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Might be the combination of the 2MBLue and phono. The 2MBlue is a bit 'clean' (I own one) but I also own a Eastern Electric Minimax phono, so like I tube with a 2MBlue and the tubes 'help' it out a bit. A 2MBronze or most Nagaoka cartridges might swing back to the solid state phono
I don't want to throw water on your purchase, however let it be known that 12AX7 vacuum tube were never designed to be operated at low voltages (below 50 V, B+). If you pull up the data sheets, they are not characterized to operate at below 50V, maybe that's why people keep "rolling" them to find ones that are better than others. Also with aging what sounded good in 2023, may not sound good in 2025. I would like to see someone offer pre-amps that actually are operate as the tubes were meant to be operated, say 48 V B+
The Tube Box DS2 is AMAZING I have had mine for 5 years and It is my go to when playing Vintage records like Cream- Wheels of Fire, that come off sounding thin on my SL-Q2, 2M black, DJ pre II setup, Plug it into the Tube box and it has this MEATY PUNCH added to the drums and guitar especially Bass Guitars. The funny part is I bought it to go with my Ortofon 2M black but ended up being a better match for my vintage Carts instead like my ADC Integra and AT-92E and Empire 2000E so much so that I have it EXCLUSIVELY reserved for MY Pioneer PL518 that is my mono and vintage setup and My Technics SL-1200 MKII and SL- Q2 stay on their solid state DJ pre II
Had the original DS for a while with some Gold Lion gold pin 12ax7s. Great sounding amp. Highly recommend popping a pair of those Gold Lions in, it'll bring the sound to a new level. They would probably mesh well with your 2m Blue.
The "Tube" DS2 is just a DS2 with valve buffers! They are both solid state. The "tube version" is the same circuit with tubes at the outpuit to buffer and hence colour the sound. It is a pleasant 2nd order distortion being added. It is NOT a proper tube phone stage. A true tube phono stage is alot more expensive to implement properly and sounds considerably more open and alive. for the money the DS2 Tube Box still does a great job.
Full phonostage stages are xpensive if paid in UK. My 2 box valve fono 202GBP from Ali Express... Sounds xcellent... Middle class Western audiofools deserve 2 get ripped off lol
They are more expensive because they require alot more engineering by known experienced folk and using high quality components throughout to be better than SS ones. Your cheapo no name stage made by god only knows who using god only knows what is likely total garbage in reality and obviously isnt a true valve phono stage (power supp, inputs, outputs). The Project Tube Box S2 is 350 quid (aka cheap) and sounds good and is built in EU, designed by a known entity and is discrete dual mono components.
Almost 700 euro today ............not worth the price ! ECC83 ...........and about rare : expensive nos tubes , better reserve them for the very best tube amplifiers . Build yourself a real tube RIAA.......
In the "What is the best phono preamp under $1k" category I would really love to see a comparison between the Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL, the Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B and the Classic Audio MM Pro!
Hi Marc, just a quick question i have a carbon evo with upgraded acrylic platter and aluminium sub platter with the ortofon 2m blue ive also upgraded the power supy in your opinion which phono preamp would you say was the best out of the project phono box ds2 or the Ifi Zen Phono preamp ? Many thanks in advance for your advice.
Difficult to give a definitive "better" in a lot of cases, but there are pros and cons to each. Both are actually quite neutral sounding pre-amps. The Phono Box DS2 I think is at a bargain price at the moment as I think a DS3 edition is possibly in the works. The Pro-Ject is definitely a better option if you want easy control of cartridge loading settings, as you'll have less control with the Zen. I was very impressed with how quiet the Zen is and it may be a touch quieter in terms of noise floor than the Pro-Ject. The buttons on the Zen can feel a little cheap and less responsive than the Pro-Ject ones though, so there are pros and cons. The Zen is also more compact, of course, if that is a selling point for you. I hope that helps and I haven't just confused you further - haha. Both will be great with your setup.
@@soundmatters Thank you Mark that has really helped me I appreciate your help I've seen the project tube for £329 and the ifi zen for £174 at the moment I have a basic project phono box e and want to upgrade to match the upgrades I have on the turntable. But thanks once again for your advice I will now have a think and buy one Cheers Mark all the best.
