exactly where it should be. The drive sits on a four-point suspension: three soft mounts isolate it from outside vibration, while the fourth, a rigid one, channels the high-frequency vibration created by the laser's quick movements into the chassis.

Internal conversion is by the Texas Instruments PCM1796 and the RCA line output delivers 2 V RMS, so the player connects to any preamplifier or integrated amplifier. Owners of an external converter can use the CD Box DS3 as a transport through its S/PDIF digital outputs, one optical and one coaxial. Controls are on the front panel and on the supplied remote, and a dot-matrix display with high contrast shows playback information. Trigger input and output are fitted; magnetic side panels in wood are sold separately.

Specifications

• Disc format: Red Book audio CD (CD-DA)
• Analogue output: one stereo RCA, 2 V RMS at 0 dBFS
• Digital outputs: one Toslink optical and one coaxial S/PDIF
• D/A converter: Texas Instruments PCM1796
• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz within ±0.15 dB
• Noise floor: better than 105 dBA from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Distortion (THD): under 0.018% analogue, under 0.005% digital
• Power: 18 V / 1 A DC
• Current draw: 300 to 600 mA; under 0.5 W in standby
• Remote control: supplied, takes two 1.5 V AAA cells
• Dimensions: 206 x 72 x 194 mm (width, height, depth), 200 mm deep including sockets
• Weight: 1660 g, power supply excluded
• Finishes: black, silver