I bought this Pro-Ject Phono Box Mk2 because of the lack of m.c. input in a recently acquired pre-amp. It’s extremely good for the price and I give it four stars (and an additional star for the speed of delivery). However, I decided to return it, only for the reason that it didn’t match the other components in my system (I suspected that this might be the case). This is an important point: equipment of this sort can only be as good as the rest of the set-up. Further, a phono stage should be thought of not as some means of creating a performance of its own but as not obstructing or degrading or colouring the flow from the preceding elements. In other words, how much does the unit let through of the information which the precedent equipment is retrieving from the record? This where I think this product was deficient — not because there was anything wrong with it per se but merely because it wasn’t on a par with the rest. (I’ve now acquired a higher spec’d phono stage, also by Pro-Ject—a Phono Box DS+. This gives a much more refined result — as it ought to at twice the size and four times the price!)I’ve no hesitation in saying that those who need a phono stage, have modest to middle grade equipment, and don’t wish to spend megabucks won’t be disappointed by this product. In the case of high grade equipment a phono stage of a higher spec will probably be necessary.One other consideration: those whose taste is for simple, electronically generated music, and those who find digital sound acceptable, needn’t be overly concerned: this product will serve them perfectly. Those whose preference is for real musical instruments played by skilled musicians and for trained voices, recorded in real environments by the best techniques of the analogue era, might find that the attendant sonic subtlety and refinement can be relayed to a satisfactory degree only through higher grade equipment.This product’s easy to use: "plug and play" says it all! It’s also light and compact.I hope these comments will help prospective purchasers of the Pro-Ject Phono Box Mk2.