Pro-Ject Head Box S2 Digital
Pro-Ject headphone amplifier featuring an ESS Sabre ESS9038 DAC, with USB, optical and coaxial digital inputs, to convert and amplify the signal for headphones.
Description
The Pro-Ject Head Box S2 Digital is a headphone amplifier combined with a built-in digital-to-analogue converter. Unlike a simple analogue headphone amp, it accepts digital streams directly via its USB-B, optical and coaxial inputs, and handles the conversion itself before amplification. It also features an RCA pre-out, which allows it to be used as a digital source to feed a power amplifier or active speakers.
At the heart of the unit is an ESS Sabre ESS9038 DAC, paired with a precision clock. It handles streams up to 32-bit / 768 kHz in PCM and DSD256, with five switchable digital filters allowing the sound character to be adjusted to taste. Measured harmonic distortion is 0.0007%, with a dynamic range of 120 dBA and a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. At the headphone output, the power delivered is 68 mW into 32 ohms and 6.6 mW into 600 ohms, while the RCA output delivers 2.05 Vrms.
This type of unit is aimed at a user wishing to upgrade a digital chain dedicated to headphones: output from a computer via USB, network player or CD player via optical or coaxial. The low distortion and very-low-noise component design make it a suitable link for demanding headphones, while the pre-out opens up the possibility of a later move to a speaker-based setup.
Technical specifications
| Amplification power | 68 mW / 32 ohms, 6.6 mW / 600 ohms |
| Harmonic distortion | 0.0007% |
| Dynamic range | 120 dBA |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz |
| RCA output power | 2.05 Vrms |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 103 x 37 x 120 mm |
| Weight | 0.36 kg |
What to check before buying used
The volume potentiometer deserves a full turn while listening: crackling or a loss on one channel indicates dirty tracks, a common fault with this type of analogue control. The USB-B, optical and coaxial inputs should be tested separately, as a worn connector or a temperamental USB port can prevent the digital stream from being recognised. The capacitors in the output stage, more sensitive to ageing, may also drift slightly after several years and dull the sound.
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