I just purchased the ds2. I connected it via aux input to my emotiva ta1 and it sounds horrible. My turntable is a fluance rt85 with ortofon blue. Any suggestions?
I have the original phono box DS on my second turntable and I think it is a great performer but not as good as my Rega Fono mk5 on my first turntable which to use your words is more transparent. I have obviously tried both on each turntable and the Rega is the winner every time in blind tests with the help of my wife and sons. The Rega has a better sound stage and is exciting, instruments have a more realistic sound. Both are fed by MM cartridges, a Linn Adikt on table one and a Linn K9 on table two but I have also used a Sumiko Pearl MM on both decks for the comparison. It seems like the tube version has a lot of great features but at that price it has a lot of excellent competition that I personally would be looking at first.
There is a very faint glow, but the tubes are also quite set in, so if it’s a dramatic effect you’re looking for, this probably isn’t it. Thanks for your comment by the way 🎶🎧
Thanks for watching! 🎶🎧 Do drop your comments and questions below. If you'd like to support the channel, check the video description for many DISCOUNT CODES codes to enjoy money off various products and feed your vinyl habit! (I earn a small commission - no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!
Might be the combination of the 2MBLue and phono. The 2MBlue is a bit 'clean' (I own one) but I also own a Eastern Electric Minimax phono, so like I tube with a 2MBlue and the tubes 'help' it out a bit. A 2MBronze or most Nagaoka cartridges might swing back to the solid state phono
I don't want to throw water on your purchase, however let it be known that 12AX7 vacuum tube were never designed to be operated at low voltages (below 50 V, B+). If you pull up the data sheets, they are not characterized to operate at below 50V, maybe that's why people keep "rolling" them to find ones that are better than others. Also with aging what sounded good in 2023, may not sound good in 2025. I would like to see someone offer pre-amps that actually are operate as the tubes were meant to be operated, say 48 V B+
If you're getting a £600 Tube-Box, you might want to upgrade your cartridge, probably to an OM or Quintet Black...
I have the Phono Box DS2, buyed it used for 160Euro and it is great with my Philips turntable and headphone amp/headphones
The Tube Box DS2 is AMAZING I have had mine for 5 years and It is my go to when playing Vintage records like Cream- Wheels of Fire, that come off sounding thin on my SL-Q2, 2M black, DJ pre II setup, Plug it into the Tube box and it has this MEATY PUNCH added to the drums and guitar especially Bass Guitars. The funny part is I bought it to go with my Ortofon 2M black but ended up being a better match for my vintage Carts instead like my ADC Integra and AT-92E and Empire 2000E so much so that I have it EXCLUSIVELY reserved for MY Pioneer PL518 that is my mono and vintage setup and My Technics SL-1200 MKII and SL- Q2 stay on their solid state DJ pre II
Yep: loving mine so far! Great to hear from someone else with the same positive experience 🎶🎧
How much capacitance do you have set for 2m black? Im not sure if i have set it right on s2
Had the original DS for a while with some Gold Lion gold pin 12ax7s. Great sounding amp. Highly recommend popping a pair of those Gold Lions in, it'll bring the sound to a new level. They would probably mesh well with your 2m Blue.
Thanks for the upgrade recommendation! Much appreciated 🎶🎧
I also run gold lion 12ax7’s in my tube box s2. Sounds great to my ears
The "Tube" DS2 is just a DS2 with valve buffers! They are both solid state. The "tube version" is the same circuit with tubes at the outpuit to buffer and hence colour the sound. It is a pleasant 2nd order distortion being added. It is NOT a proper tube phone stage. A true tube phono stage is alot more expensive to implement properly and sounds considerably more open and alive. for the money the DS2 Tube Box still does a great job.
