{"product_id":"pro-ject-stream-box-s2-ultra-network-streamer-w49cd4","title":"Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra Network Streamer","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"hp-title\"\u003eCompany \u0026amp; Product Overview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are reading this review, then you’re probably looking for a way to integrate your \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/home-audio\/components\/dacs.html\"\u003eDAC\u003c\/a\u003e into your network. You might already have a great DAC in your audio setup, and if you do, you're in luck. \u003cstrong\u003eAny\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e2 channel music fan with a high-end DAC who doesn't want to waste money on a streamer with a DAC built-in will find the Stream Box worthy of considering.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut, trust us — you have never seen \u003cem\u003eanything\u003c\/em\u003e like the little \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/pro-ject-stream-box-s2-ultra.html\"\u003eStream Box S2 Ultra\u003c\/a\u003e. Pro-Ject’s Stream Box S2 Ultra, featured in today’s review, is an excellent example of the company’s unique ability to offer the most connectivity and performance compared to anything else on the market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you store a substantial library of hi-res music files on hard drives, USB sticks, or NAS storage devices, and you're looking for the best way to get these devices into your network with \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/videos-reviews\/roon-everything-need-know\/\"\u003eRoon compatibility\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/videos-reviews\/what-is-mqa-audio\/\"\u003eMQA\u003c\/a\u003e, then Pro-Ject has something very interesting \u003cem\u003efor you. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eFor $849, it offers the most flexibility and the largest feature-set in a single device we have ever seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor anyone not familiar with the brand, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/shop-by-brand\/pro-ject.html\"\u003ePro-Ject Audio\u003c\/a\u003e is the world leader for high-performance \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/turntables\/all-turntables.html?brand=254\"\u003eturntables\u003c\/a\u003e and cool micro-sized high-end components that are eye-catching and fun to listen to. \u003cstrong\u003eAt Audio Advice, we get excited about brands that create musically satisfying products without you having to spend a ton of money —\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ewith their unique manufacturing facilities based in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Pro-Ject achieves the perfect balance. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince 1990, the brand has brought astonishing products to the world of high-end audio at reasonable prices. \u003cstrong\u003eWinning more than 100 awards from all over the world, including 10 ESIA awards, and the Red Dot Design Award, clearly, the brand knows what success is made of. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStream Box S2 Ultra, itself, won the \u003cstrong\u003eEISA’s 2018-2019 Best Product of the year.\u003c\/strong\u003e It's a very special “toolbox” for high-end audio that completely transforms any USB DAC into a wireless streamer. While it can fulfill a multitude of other functions,\u003cstrong\u003e its main goal is to be the device that can get any USB DAC into the network.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBut, before we get into this review, it’s important to note that the Stream Box S2 Ultra needs a DAC, a headphone amp, or a receiver with a USB input to operate.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_full\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re in the market for a proper \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/headphones-portables\/headphone-amplifiers-dacs.html\"\u003eDAC\/headphone amp\u003c\/a\u003e, Pro-Ject designed the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/pro-ject-pre-box-s2-digital-preamplifier.html\"\u003ePre Box S2 Digital\u003c\/a\u003e to complement your little streaming toolbox. \u003cstrong\u003eEven though the goal of Stream Box S2 Ultra is to connect universally with any DAC, when you pair the streamer with its twin brother, you get a powerful DAC\/headphone amp that greatly enhances the presentation of details hiding in the music for a great deal. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor $399, we think the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/pro-ject-pre-box-s2-digital-preamplifier.html\"\u003ePro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital\u003c\/a\u003e is the perfect way to make \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/headphones-portables\/headphones.html\"\u003eheadphones\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/home-audio\/speakers\/powered-speakers.html\"\u003epowered speakers\u003c\/a\u003e come alive with Pro-Ject’s little streamer — \u003cstrong\u003eand for less than $1,300 for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/pro-ject-s2-dac-and-streaming-set.html\"\u003ethe bundle\u003c\/a\u003e, they not only deliver great sound together and perfect connectivity; they’re aesthetically similar so they will look sharp sitting next to each other on your desk or a tabletop.