Just purchased Project Pre 2. I can't get the thing to play a MQA recording. Plays fine but the MQA light never locks on. One time it was playin g and the MQA came on but would not stay locked on. Adjusted all kind of settings but to nom avail. manual completely sucks. No instructions for MQA. Help.
pro-ject makes nice turntables, especially the X-line ! however they now sell tons of other gears, it is very hard to believe all the stuff they sell, its all ok stuff but not like their turntables...
Just a quick update in case it might help anyone else. I found out in order to pass the MQA signal it has to be bit perfect. That means that any digital volumes tied to your device needs to be set to 100% in order to not truncate the data stream. Once I did that the MQA light locked on. BTW this $400 buck DAC sounds exceptional!
Do you mean the pre box Pre S2?
Pre Box S2 Digital – Pro-Ject Audio Systems
it has 2x ESS9038Q2M 😎
chris
Pre Box S2 Digital – Pro-Ject Audio Systems
it has 2x ESS9038Q2M 😎
chris
Hi John,
Any update you would be willing to share on that discrete dac you have been working on?
Hi Mark,
Still waiting on Jarek to get me a working software - he's been busy completing is Uni end of year exams etc. so not had the time to work on the firmware / software (hes back in the lab tomorrow).
The week before the Christmas he made it to the lab and we had a chance to perform some basic test - although we only have single channel built, and listening though a powered monitor we can already hear it sounds so much better then that ESS sound that we have become very "allergic" too...
There is clearly space around each instrument, and each note has a clearly defined start and end... where as ESS DAC'S just present a wall of sound without any reality...
I've found that if you can make a design sound "holographic " and good "tone" via a single speaker then it will sounds stunning in Stereo operation.
It common to listen to a single speaker and it sound flat - only sounding full when in stereo - from my experience this is a bad sign..
We where also experimenting with HQplayer's Digital filters / modulators options and just SO very surprised how bad they all sound... you can clearly hear the difference between them, but they all sound so bad!!!
We have a few native DSD recordings - and played back though the DAC in native DSD they just wipe the floor of ANY HQplayer options!!!
So VERY disappointed with HQplayer so far - maybe we are not using the best options (its the first time we tired the software) - but after all the forum noise about HQplayer we are left wondering whats going on?
Still waiting on Jarek to get me a working software - he's been busy completing is Uni end of year exams etc. so not had the time to work on the firmware / software (hes back in the lab tomorrow).
The week before the Christmas he made it to the lab and we had a chance to perform some basic test - although we only have single channel built, and listening though a powered monitor we can already hear it sounds so much better then that ESS sound that we have become very "allergic" too...
There is clearly space around each instrument, and each note has a clearly defined start and end... where as ESS DAC'S just present a wall of sound without any reality...
I've found that if you can make a design sound "holographic " and good "tone" via a single speaker then it will sounds stunning in Stereo operation.
It common to listen to a single speaker and it sound flat - only sounding full when in stereo - from my experience this is a bad sign..
We where also experimenting with HQplayer's Digital filters / modulators options and just SO very surprised how bad they all sound... you can clearly hear the difference between them, but they all sound so bad!!!
We have a few native DSD recordings - and played back though the DAC in native DSD they just wipe the floor of ANY HQplayer options!!!
So VERY disappointed with HQplayer so far - maybe we are not using the best options (its the first time we tired the software) - but after all the forum noise about HQplayer we are left wondering whats going on?
Only the very most computationally demanding modulators and filters HQ Player has, run at the highest possible sample rates (DSD512 or DSD256), sound good on AK4499 clocked by JLSounds I2SoverUSB. Takes the most powerful PC made today to be able to hear it without computer caused dropouts. Still not as good as the best high end vinyl experience in terms of how long one can listen without fatigue. Its getting a lot closer though.
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Hi John...
I tried Pro ject support.
I got Pro-Ject Pre Box S2
suddenly the sound dissapear.. like 60 dB?
Turned the volume to max (0dB)
I hear the music very attenuated...
Is it the output stage that is blown?
Both headphone and pre out.
And i have used it for maybe 20 hours in total (4 years old)
I have tried new drivers. Powered on and off, tried all filters, swapped computer, changed media player, etc etc . 🙁
I will sleep and try tomorrow...
I tried Pro ject support.
I got Pro-Ject Pre Box S2
suddenly the sound dissapear.. like 60 dB?
Turned the volume to max (0dB)
I hear the music very attenuated...
Is it the output stage that is blown?
Both headphone and pre out.
And i have used it for maybe 20 hours in total (4 years old)
I have tried new drivers. Powered on and off, tried all filters, swapped computer, changed media player, etc etc . 🙁
I will sleep and try tomorrow...
Okay. Do you have a data sheet for the dac chip?
If so, its probably time to start looking at some power supply rails and some signals to see what's going on. If not, you might start looking around to so see if you can find one.
If so, its probably time to start looking at some power supply rails and some signals to see what's going on. If not, you might start looking around to so see if you can find one.
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Sure. Do you have a data sheet so you know what pin is for what? How else are you going to look at the power rails and signals?
I am about to buy my first DAC. My budget is pretty limited (circa 300 EUR) and the setup will be Windows Laptop (with Foobar or the sort) > USB > DAC > Stereo amp I would really like for it to play DSD files and have RCA phono outputs (not sure about the ones with 3.5 mm jacks). From what I have read the Pro-ject Box S2+ is a good contender. Is it as good as I've read? Any others? Thanks in advance for your help.
Most dacs made with AKM or ESS dac chips can play DSD. Check the specs of any you are considering to make sure they support it. Regarding Pro-ject Box S2+, not sure if that one does. In any case I would look for a dac that uses AKM chips or else the latest ESS chips (which are reported to sound better than earlier ESS chips).