Why buy a headphone amp?

High-performance headphones need high-quality amplification to perform up to their full potential. If you connect them directly to the headphone jack on your computer, iPod®, or stereo receiver, you may be disappointed. A separate headphone amplifier sends a stronger, cleaner signal to your headphones.

Our take on the Pro-Ject Head Box S

by Dave Bar

Give your headphones the power they deserve

Top-notch headphones are a great way to experience reference-quality sound for a fraction of the price of a high-end loudspeaker system. But if you're plugging your 'phones straight into the headphone jack on your stereo or PC, you could be missing out on the subtle differences that separate great recordings from the merely good ones. That's because a lot of manufacturers use low-cost, low-fi circuitry to drive their headphone jacks — leaving you with uninvolving, one-dimensional sound.

Enjoy a big sonic upgrade

Pro-Ject's Head Box S headphone amp delivers the power you need to bring out the best in your headphones and your tunes. Connect it between your music source and your 'phones to experience richer, deeper bass, clearer highs, and gobs more detail. You'll also hear farther into your favorite recordings for that "you are there" feeling.

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Highlights:

low-distortion headphone amplifier
front-panel on/off switch
full-metal housing protects against interference
recommended headphone impedance: greater than 30 ohms
THD: 0.003%
frequency response: 30Hz to 20kHz at -0.05dB (10Hz to 120kHz at -1dB)
signal-to-noise ratio: 95dB at full output (A weighted)
gain: 11dB
connections:
- 1 pair line-level RCA stereo audio inputs
- 1 pair line-level RCA stereo audio outputs
- full-size 1/4" stereo headphone output
outboard power supply with 5' DC cord included
weight: 21 ounces (without power supply)
4-1/16"W x 1-7/16"H x 6"D
warranty: 2 years
Our 60-day money-back guarantee

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What’s in the box? | In-depth notes

Product Research

What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

Headphone amplifier
AC power supply (with attached 5' DC cord)
Instructions For Use

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Features
Specifications

Features

Overview: The Pro-Ject Head Box S headphone amplifier is a compact audio amplifier designed particularly to drive headphones. The external headphone amplifier allows for higher possible volumes and greater audio clarity than the smaller, inexpensive integrated headphone amplifiers that are used in most of today's home receivers or audio players. The Pro-Ject headphone amplifier connects to a line-level (RCA-type) input & output of your AV receiver or directly to the line-level (RCA-type) output of your audio source.

Note: Available with a black or silver front-panel.

Construction: The Pro-Ject Head Box S headphone amplifier employs a metal case to shields the circuitry from vibration and electromagnetic interference.

RCA Input/Output: The Pro-Ject Head Box S headphone amplifier features gold-plated stereo input and output RCA phono jacks. The headphone amplifier's connects to your AV receiver's Tape monitor or CD-R/DVR inputs & outputs. It can also connect directly to your audio source's (CD player, Tape, Turntable) audio output.

Headphone Output: The Pro-Ject Head Box S headphone amplifier is equipped with a front-panel 1/4" headphone jack to plug in your headphones.

Volume Control: The Pro-Ject Head Box S headphone amplifier features a front-panel rotary volume knob to control the volume level of your connected headphones.

Power Requirements: The Pro-Ject Head Box S headphone amplifier operates off of standard household current using the included oversized outboard power supply.

Specifications

Headphone Jack: 3-pole, 1/4"

Gain: 11dB

Power Output: 330mV/30-ohms, 60mV/300-ohms

Headphone Connection: >30-ohms

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 95 ref. full output (112dB-A weighted)

Frequency Response: 30Hz-20kHz (+/-0.05dB), 10Hz-120kHz (-1dB)

THD: 0.003%

Power Supply: Input = 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz, max. 0.6A / Output = 15V - 500mA (18V)

Power Consumption: 18V/100mA

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5 out of 5

Excellent headphone amplifier

Written By thebadfrog, North Oakland County Michigan on Thursday, May 09, 2013

Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)

I have a set of those Bose super-dupper noise cancelling headphones. I want to listen/watch my "blood-guts-monster" movies that my wife can't stand. This amplifier is fantastic. Simple to use. Great sound reproduction. I plug into my aux out RCA jacks [no head phone jack] on the HDTV and turn down the sound on the HDTV speakers. Nobody can hear my movie but ME ..... Yahoooooo'ey .. my wife can watch the movie [ if she chooses] but can't listen to it LOL LOL LOL .....! Perfect selection to get great sound out of great headphones and watch great "blood-guts-monster" movies.

Pros:

It works as advertised and sounds even better !

Cons:

None ..

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5 out of 5

Works Great

Written By BillD, Wilkesboro, NC on Friday, August 03, 2012

Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)

I hooked this this little amp up to the component output of an older portable CD player and was very impressed with the results. It brought the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 headphones I was plugging directly into the CD player into their own. Crisper, highs, clearer bass that was not over emphasized, and a more natural sound stage. It put the quality of my vintage Kenwood Basic home system on my desk. As another reviewer stated, the unit out of the box was good but a little rough; after a couple hours it sounded nothing short of great.

Pros:

Compact size, simple hook up, great sound

Cons:

I should have bought one a long time ago

2 out of 2 people found this helpful

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5 out of 5

It works.

Written By Curt, Chewelah on Friday, July 06, 2012

Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)

Hooked this up to an old NAD CD player and Sennheiser HD 555's. Previously (over the years) used headphones plugged into Marantz, Sony, Denon receivers or integrated amps.

The amp sounded harsh at first. I left it running for a while, listened to it some more, it got broke in, I got used to it. Now, it sounds great. Made a significant difference in the sound.

I always thought the sound depended more on the source and the headphones than the amp. Now, I think it might be about even among the three.

Pros:

Works, sounds good.

Cons:

Costing me more money. Shopping for closed headphones now, for more isolation for when it's noisy around here.

4 out of 4 people found this helpful

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5 out of 5

Great little unit

Written By John S, Vermont on Saturday, May 26, 2012

Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)

This little unit sounds great. I am not using it conventionally though. I have it hooked up to the variable pre-amp output of a TV. I have the headphone output hooked to a Cambridge Soundworks powered stereo speakers and sub set up. Great clean sound from this mini headphone amp.

Pros:

Easy to set up, small size, great sound.

Cons:

Zilch.

2 out of 2 people found this helpful

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1-4 of 4

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Pro-Ject Head Box S

Headphone amplifier (Black)

Item# 252HDBXSB offer details

Review Summary

By buying this product you'll earn up to 136 Rewards points.

Why buy a headphone amp?

Our take on the Pro-Ject Head Box S

by Dave Bar

Give your headphones the power they deserve

Enjoy a big sonic upgrade

Highlights:

Shop all Pro-Ject Headphone Amplifiers

Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Product Research

Our Product Research Team

Features

Specifications

Product Reviews

Reviews for the Pro-Ject Head Box S

Average Customer Review:

Review this product:

Crutchfield Video Review Guidelines

Filter by rating:

Excellent headphone amplifier

Works Great

It works.

Great little unit

Accessories

Add accessories for the Pro-Ject Head Box S

Use high-quality RCA patch cables to make clean, noise-free audio connections. See all categories & accessories

Smart people protect with SquareTrade- The best warranty at the best price

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