\u003c\/strong\u003e Together, we think they become the most versatile and audiophile setup combo in this price class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOf course, with the Stream Box S2 Ultra, you’re free to use \u003cem\u003eany\u003c\/em\u003e USB DAC that you’d like — but that’s only \u003cem\u003eone\u003c\/em\u003e of the cool things this little universal streamer can do! \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"hp-title\"\u003eDesign \u0026amp; Build Quality\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, Pro-Ject products have been used as props in countless TV shows and movies. When you look at their \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/shop-by-brand\/pro-ject.html\"\u003ehigh-performance turntables\u003c\/a\u003e, that comes as no surprise. \u003cstrong\u003eEach product the company creates is made from scratch, by hand — down to the tiniest screw. Everything made in its European facilities is designed to be visually pleasing — and the little Stream Box S2 Ultra doesn’t disappoint.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePro-Ject is not your typical manufacturer. The company is vertically integrated, so it can do all of its manufacturing in-house. We tip our hats to Heinz Lichtenegger, the company’s founder, for establishing the R\u0026amp;D headquarters outside Vienna, Austria where it neighbors two of its highly specialized manufacturing plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePro-Ject has two divisions. One facility in the Czech Republic specializes in all things turntables. The other focuses on small home audio components that are known for over-delivering for their size. \u003cstrong\u003eT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ehe Stream Box S2 Ultra is made in Slovakia in a highly specialized facility that’s dedicated to small \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/home-audio\/components.html\"\u003ehome audio components\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the universal toolbox for high-end audio, the Stream Box S2 Ultra packs a ton of cool ways for you or your guests to connect with the music you want to stream without overblowing it with unnecessary features. Pro-Ject achieves all of this connectivity in a small, simple, but beautiful little box that’s well crafted from the inside out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe build quality feels solid, and yet it weighs less than a pound. The chassis is made from solid machined-aluminum and it comes in a black or silver finish. \u003cstrong\u003eEvery interaction with the product feels first-class.\u003c\/strong\u003e Even the button caps are made from machined-aluminum, which gives the unit a high-quality feel. \u003cstrong\u003eIt’s a little over 4-inches long, about 4-inches wide and almost 1.5-inches tall.\u003c\/strong\u003e The main body of the unit is square with sharp-looking geometry and streamlined edges that are simple and modern.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou’d be proud to display the unit on a desk or a tabletop right next to your DAC, computer, or any other piece of equipment in your audio setup.\u003c\/strong\u003e If you’re into gear with matching aesthetics, we think the little streamer looks slick next to its DAC twin brother, the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/pro-ject-pre-box-s2-digital-preamplifier.html\"\u003ePre Box S2 Digital\u003c\/a\u003e. Sleek, modern, and minimalistic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn the front panel, there’s a USB-A input for quick convenient connection with USB thumb drives or external hard drives.\u003c\/strong\u003e There are also two circular machined-aluminum push buttons — one larger push-button toggles the unit on and off, and a smaller push-button lets you toggle between two different modes. Also, from the front panel, three LED lights will illuminate blue or red showing you the status of the unit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe back of the unit hosts the rest of the inputs and outputs for an assortment of uses.\u003c\/strong\u003e From left to right, they are — a dedicated USB-A output (marked “DAC”) that will let you connect any DAC into the network, another USB-A port for connecting USB storage drives, an Ethernet port that’s recommended for high-resolution playback, an HDMI video output to connect a monitor, a power adapter input which accepts 18 volts to provide power for the unit, and finally a special micro-USB input marked “Bypass” will accept a USB connection for pristine sounding playback with computers or laptops. The unit also comes with a dedicated internal power supply.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the box, a detachable antenna is included, which screws onto the back of the unit to help your little streamer find and connect with your home’s wireless network.\u003c\/strong\u003e Essentially, once the unit connects to your WI FI at home, other smart devices can be connected on the network too — \u003cem\u003ewirelessly!