I think the remaining MQA issue is at least partly an MQA problem (they supply the library to DAC makers), which might explain why it takes some time.
Personally I don’t use MQA and the DAC works very well for me. The only thing I miss is a properly implemented USB volume that updates the volume on the display.
Hi @Magnus
Do you play your files ‘natively’ to the DAC or up-sample with Roon? If the latter, what have been your personal preferences so far?
I use the ASIO driers and when I play DSD files I up-sample to 512, but for normal CD quality I up-sample to 352/384 since I prefer that sound over DSD, and I have my room correction files in that sample rate. If I didn’t have a convolution file to consider I would up-sample to “Max Power of 2”.
In Roon, I use “Precise, Linear Phase” and “5th Order (CLANS)” as filters. I don’t hear any difference between different DAC filters, but then I read the filters are disabled for higher sample rates so that’s probably why 
Hehe cool, thanks for sharing.
@brian: Hi,
Why Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital is sometimes advertised as “Roon Ready” certified ?
DAC without network connectivity (no ethernet input) isn’t it. “Roon Ready” and “Roon Tested” synonymous ?
See, for example, https://www.henleyaudio.co.uk/products/Pre-Box-S2-Digital … Seems confusing.
You’re correct, it is Roon Tested, not Roon Ready. I’ll have our marketing department chase them down.
May be that’s right… and I think there is more tidbits in MQA world - still no MQA in Amarra for Windows, still no Audirvana for Windows - with MQA on board. Isn’t it a bit too many those weird coincidences?
Technical problems? 'Cause sure not a marketing manipulation.
True,plus unprofessional measurements are rather useless.
at least someone is trying to measure audio gear and not doing dumb listening impressions which is only subjective and personal taste.
Amir’s hardware teardown of this unit:
Hi Rene, from my poor memory, your use case was using the S2 DAC’s built-in headphone amp and it’s stock PSU?
Hey @dabassgoesboomboom,
I moved your post to here as not to drift off topic in the other thread too much…
I used the S2 with a linear PSU (Aqvox) from the start. My only use case is with headphones. Finding the built-in headphone amp rather weak, I added a separate amp (Arcam rHead), which did help a bit, but still did not make for a compelling package. I also replaced the Cubox that was performing Roon Bridge and NAA duties with a microRendu.
The main reason for getting the S2 was building a headphone nook and getting my teeth into the colourful world of upsampling once again. I’ve sent DSD512 and PCM768 to the little box for a few weeks, but in the end found it (once again) unconvincing. I have a lot of respect for HQP’s achievements in this area and have been a license holder for a few years, but it never quite gelled with me. I can hear the different filters/modulator combos making a difference, but not always for the better. Different recordings/productions perform better or worse with different combinations, but I have been unable to find a golden combination that suits most (or all) scenarios.
That (and the questionable need for having workstation class hardware running at full blast just to listen to a Redbook album) makes the whole upsampling shebang get in the way of enjoying the music, as opposed to listening to my gear.
Not wanting to upsample also means that I don’t need a lot of the S2’s features. In the last week I listened to it ‘straight’, using the built-in filters (fast roll-off mostly), which was OK (with the rHead and microRendu), but nothing special. Little annoyances like the lack of a power button and the volume knob not always responding finally made me sell the unit and move on, buying a Meridian Prime that is something special.
Again, this is my use case (headphones only) and with my preferences – YMMV. Its a nice little box with great specs for a great price that appears to make a lot of people happy. I would have really liked to like the little bugger, but alas. In the words of my wife: “Next time, just get what you really want directly.”
Wise woman.
Can you elaborate on this?
Anyone have an idea when non-buggy firmware might be coming out?
Probably never
LOL. Even though they have said it’s being worked on (but gave no timeline) it’s best to think this way to avoid disappointment.
I use 2.12 and it works flawlessly for me, but I don’t bother with MQA. I heard that using another filter than optimal transient would at least partially fix the bug where sound gets thin when playing a non-MQA after an MQA.
The only thing I miss now is a proper USB volume, that also updates the volume in the display.
I use 2.12 as well with no problems at all, no problems with MQA whatsoever.
Here is a new review of the S2, I agree with most of whats said in it: https://headfonics.com/2018/03/pro-ject-audio-pre-box-s2-digital-review/
lol, they compare the pro ject S2 vs less expensive dacs? that makes me think the S2 is not that good, anybody compared S2 vs chord mojo?