Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 – CD player of the new Pro-Ject Box Design DS3 Series

With the audio CD player Pro-Ject CD Box DS3, Pro-Ject Audio Systems presents the first solution of the new Pro-Ject Box Design DS3 Series. This is intended to be a compact solution specialised solely in the best possible playback of audio CDs.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems describes the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 as a high-end audio CD player, which the company now presents as the first component of the completely new Pro-Ject Box Design DS3 Series. Even though it is the latest generation of this product series, the manufacturer promises that the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 can be easily integrated into existing solutions based on the previously offered Pro-Ject Box Design DS2 Series.

The new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 builds on the best features of its predecessor, the Pro-Ject CD Box DS2, but adds a new D/A converter to raise the quality to a new level.

Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 – The first device of the Pro-Ject Box Design DS3 Series

Pro-Ject Audio Systems offers its electronic components in the form of the Pro-Ject Box Design Series, which in turn has several families. First of all, there is the entry-level Pro-Ject Box Design E Series, the Pro-Ject Box Design S Series, and the Pro-Ject Box Design DS Series, which is only surpassed by the Pro-Ject Box Design RS Series.

Up to now, the Pro-Ject Box Design DS2 Series was the current one, now, as already mentioned in the introduction, the latest generation in the form of the Pro-Ject Box Design DS3 Series is heralded. As with the generation change of the Pro-Ject Box Design S2 Series to the Pro-Ject Box Design S3 Series, the new Pro-Ject Box CD Box DS3 is an audio CD player that heralds this change.

True Red Book Audio CD Player

Once again, Pro-Ject Audio Systems explicitly points out that the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 has been designed to focus purely on the playback of Red Book-compatible audio CDs.

The Red Book standard specifies the parameters for Digital Audio Compact Discs, also known as CDDA or Audio CDs.

Compared to solutions that rely on a universal drive and could therefore also play DVDs or even Blu-rays, a drive that is limited to the 1:1 playback of audio CDs should be able to offer significantly higher reliability, performance and ultimately quality.

StreamUnlimited CD-80 Blue Tiger Servo as the basis

Pro-Ject Audio Systems has been working very closely with the Austrian specialist StreamUnlimited Engineering GmbH for years, and this also applies to the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3. The StreamUnlimited CD-80 Blue Tiger Servo is used as the basis for this solution, which is the brain of the audio CD player in the figurative sense and is therefore largely responsible for its performance.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems describes this crucial component as one of the most advanced solutions on the market.

The drive is designed as a slot-in drive, with an OLED display directly below it and four buttons for convenient control.

A matching infrared remote control is of course part of the scope of delivery of the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3.

Texas Instruments PCM1796 DAC

Another important component of the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 is, of course, its D/A converter, which is now based on a Texas Instruments PCM1796 D/A converter.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems explains that they can observe that more and more manufacturers are opting for converters with the highest possible bit resolution, as such specifications in the data sheet look good, but are ultimately not decisive.

High-end designs, according to the company, still rely on converters such as the Texas Instruments PCM1796 DAC, which has an analogue, smooth and thus particularly appealing sounding character.

From Pro-Ject Audio Systems’ point of view, this converter is the perfect choice for an audio CD player that comes as close as possible to an analogue record, and in this respect Pro-Ject Audio Systems, as the world market leader in the field of record players, has undisputed expertise.

Nevertheless, those who want to use external converters can of course also do so with the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3, because in addition to its analogue output in the form of a pair of cinch sockets, an optical as well as a coaxial S/PDIF interface are available here.

Intelligent 4-point suspension

A decisive factor for the quality of an audio CD player is, of course, that the data is read out as free of interference as possible. To achieve this, the drive unit must be kept free of resonances and vibrations. Pro-Ject Audio Systems wants to achieve this with the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 with an intelligent 4-point suspension, as the company itself describes it.

This ensures perfect resonance dissipation and also prevents the transmission of external vibrations. High-frequency vibrations, such as those caused by the fast movement of the laser, are diverted into the solid chassis via a single hard point, while the three other suspension points are elastic.

Sturdy, elegant aluminium housing

As in the past, the latest generation of the Pro-Ject Box Design DS3 Series relies on a solid, but at the same time elegant aluminium housing. According to the manufacturer, this is also an essential feature to prevent vibrations and electromagnetic interference.

Of course, you can choose between silver and black, but what is new is that the optional side panels in various wood versions are no longer permanently mounted, but held in position by magnets, and can therefore be removed and replaced at any time.

The new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 measures 206 mm in width, 194 mm in depth and 72 mm in height. It thus weighs 1.66 kg.

Plug-in power supply as standard, optional power supply as upgrade

As before, the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 relies on an external power supply, whereby a suitable plug-in power supply with 18 V and 1 A DC is included in the scope of delivery.

However, if you want to upgrade, the optional Pro-Ject Power Box DS2 Sources is the right solution in the form of a linear power supply. According to Pro-Ject Audio Systems, the power supply is a crucial part of the audio path, so that these upgrade options are not only offered to customers, but clearly recommended.

Prices and availability

The new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 will be available from specialist dealers immediately. As already mentioned, you can choose between a silver and a black version. You don’t have to decide on the optional side panels with wooden finish (Pro-Ject DS2 Wooden Side Panels), because they can be retrofitted and exchanged at any time. They are not included in the scope of delivery. The recommended retail price for the new Pro-Ject DS3 CD Box is € 699.

Getting to the point

Pro-Ject Audio Systems is launching the latest generation of the Pro-Ject Box Design DS Series with a new audio CD player, the new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3. As in the past, the focus here is deliberately on pure playback of Red Book-compatible audio CDs, equipping them with a new converter, an outstanding servo and a sophisticated suspension, in order to achieve the goal of offering a true high-end audio CD player at a particularly attractive price.