Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital

Pre Box RS2 Digital High-end pre-amplifier, DAC, Headphone amp The most universal & future-proof high end pre-amplifier, DAC, headphone amp! The Pre Box RS2 Digital is the bigger brother of our award winning and ground breaking Pre Box S2 Digital. It uses the same excellent sounding DAC chips as the S2 version, proving once again that the Pre Box S2 Digital was already at the very top of high-end DACs and absolutely beyond its competition. Based on the same core-design principles, the feature set is extended and driven to new heights. The result is a fantastic sounding and very versatile box. The perfect partner for the cream of the crop of high-end amplifiers and speakers alike!       The Pre Box RS2 Digital is a DAC and preamplifier that uses a dual-mono configuration of the highest-class D/A converters from ESS Sabre. ESS9038Q2M chips provide the highest sound quality in price-affordable, high-end circuits. Unlike most of DAC´s in this price range, the Pre Box RS2 Digital includes dual DACs and separate signal paths for the left and right channels. Also thanks to these converters, the Pre Box RS2 Digital supports up to 32-bit / 768 kHz files in PCM and DSD formats (up to DSD512) via USB, covering any digital file you can buy or stream. The analog output is a buffer that is both solid state and high-quality tube. Thus, the customer can choose which of the option is preferred. The Pre Box has eight digital filters. One of them is the proprietary optimal transient digital filter from the MQA creators. With these filters, the listener can customize the sound to suit their own preferences. Pre Box RS2 Digital comes with full HW and SW support for MQA technology (Master Quality Authenticated).   In the Pre Box, the USB input signal is processed by a powerful multi-core XMOS microcontroller with advanced Multi-Core RISC architecture. The CPLD MAX II (Complex Programmable Logic Device) Altera is used for re-clocking, which together with the XMOS microcontroller brings high-quality processing of both classical and MQA technology. For the ideal use of this technology, it is best to connect the Pre Box to our Stream Box S2 Ultra in conjunction with the TIDAL service. You can also enjoy MQA quality by linking it with our new revolutionary CD transport, the CD Box RS2 T. The CD Box RS2 T can be connected to the Pre Box by reliable I²S differential bus where the Pre Box RS2 Digital also provides the master clock (16.9344 MHz). The headphone amplifier is the ultimate design. No compromise. No coupling capacitors. Not even on the output. All of the the amplifier is DC coupled. A very fast DC servo assures no DC voltage on the output. Its output power is suitable for all kind of headphones. A premium full aluminium remote control is included in the packaging and the Pre Box RS2 Digital is available in a high-quality silver or black aluminium case. The big display screen on the front shows all relevant information in an easy to read, clean and structured way. Navigating the menu is very responsive and fast, allowing you to set up the unit to your preferences in seconds!     Features Dual Mono DACs: 2x ESS9038Q2M High Quality optionally selectable upsampling of PCM and/or MQA content with propriatory filtering Advanced re-clocking powered by new XMOS chip with Mulit-Core RISC architecture 9 digital inputs: i²S, AES/EBU, Toslink, S/PDIF coax, Bluetooth v4.0 Analogue: Pre-out XLR/RCA/headphone, RCA input Fully balanced double mono design Output stage switchable between 6922 tube & solid state Ultra-linear and ultra low noise New high-quality display with responsive and fast UI design High quality full Aluminium remote control included Available in silver and black         REVIEW & AWARDS Pro-Ject Audio Systems Pre Box RS2 Digital DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amp - Read More "If I were to sum up my thoughts on Pro-Ject’s Pre Box RS2 Digital in one word, that word would be gestalt, which Merriam-Webster defines as “something that is made of many parts and yet is somehow more than or different from the combination of its parts.” Throughout my listening, I was struck by how integrated, how completely together, music sounded through the Pre Box RS2 Digital. Everything -- fundamentals and overtones; transient attacks, sustains, and decays -- cohered into a compelling sonic event." - Gordon Brockhouse Test Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital + CD Box RS2 T – Minis of format - Read More "Big HiFi from small housings - the new Pro-Ject RS2 combo is the ultimate understatement solution for discerning music lovers. In keeping with the motto "be more than you seem", it scores in an unspectacular way with highly developed audio technology that is otherwise only found in absolute top components. The Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital also impressively proves that outstanding sound quality and flexibly adjustable sound properties can very well be combined.  " - Jürgen Schröder   Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T, Pre Box RS2 Digital Review - Read More "I will admit that at heart I am an analog guy, and I love LP records and turntables. In fact, I listened to my Rega RP6/ Ania Pro Rega Fono MC combination through the RCA inputs on the Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital during my evaluation. The sound from my LP records was superb through the Pro-Ject pre-amp. However, if there was a CD playback system that would sway me over, it would be the Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital and the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T. The Pro-Ject combo had me wanting to listen to CD after CD. This Pro-Ject combo brings the musicality and natural details I hear in the best analog. Add to that, the tremendous strengths that digital playback offers, and I think the Pro-Ject pair, while not expensive by high-end standards (but still pricey) does offer a great bargain. They allowed me to hear new details and re-experience old favorites in my music catalog. After all, isn’t that what the audiophile experience is all about? Did I mention that these units are fun to use and listen to? Maybe not for everyone, but if you have a discerning ear and love music, you will find the Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital and the Pro-Ject CD Box RS2T dear to your heart. Is this the best I have heard CD sound, you bet! Recommended? Absolutely! " - Francisco Licon   Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T / Pre Box RS2 Digital CD Player/DAC - Read More "If Pro-Ject is attempting to lead a CD revival, as it did with LPs in the company's earliest days, then it has a pretty serious dog in the fight in the form of this two-box combination. Not only does all the engineering effort pay dividends in a sound combining solidity with vibrant detail, but the DAC/pre/headphone amp also has the ability to inject new life into everything up to and including top-rate DSD files. " - Andrew Everard TEST: Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital – High-end sound center with preamplifier, headphone amp and DAC - Read More "The small Pro-Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital is a real winner: On the amplifier side, the sound cube offers an excellent HiFi preamp and an excellent, discretely constructed headphone amplifier; on the converter side, the Pre Box RS2 scores with a high-end DAC that converts HiRes files up to PCM 768 kilohertz/32 bit and DSD512 excellently. In addition, the box offers numerous optimization options for sound gourmets and lynx ears with upsampling, reclocking and eight digital and three analog filters. The switchable tube output stage rounds off the sound offer in the truest sense of the word. When it comes to inputs and outputs, the Pre Box RS2 leaves nothing to be desired: It offers a balanced and an unbalanced analog input, digitally it offers a USB port, an AES/EBU interface, two optical and an electrical S/PDIF input - and if you want to connect the CD player from the RS2 series, you will also find an I²S connection. There is even an official Bluetooth streaming as a wireless playback path. So that the conversion and amplification system can be passed on appropriately, the Pre Box RS2 also has a balanced XLR connection in the output section - in addition to the standard unbalanced RCA sockets. With this performance package and the wonderfully clear, low-noise and transparent audio performance, this Pre Box proves to be a highly attractive top box in terms of both sound and price. " - Volker Frech       SPECIFICATIONS DAC 2x ESS9038Q2M (dual mono - 32bit/768kHz/DSD512) Digital inputs 1 x USB 2.0 Audio 32/768 + DoP and Native-DSD up to DSD512 1 x I2S for CD Box RS2 T 2 x S/PDIF optical 24/192 1 x S/PDIF coaxial 24/192 1x AES/EBU balanced 24/192 MQA Support full MQA unfolding by hardware Line-level input 1 pair XLR 1 pair RCA Input impedance 15 kOhm Output impedance 180 Ohm solid state, 220 Ohm tube Analog outputs Pre-out (XLR & RCA), Headphone (6,35mm jack) Headphone output power 90 mW / 300 Ohm; 245 mW / 32 Ohm; 150 mW / 8 Ohm THD+N (20Hz - 20kHz) < 0.006% solid state/0.017% tube @ 2V RMS, 1 kHz Masterclock output 16,9344MHz for CD Box RS2 T Bluetooth Version Fully embedded Bluetooth® v4.0 Bluetooth Codecs SBC, AAC, AptX Output Buffer  discrete and balanced, tube and solid state Tubes 4 x 6922EH Power supply 20V/3A DC, 110-240V/50, 60 Hz Power consumption max. 1,2A DC, <0,5W in standby Dimensions W x H x D (with sockets) 206 x 72 x 222 mm Weight 1710 g without power supply