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e The sleek little box has the power to upgrade and future proof your favorite USB DAC with modern streaming capabilities.\u003c\/strong\u003e That alone is really cool. But, as you’ll see in the next section, there’s so much more going on inside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"hp-title\"\u003eFeatures \u0026amp; Technology\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith so many people embracing internet streaming services such as Tidal, Spotify, and Qobuz, many tech-savvy music lovers are getting interested in network-enabled audio products to help them integrate the playlists they created with other sources of music too. \u003cstrong\u003eMost great sounding products in high-performance audio don’t offer network ability because they’re outdated or it wasn’t their main focus. The problem this creates is that we have to keep replacing our old outdated gear and keep buying new modern devices. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne solution has always been to simply do without and make compromises using our smartphone or tablet to stream poor quality audio over Bluetooth or connect the analog output to powered speakers or amps. \u003cstrong\u003eThere never really was a good solution for us —\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e until now.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Stream Box S2 Ultra has many uses for all things high-end audio. \u003cstrong\u003eInside, a collection of handy tools allow you to connect a wide range of network-enabled smart devices over WIFI, Bluetooth, Airplay, Ethernet, or USB with bit-perfect audio quality. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of devices that can be networked to “play” wirelessly with Stream Box S2 Ultra, the list of playback options possible is endless… \u003cstrong\u003eConnect any smartphone, tablet, computer, laptop, universal DLNA NAS drive, and any USB storage device. Just load up your library of hi-res music onto a USB stick, connect your favorite DAC, and start streaming!\u003c\/strong\u003e Plus, as a fully Roon Ready and certified device, Stream Box S2 Ultra can be used as a \u003cstrong\u003eRoon endpoint\u003c\/strong\u003e too!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn terms of playback, all signals are sent to the DAC via the USB audio output — letting Stream Box S2 Ultra play any audio file that your DAC can handle, including Tidal’s MQA.\u003c\/strong\u003e Stream Box S2 Ultra acts as a universal network bridge, bypassing the files directly to your digital-to-analog converter, so you won’t run into file-support issues. If your DAC can decode \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/videos-reviews\/what-is-mqa-audio\/\"\u003eMQA\u003c\/a\u003e, then Stream Box S2 Ultra will present whole MQA encoded music streaming with Tidal to your DAC. \u003cstrong\u003eEssentially, if your external USB DAC can handle it, Stream Box S2 Ultra will unpack it. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe file system management software built inside of Stream Box S2 Ultra supports \u003cstrong\u003ePCM files up to 32bit\/352kHz\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eDSD256.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Stream Box S2 Ultra can also be used with all the popular streaming services, including \u003cstrong\u003eSpotify, Tidal, Qobuz,\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eTuneIn internet radio\u003c\/strong\u003e with potential support for more being added all the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSure, the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/bluesound-node-2i-streaming-music-playerwifi-bluetooth.html\"\u003eBluesound Node 2i\u003c\/a\u003e can output digital audio at a lower price and it's also Roon Ready, but\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ewhat sets the Stream Box apart is that the USB output allows for MQA and higher transfer rates.\u003c\/strong\u003e Most products have Toslink and Digital Coax outputs, but no streamers at this price-point have what the Stream Box has.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInside the unit, a powerful Raspberry Pi computer no larger than a credit card will let you manage all these remote playback options.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is done using the Linux-based control software baked inside, which runs on top of a version of the Volumio operating system to give you command central-style oversight of your music for a variety of playback options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eControl your playback from a web browser with any computer on your network, or download the new remote control app to remote control it from any iOS or Android mobile device. You can even use Roon!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeing Roon Ready and certified means Roon users can use the Stream Box as a Roon endpoint if you’d rather use Roon’s powerful software interface. \u003cstrong\u003eAs a Roon endpoint, Roon users can pick their Stream Box S2 Ultra within the Roon software and send high-resolution audio streams over the network with bit-perfect audio quality.\u003c\/strong\u003e For us, this is what living the dream sounds like!