Pro-Ject MaiA S3 Review - Small Amp, Big Sound?
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- Опубліковано 14 лип 2024
- Pro-Ject recently announced the launch of their upgraded MaiA integrated amplifier. The new MaiA S3 is said to boast several upgrades on the original design to deliver flexibility and audiophile-quality sound in a compact design. The fundamental question is: can the S3 punch above its weight?
For such a small device, it's relatively feature-rich, sporting an integrated phono-stage (based on Pro-Ject's Phono Box, plus aptX™ HD Bluetooth connectivity and additional RCA and Toslink digital inputs.
The impressive connectivity options in such a small housing should satisfy the majority of listeners looking for a central HiFi hub in compact living spaces.
As a vinyl enthusiast with limited space, I'm always seeking high-performing kit for less-than-ideal listening environments. Could the MaiA S3 be a solid base from which to nurture your obsession for music on wax?
#vinylcommunity #audiophile #homeaudio #vinylrecords
Wonderful review, I think you're one of the few people I've seen that actually looked at this amplifier and shared your thoughts. I a month ago picked up the matching S3 CD player mostly because of its small form factor which I love and have been consistently impressed with the sound quality.
As a side note how are you doing with the heat in the UK now?
Thanks! Glad you liked the overview. Yea, for its size and for small living spaces, I think it's ideal. I've got my eye on Pro-Ject's CD units as I still love CDs. They're also some of the best bargains going right now in charity/thrift stores.
Regarding the heat, it was pretty toasty in there recording this video, put it that way! The laptop fan and a couple of lights don't help either - haha! It's cooled down significantly today, thankfully.
@@soundmatters well I appreciate your love and evident enthusiasm for records i myself gave them up a long time ago. Yes it is a fine CD player, like I said I picked it up mostly because of it smaller form factor which is great because in my smaller listening space it doesn't take up a lot of room and I also like the slot load mechanism as well.
Heat? In the UK? Where? :0)
@@williamr3840 well at the time I was seeing reports on my local news regarding a heat wave in England. The reports kept asking how will the British people stand to this type of temperature. I myself wondered as well because I've read where a lot of UK homes don't have air conditioner and I lived in New York for a few years in the late 2000s and a lot of the old buildings in the city don't have air conditioner either and you just sort of learn to open the window.
@@Audiorevue Is that when all the records got warped? :0)
Good review! But I couldn't help noticing the record playing... and the stylus moving continuously from side to side (and slightly warped)! Also noticing the stylus bobbing about on the white coloured vinyl. I'm just in the process of going through a load of new vinyl I bought, some of which are displaying signs of being punched off centre. Will be taking them back, along with others that are warped. Such a drag.
Do you think though that it's usual to see a slight amount of warping in all vinyl records -- given that they are mass-produced? Is this a norm?
Great review thank you. I live in a small flat and worry about my neighbours but still want some bass. I thknk im beyond anything too entry level though. Would you recommend i get this and the speakers?
Thanks for your kind words. It's a great little amp, highly recommend it. I did buy it for my living room in the end. The Pro-Ject speakers were ok, but a little boxy in the mid-range to my ears. I'd look at a set of Klipsch speakers personally, as I much preferred them. Happy listening!
You didn't really say how it sounds, you said it was impressive with one set of speakers and reasonable and spoke about low end, but that doesn't really tell us anything about the sound quality.
I know it's hard to describe sound quality, most audio reviewers waffle on about highs, extension, imaging, soundstage, mids, thin, lean, body, upper registers, low end, etc
But never actually talk about instruments and voices sounding like REAL instruments and voices, or the scale of the soundstage and imaging matching REAL LIFE scale eg, does it sound like a real 6ft tall person is singing, does the grand piano sound like a REAL sized grand piano is playing in your listening room?
Trying to describe highs, mids and lows means nothing, just tell us how close it gets to sounding like REAL actual sized instruments playing.
That's what most people want to know 😊
Question: is this a phono stage too? Is there any way to select MM or MC?
Thanks for your question. Yes, there is a built in phono stage. This will take MM or high-output moving coil cartridges. It's not switchable for regular low-output moving coil carts. Hope this helps!
Hi @soundmatters! I hope you can help me (please?)
I'm going to buy a new integrated amplifier and I found the Pro-jet MaiA S3 and the Pro-ject Stereo Box DS2 at the same price on an online store. I saw on the video, that you owned the DS2, so I would like to know which one you would recommend me. I live in a medium to small apartment and my doubt is if the 23W of the S3 would be OK, or if the 80W of the DS2 would be a little too much. Also I heard that the Bluetooth works better on the S3 and I would like to know if you have experienced any problem using the DS2 with your phone (I have an iPhone)
Thank you so much in advance! Your thoughts will really help me to make my decision!
If you want something for audiophile listening, I would go with the Stereo Box DS2. I think the reason they’re the same price is that Pro-Ject have released a new DS3 version with AptXHD Bluetooth (which the S3 has).
But to be honest, if you’re mostly using Bluetooth for casual listening, the AptX regular Bluetooth will serve you just fine.
I have the S3 as more of a casual listening station in the living room with the family, and it’s great, just not as good as the Stereo Box DS2, which is in my vinyl den just got me :)
Let me know how you get on. Hope this helps!
can you use the bluetooth to connect to bluetooth headphones to listen to vinyl
Unfortunately, it’s a Bluetooth input only for this one. Hope this helps
Can you bypass the integrated preamp and add a better preamp?
Yes. Using on of the inputs from 2 onward.
is Maia S3 a preamp or amp please?
Integrated amplifier. So pre and and amplifier in one
Album punched off center huh
I little, sadly. I noticed this as I was editing the clip, but then I'm not reviewing the album. I'm looking for another copy of this album. Damm off-center pressings are all too common. That's another video entirely:
ua-cam.com/video/58Xv1jP-oes/v-deo.html
@@soundmatters I know, pet peeve of mine…
Entry level amp? Compared to what, Macintosh?