Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital: MQA HW decoding at reasonable cost

[Javier de Esteban]

Hi! 

Thanks for your help. I've been a hiden reader of this forum for some time!

I have a problem... I have just received the DAC this morning and when I plug it (USB or the provided power supply) I just get the  Pro-Ject logo fixed in the screen. None of the buttons work either.

Is this something others have suffer? Am I doing something basic wrong? Is it only mine that doesn't work?

Thank you so much for your help!!

Best!

Javier

[Javier de Esteban]

Thank you guys!

After thousands of plug in/plug out, I have finally been able to run it for a few minutes. I have played MQA from Tidal with no issues but it has stopped playing when I have changed to a non MQA song.

Then I have changed to Qobuz and I got no sound either.

So I have unplugged and plugged again and got to the logo only phase again.

Any other thoughts or should I just return it and ask for a new one?

thanks again!!

j

[Javier de Esteban]

Thanks!

 

If I leave it unplugged for a while and then just connect the power DC 5V it works. It's when I plug the USB when it starts failing.

 

May it be an issue of the cable? Actually I am waiting to receive a good one, the one I am using is a cheap printer cable.

 

Thanks!

[Javier de Esteban]

Hi again!

Just received a replacement for the S2D and works perfect!

Thanks again for you help.

Now I am thinking on upgrading it with an EPS. Which one would you recommend? I have read the recommendations from the designer, but I am not so expert to decide which would be the best option on the budget/mid range.

Thanks!

Javier

[Javier de Esteban]

Thanks!

Please apologize me for my ignorance but, what's the difference between the provided PSU and a cheap linear wall-wart?

I assume that the provided is not linear, right?  

I was thinking on the iFi until I read about the designer recommendation.

Best!

J

[Javier de Esteban]

crystal clear now! thanks once again!!!!

[Javier de Esteban]

Hi!

 

I am having issues decoding TIDAL Masters:

 

- 1st some songs (like Taylor Swift's Lover) turned on and off the MQA decoding. Always the same songs.

- Then some albums (like The Beattles' Abbey Road) were not decoded as MQA.

- Now none MASTER album is decoded as MQA.

 

I have tried using different laptops and cables but I have the same issues.

 

Anyone having the same issues? I have reached to MQA and they say is not any issues in TIDAL.

 

Thanks!

 

Javier

[Javier de Esteban]

12 hours ago, TomETS said:

Javier:

 

My solutions to MQA problems:

 

In More Settings:

 

Use Exclusive Mode : On

Force Volume: On

Enable software decoding (MQB purple light fix a lot of issues)

 

Then I cancelled Tidal, gave up on MQA and got Amazon Music High Res.  Was running Windows upsampling at 384K (problem in repair described above.). Cheaper than Tidal with an Amazon prime account.  Sounds good, at least at 384K.

 

Tom

 

 

Thanks Tom, 

 

I have done everything and still the same....

 

I have even tried Amazon now, High Res doesn't look to be available in Spain...

 

So I have launched Qobuz to see if they have improved and they have a new 25€/month subscription... it sounds great and better High Res catalogue than TIDAL MASTER's... so I think I have to say goodbye to TIDAL after a few years.

 

Thanks!

 

J