Full phonostage stages are xpensive if paid in UK. My 2 box valve fono 202GBP from Ali Express... Sounds xcellent... Middle class Western audiofools deserve 2 get ripped off lol
They are more expensive because they require alot more engineering by known experienced folk and using high quality components throughout to be better than SS ones. Your cheapo no name stage made by god only knows who using god only knows what is likely total garbage in reality and obviously isnt a true valve phono stage (power supp, inputs, outputs). The Project Tube Box S2 is 350 quid (aka cheap) and sounds good and is built in EU, designed by a known entity and is discrete dual mono components.
The Tube Ds2 would have been nice with an USB output for transferring to a digital signal for backing up rare an obsolete analogue records
@matthewtaylor7355
Have you got a link please.
Almost 700 euro today ............not worth the price !
ECC83 ...........and about rare : expensive nos tubes , better reserve them for the very best tube amplifiers .
Build yourself a real tube RIAA.......
Bought a tube box DS2. Looking forward to setting it up soon.
Enjoy! Hope you like it 🎶👍🎧
Thank you so much for your video! I've looking at the same phono preamp and this is certainly reassuring 😅
Glad it helped! Thanks for watching. Enjoy the new preamp!
In the "What is the best phono preamp under $1k" category I would really love to see a comparison between the Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL, the Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B and the Classic Audio MM Pro!
Hi Marc, just a quick question i have a carbon evo with upgraded acrylic platter and aluminium sub platter with the ortofon 2m blue ive also upgraded the power supy in your opinion which phono preamp would you say was the best out of the project phono box ds2 or the Ifi Zen Phono preamp ?
Many thanks in advance for your advice.
Difficult to give a definitive "better" in a lot of cases, but there are pros and cons to each. Both are actually quite neutral sounding pre-amps. The Phono Box DS2 I think is at a bargain price at the moment as I think a DS3 edition is possibly in the works.
The Pro-Ject is definitely a better option if you want easy control of cartridge loading settings, as you'll have less control with the Zen.
I was very impressed with how quiet the Zen is and it may be a touch quieter in terms of noise floor than the Pro-Ject.
The buttons on the Zen can feel a little cheap and less responsive than the Pro-Ject ones though, so there are pros and cons. The Zen is also more compact, of course, if that is a selling point for you.
I hope that helps and I haven't just confused you further - haha. Both will be great with your setup.
@@soundmatters Thank you Mark that has really helped me I appreciate your help I've seen the project tube for £329 and the ifi zen for £174 at the moment I have a basic project phono box e and want to upgrade to match the upgrades I have on the turntable.
But thanks once again for your advice I will now have a think and buy one
Cheers Mark all the best.
@@Danny.1.007 no worries at all. Anything else, let me know
try the Pro- Ject 500 ultra
Have you tried to roll the tubes in the ds2? If so, can you please post a how-to video? I hear it’s a little tricky!
What a choice, i have both tube and solid state amps. I admit they are different no question about it.
I use depending on how i feel at the time .
Tube for sure, great vlog !!
Thanks Steve! Happy spinning 🎶🎧
I just purchased the ds2. I connected it via aux input to my emotiva ta1 and it sounds horrible. My turntable is a fluance rt85 with ortofon blue. Any suggestions?
Did you turn off build-in pre-amp in your gramo?
Now there is the DS3-B!
Balanced in and out! Indeed. Project seem to be on a roll with the balanced products. Makes me wish I had the new X1B!
I have the original phono box DS on my second turntable and I think it is a great performer but not as good as my Rega Fono mk5 on my first turntable which to use your words is more transparent. I have obviously tried both on each turntable and the Rega is the winner every time in blind tests with the help of my wife and sons. The Rega has a better sound stage and is exciting, instruments have a more realistic sound. Both are fed by MM cartridges, a Linn Adikt on table one and a Linn K9 on table two but I have also used a Sumiko Pearl MM on both decks for the comparison.
It seems like the tube version has a lot of great features but at that price it has a lot of excellent competition that I personally would be looking at first.
I have the ds3-b and X8 TT....satisfied.
What turntable is that in the video?
Pro-Ject X1 🎶🎧
Do the tubes light up when in use ?
There is a very faint glow, but the tubes are also quite set in, so if it’s a dramatic effect you’re looking for, this probably isn’t it. Thanks for your comment by the way 🎶🎧
Ecosystem....lol