Anyone still happy with the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 digital? Moved on to something better?

[arcman]

I purchased mine when if first came out in the UK (I had it shipped to US) and I must say after 5 years (exactly this month), I am still really happy and see no reason to switch to anything new. Although I no longer need MQA (I dropped Tidal in favor of Qobuz), the S2 with a Zen streamer makes an unbeatable combination. I have tons of DSD SACD rips and the unit sounds flawless.

 

Anyone still quite happy with theirs or have you moved on to something else?

[firedog]

You shouldn't ask such a question😀; it causes Audiophillia Nervosa.

I doubt anything recent will make you happier.

[arcman]

6 hours ago, firedog said:

You shouldn't ask such a question😀; it causes Audiophillia Nervosa.

I doubt anything recent will make you happier.

I think you are right. I may upgrade in another few years.

[creativepart]

I moved on a few years ago to Chord Qutest and feel it's much sweeter sounding than the Pro-Ject. I especially find the soundstage to be wider and instruments distinctively laid out. Full-disclosure - at the same time I added a SoTM SMS200 Ultra and have linear power supplies on both the SoTM and the Chord. So, it's not a direct comparison to the Pro-Ject. But the over all sound is vastly more satisfying in my system.

[VASKA]

I moved from the Project S2 Digital to the Project PreBox RS2 about a year ago.

 

I think it all depends on what budget you want to spend.

At its price point the S2 is very-very good. A few days ago I suggested it to a friend looking at this price point.

But it is also getting older now....as a design. The only problem I ever had with the S2 was drop-outs during MQA playback in many songs. So I had stopped using MQA. I think for the better also. Then I moved on to DSD upsampling.

 

The RS2 has opened up a "whole new sound world" but it is also priced at 2k euro, so cannot possibly compare the two.

 

If you want something "really different" in terms of sound experience I would go for an R2R....Denafrips Aries.

I know everyone suggests this DAC but it is true. Such good sound for the money. Not a preamp though...

[ProJectAudio]

Hi there! Pro-Ject launched an updated model of the Pre Box S2 Digital called the "Edition 23" in July 2023. The unit looks the same on the outside but has upgraded power supplies and a higher output headphone stage among other niceties!

[Christopher S. Johnson]

I have tried and failed to find a source to purchase the Edition 23. Did it just sell out quickly? Or has the actual release been delayed?

[ProJectAudio]

Hi there Chris! Please get in touch with our U.S. distributor for availability. Pro-Ject Audio Systems' U.S. distributor is "Finesounds" https://finesounds.com.

[arcman]

I am still quite happy with the S2. However, I am going to look for a DAC with balanced output connections. I will move the S2 to my desktop system. Moving up to the two Pro-ject Dac with Balanced outputs is too expensive. I'm really tempted with Denafrip's offerings. The Ares ii (Now called Enyo) and the Pontus look really nice. I'm curious about R2R dacs due to reviews stating how musical sounding they are (Of course there are so many opinions).