Pro-ject Pre Box S2 Digital

This tiny box is big on features and sounds pretty good, but it doesn’t quite deliver the benchmark sound of the class leaders

When we think of Pro-ject, the company’s excellent affordable turntables spring to mind. But alongside these, and a number of premium record players, there has long been a line-up of ultra-compact electronics. We've found these something of a mixed bag over the years, but that hasn’t stopped the range from growing to a point where it now includes CD players, streamers, phono stages and, of course, DACS.

Take a look at the Pre Box S2 Digital’s feature list and it’s fair to say Pro-ject has ticked every meaningful box. The Pre Box plays PCM files up to 32-bit/768khz and top out with DSD512, so file compatibility isn’t an issue. Even MQA decoding is included, which is still something of a rarity regardless of price.

Inside the S2, you’ll find the highly regarded ESS Sabre ES9038 dual DAC chip mated to a proprietary clock circuit and carefully chosen components to optimise performance. The main board is a gold plated, four-layered design, with low jitter high on the priority list. You get the impression that Pro-ject’s engineers have tried hard with this one, particularly considering that the Pre Box’s price is as competitive as it is.

There’s the usual trio of digital inputs – USB (type B), optical (24-bit/192khz) and coaxial (also compatible with up to 24-bit/192khz files) alongside a single pair of variable analogue outs. Power is accepted through a 5V micro USB socket, though you won’t need this if you connect through the Type B USB input, as the S2 will just take power from that.

Spaced out

Around the front there’s a small display that shows volume level, input chosen and the sampling rate of the incoming signal, and next to it, a volume control. Despite taking up about the same amount of space as a coaster, this little box can not only work on a desk next to a computer but also as the digital hub in a hi-fi or two channel Tv-based audio set-up. It’s so small, it can fit just about anywhere and a credit card remote helps when the unit is used in this way.

Build is robust and the stepped rotation on the volume control feels good. We’re less taken with the sharpedged front panel control buttons, but overall, Pro-ject has done a solid job.

Much the same can be said about the sound quality. Using our Macbook (loaded with hi-res and Cd-grade files) things begin well. The Pro-ject has a crisp, detailed delivery that has more precision and grip than the computer's headphone output. It’s a fast, agile sound, and though it lacks a little in terms of natural warmth and richness, it makes up for it with a pleasing clarity and evenly balanced presentation.

Equal to the task

We play a range of music from Yellow

Light by Of Monsters And Men and Nirvana’s Nevermind to Beethoven’s

Midnight Sonata, and the Pro-ject treats each with equal care. Apart from the lean balance, we have no other complaints about the S2’s tonality – its refinement prevents the DAC from making a meal of harsh or aggressive recordings.

There’s enough in the way of rhythmic drive and punch to allow Nirvana relatively free rein, while the DAC’S composure and organisation keeps a grip on the various musical strands. The Beethoven piece shows the S2 is capable of delivering a harmonically rich instrument with conviction and stability.

But compared with benchmarks, such as Audioquest’s Dragonfly Red (£169) or Chord’s truly exceptional Mojo (£399), it’s clearly behind class-leading levels when it comes to dynamic expression, detail resolution and rhythmic precision.

We try a range of headphones from the Beyerdynamic T1s and Grado’s RS1S to AKG’S K550s, and the Pro-ject is capable of a good level out of each of them. It doesn’t have the outright transparency and resolution to make the most of the Beyerdynamics or Grados, but doesn’t sound overwhelmed in such company.

The Pre Box S2 Digital is nicely made, well specified and sounds pretty good too. Add a solid build and compact size into the equation and, in some circumstances, it could prove ideal.