A phono stage for MM cartridges with a Bluetooth 5.2 transmitter built in, the Phono Box E BT5 sends the sound of a turntable, or of a line source, to Bluetooth headphones, speakers and receivers using aptX Adaptive and aptX HD.
Phono Box E BT5: from turntable to Bluetooth
It has two separate inputs: phono on RCA for a turntable fitted with a moving magnet cartridge, and line on a 3.5 mm jack for another source. There are two outputs as well, line on a 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth, and both can run at once. Wired to an amplifier it behaves as a normal MM phono stage; alternatively it converts the analogue signal and transmits it to a Bluetooth receiver up to about 10 m away.
Transmission relies on Bluetooth 5.2 with the aptX, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD codecs, so with a compatible receiver wireless listening takes place in high definition. For use with a hi-fi system the manufacturer recommends partnering it with the BT Box E HD receiver, which guarantees compatibility with the high-resolution link.
The phono section has 34 dB of gain, 47 kohm input impedance and 100 pF of capacitance; the highest voltage the phono and line inputs accept is 800 mV. RIAA equalisation stays within 0.5 dB between 20 Hz and 20 kHz, distortion is below 0.04% and the noise floor is 74 dB A-weighted. A metal screen inside the case, gold-plated RCA connectors and the supplied 18 V external adaptor complete the design.
Specifications
- Type: MM phono stage with Bluetooth transmitter
- Bluetooth: version 5.2 with aptX, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD
- Bluetooth range: about 10 m
- Inputs: phono on RCA, line on 3.5 mm jack
- Outputs: line on 3.5 mm jack plus Bluetooth, both live together
- Phono input load: 47 kohm
- Phono input capacity: 100 pF
- Phono gain: 34 dB
- Maximum input voltage: 800 mV, phono and line
- Noise floor: 74 dB, A-weighted
- Harmonic distortion: below 0.04%
- RIAA accuracy: 0.5 dB or better from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
- Power: supplied external adaptor, 18 V / 500 mA DC
- Current draw: 200 mA DC
- Size (width x height x depth): 120 x 32 x 100 mm
- Weight: 280 g, adaptor excluded
- Finishes: black, white
