A phono stage for MM cartridges with a 24-bit / 96 kHz analogue-to-digital converter, this Optical Box E Phono carries a turntable, or a line source, into equipment that only has digital inputs, such as soundbars and home cinema receivers.
Optical Box E Phono: connections and uses
There are two inputs, phono on RCA and line on a 3.5 mm jack, and two outputs that operate together: an analogue line output on a 3.5 mm jack and a Toslink optical one. The incoming signal receives RIAA equalisation, if it comes from the turntable, and is converted to digital at 24-bit / 96 kHz for the optical output; the analogue one remains available for a conventional amplifier.
Several uses follow from this layout. You can hear one record on two systems at once, for example a soundbar over optical and a stereo over line. You can treat it as an extra input for a system that is short of them. And you can digitise not just the turntable but a line source too, such as a tape deck or a tuner. It still serves as a plain MM phono stage with a line output.
The phono section provides 43 dB of gain into a 47 kohm, 100 pF load; RIAA accuracy is held within 0.5 dB between 20 Hz and 20 kHz, with distortion under 0.04% and a noise floor of 74 dB. The inside of the case has a metal lining to block radio-frequency interference and damp vibration. The RCA input is gold-plated and the 18 V external adaptor comes in the box.
Specifications
- Type: MM phono stage with A/D converter
- A/D conversion: 24-bit / 96 kHz
- Inputs: phono on RCA, line on 3.5 mm jack
- Outputs: line on 3.5 mm jack plus Toslink optical, both live together
- Phono input load: 47 kohm
- Phono input capacity: 100 pF
- Phono gain: 43 dB
- Noise floor: 74 dB
- 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, 106 mm including sockets
- Weight: 250 g, adaptor excluded
- Finishes: black, white
