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Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews
Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital Headphone Amp/DAC Review
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 09, 2018

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $399

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Dual mono DACs
DSD and MQA support
Can function as a preamp
Minus
Limited portability

THE VERDICT
Pro-Ject’s compact amp/DAC pairs especially well with modestly priced headphones, and it can also serve as a stereo preamp.

More people are listening to more diverse high-resolution audio formats through higher-quality headphones than ever before. But ideas about how to feed those headphones vary. The headphone amplifier/digital-to-analog converter, a popular hybrid product, is among the most tireless shape-shifters on the audio scene. I’ve reviewed Amp/DACs as compact as a USB stick and as big as a full-size rack component. At about 4 x 1.5 x 4 inches (WxHxD), Pro-Ject’s Pre Box S2 Digital falls somewhere in between. You wouldn’t carry it in a pocket, but it doesn’t take up much space on a busy desk.

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CEDIA 2018
Salamander’s Latest AV Cabinets Float on the Wall
SV Staff  |  Sep 09, 2018
AV furniture maker Salamander Designs is seeking to fill a void for cabinets that conserve floor space.
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CEDIA 2018
Samsung's Stages Stunning 8K Demo at CEDIA
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 09, 2018
The mini-wave that’s 8K video might well become a tsunami, so Samsung means to get out in front of it. At CEDIA Samsung demo’ed its new Q900FN series of 8K sets. They’re also said to be capable of 4000 nits of peak brightness, which if achievable after calibration could be more significant than the 8K pixel count. Today’s 4K UHD source material is mastered at either 1000 nits or 4000 nits, and a set capable of 4000 nits (a level OLED will likely never achieve) will not need tone mapping for those sources.
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CEDIA 2018
Paradigm and Anthem Go Anamorphic for CEDIA Demo
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 09, 2018
The demo in the Anthem-Paradigm sound room was impressive, using a pair of the new Paradigm Prelude 800F tower speakers (under $2,000/pair) for a two-channel demo and Paradigm’s upscale in-wall (on-wall in this demo) speakers for the AV presentation... So why the picture here of Panamorph anamorphic lenses?
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CEDIA 2018
Integra Gets Small
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 09, 2018
A 75Wpc, 2-channel amp (into 8 ohms) might seem a little anachronistic today, when home theater fans want as many high-powered channels as they can afford in their amps and AVRs.
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CEDIA 2018
JVC Shifts into 8K at CEDIA with Impressive Results
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 09, 2018
Deeper into this blog thread you’ll read more about JVC’s impressive new lamp-based 4K projector lineup. I arrived late to the press event and had to take screenshots from the back. But I couldn’t resist bringing you an MST3000 moment.
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CEDIA 2018
Hisense Focuses on Short-Throw Laser at CEDIA
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 09, 2018
Hisense brought its wide range of short throw 4K Laser TV projectors to the show. All of them use TI’s 4K imaging chip, and all of them come with dedicated screens...
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CEDIA 2018
Atlantic Technology Previews Bruiser Sub
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 09, 2018
Atlantic Technology announced two new subs at CEDIA Expo 2018, one of which is quite the bruiser.
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CEDIA 2018
LG's 4K Laser Projector Shines at CEDIA
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 09, 2018
LG didn't introduce anything truly new at CEDIA but an ongoing demo of its CineBeam HU80KA portable 4K laser projector caught my interest...
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CEDIA 2018
Fibbr Launches 2 Cables: One Clear, One 8K-Ready
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 09, 2018
Fibbr launched two fiber-optic cables at CEDIA Expo 2018: One is nearly transparent, making it ideal for inconspicuous installations, the other is 8K-ready.
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