The Stereo Box E is the entry point to Pro-Ject’s E-Line electronics range, sitting below the S-Line and DS-Line in the manufacturer’s hierarchy. Despite its compact dimensions and accessible price, it offers a breadth of connectivity and amplification quality that belies its position at the foot of the range.
Amplifier Design
At the core of the Stereo Box E is a fully analogue pre-amplifier and power amplifier stage, delivering 2 × 21W into 8Ω or 2 × 40W into 4Ω at less than 0.12% THD. The low-noise amplifier circuit is inspired by designs found in Pro-Ject’s higher-end electronics, resulting in a signal-to-noise ratio of 90dB (A-weighted) and channel separation of 60dB at 1kHz. The chassis is constructed from heavy-duty steel with a brushed aluminium front panel.
Connectivity
Seven input options cover virtually every source type. A built-in moving magnet (MM) phono stage with 25dB of gain allows direct connection of a turntable without an external phono pre-amplifier. Two further analogue inputs are provided via RCA and 3.5mm jack. On the digital side, two optical and one coaxial S/PDIF input feed the built-in high-resolution DAC, enabling connection of streamers, CD transports, and other digital sources. Wireless streaming is handled by Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and aptX HD codec support.
Outputs include binding posts compatible with 4mm banana plugs, spades, or bare wire for the main speakers, plus a dedicated RCA subwoofer output for bass reinforcement. A 6.3mm headphone jack on the front panel automatically mutes the speaker outputs when connected. A USB-C power output (5V/1A) is provided for powering low-consumption streamers directly from the amplifier, eliminating the need for a separate power supply.
Control and Usability
Operation is straightforward via the front panel controls or the supplied Control it 1 system remote. Input selection, volume, and power are all accessible from either. The external 20V/3A DC power supply keeps the internal layout clean and the chassis compact at just 206 × 51 × 186mm (W × H × D) and 2kg.
The Stereo Box E is also available as part of two pre-configured systems: the Stereo Set E1 (paired with the E1 turntable and Speaker Box 5E speakers) and the CD Set E (paired with the CD Box E and Speaker Box 3E Carbon speakers).