Pro-Ject MaiA All-In-One Integrated Amplifier

The Pro-Ject Maia all-in-one integrated amplifier is replaced by the Pro-Ject Maia S2 all-in-one integrated amplifier.

The MaiA all-in-one amplifier by Pro-Ject (My Audio Integrated Amplifier) is a truly remarkable amplifier and digital-to-analogue converter.

Pro-Ject Maia: front panel

It has a brushed aluminium front panel, available in either silver or black.

There are two buttons on the front panel for source selection, but you can also do this, as well as adjust the volume, using the remote control provided with the device. Small LED lights indicate the selected source. The volume potentiometer is motor driven and made by Soundwell.

The Pro-Ject MaiA also has a headphone output (6.35mm jack) on the front.

Pro-Ject Maia: back panel

It can accommodate up to 9 different sources. It has 5 digital inputs (1 S/PDIF coaxial, 2 Toslink optical, 1 type B USB, 1 Bluetooth input) and 3 analogue inputs: 2 RCA stereo inputs and 1 3.5mm jack input). You can also use it to listen to your vinyl records through its MM phono input.

The Bluetooth input lets you listen to music through any Bluetooth-enabled device. This means you can stream your favourite tunes from any Bluetooth smartphone, tablet or computer. The MaiA uses the aptX codec to achieve the same sound quality as a CD. To use the Bluetooth function, just screw on the antenna to the back of the Pro-Ject MaiA to get reception reaching up to 10m.

The type B USB input lets you connect the Pro-Ject MaiA to a computer so that you can listen to music via streaming platforms or internet radio. The USB port uses an XMOS microcontroller (24 bits/192 kHz).

The digital coaxial and optical inputs enable you to connect the MaiA to sources such as a CD player (e.g. the Pro-Ject CD Box S player) or any other device with a digital coaxial or optical output (TV, radio tuner, satellite receiver, etc.).

It also has two analogue inputs for devices with analogue outputs. 

Pro-Ject Maia: circuit board

The main circuit board takes up just over half of the box’s surface area. It contains the phono preamp, aptX Bluetooth receiver, the USB interface and various power supply regulations.

The Bluetooth card uses a CSR (Cambridge Silicon Radio) receiver module. The chopper amplifier circuit board can be inserted into a connector at the edge of the main circuit board.

This amplifier also has a specific circuit board dedicated to headphones.

This amplifier is a Texas Instrument TPA6111A2 with a power output of 150mW. It also uses a Cirrus Logic CD4344 chip (24 bits/192 kHz) for digital to analogue conversion.

Pro-Ject Maia: listening and review

Combined with a pair of bookshelf speakers (e.g. Speaker Box 5 Positive Technology), the Pro-Ject MaiA delivers a detailed sound. Its 2 x 25W power capacity is more than enough for small rooms.

It delivers highly satisfactory tonal balance and dynamic range, as well as a lovely sense of spaciousness. 

The all-in-one Pro-Ject MaiA integrated amplifier is a truly astounding amplifier. It is compatible with a wide range of digital and analogue sources, and it’s worth noting that it’s extremely rare for an all-in-one amplifier to have a phono input.

All of these functionalities and excellent sound quality make this a truly standout integrated amp – the Swiss army knife of the Hi-Fi world!