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWith multi-room support for up to six devices, whether it’s with Roon, a DLNA compatible networked NAS that stores your entire music collection, a friend’s USB thumb drive plugged into the front panel, or your favorite streaming service, the little Stream Box S2 Ultra integrates \u003cem\u003eall of it.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e The Volumio software can see Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, or web radio playing directly from the Stream Box Ultra. So, when you select either Bluetooth or iOS input in the Stream Box Ultra’s software, you can \u003cstrong\u003eBluetooth directly to the unit from your Android phone or any Apple iOS device using Airplay.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd if all this isn’t enough control over the music for you, Stream Box S2 Ultra can be used in standalone mode too. \u003cstrong\u003eWhen you’re ready to interact with the unit like a computer or a tablet, the HDMI video output lets you connect an external monitor or touch screen to see your music library and manage playback of everything just like a computer. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis scenario is particularly useful for those times you want more tactile control over your music library. It’s the perfect solution for anyone interested in a platform-agnostic interface. Just plug in a mouse and connect a keyboard to either of the two USB inputs and your little control hub is always ready — at your command. \u003cstrong\u003eWe think power users will have the most fun using the HDMI port with a touch screen instead for the best hands-on control experience.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere’s even a hard-wired “USB clarifier mode” that will clean the digital audio signal coming from your computer. \u003cstrong\u003eWhen you station the unit in-between your computer and any USB DAC, it bypasses the noisy signal of your computer’s USB port and turns it into a USB “detox” device for ultra-clear sounding audio.\u003c\/strong\u003e This lets you “detoxify” the noise from the USB signal before it reaches the DAC for pristine sounding audio. We think this feature is so cool! \u003cstrong\u003eIt’s accessible right from the front panel with the dedicated push button marked\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e“USB\/PC.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_full\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/wordpress2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/pro-ject-streambox-s2-ultra-up-close-1024x427.jpg\" alt=\"pro-ject streambox s2 ultra close up\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col_narrow\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"hp-title\"\u003ePerformance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSetting up our Stream Box S2 Ultra started fairly straightforward. In the beginning, there were a few speed bumps along the way getting it to connect with our wireless network, but in hindsight that was our user error. \u003cstrong\u003eAt Audio Advice, we explore the setup process to save you the headache.\u003c\/strong\u003e So, let us save you some time — for example, it helps if you enter the right password to the home network during the initial setup! Check out our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/videos-reviews\/pro-ject-stream-box-s2-ultra-getting-started-guide\/\"\u003eGetting Started Guide\u003c\/a\u003e for a quick rundown on how to get up and running, quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo test the Stream Box S2 Ultra in a few different scenarios, we set it up with our wireless network first and then connected a Chord Mojo to the dedicated USB DAC port. Then we streamed hi-res music files stored on a USB thumb drive plugged directly into the front panel of the unit. We also used Qobuz to stream CD-quality music from a laptop to see how it performed with streaming services.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMojo owners don’t need us to tell you how amazing it sounds, but for anyone else, check out our \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/videos-reviews\/chord-mojo-dac-review\/\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMojo DAC Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e for our impressions.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNext, we stationed the little Stream Box S2 Ultra between our laptop and our external USB DAC with a hard-wired USB connection to hear how the special micro-USB “detoxifier” feature sounds when the noise in our digital audio signal is purified with “Bypass” mode. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe used the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/shop-by-brand\/grado\/grado-rs2e-reference-series-over-ear-headphones-black.html\"\u003eGrado Labs RS2e Reference Series Over-Ear Headphones\u003c\/a\u003e which is a great sounding headphone for listening to music at home. As an open-back headphone, it provides a wide-open soundstage with musical dynamics and ultra-smooth top-end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe listened to a lot of styles of music without the special USB purifier mode activated to give us a good sense of how the music sounded just coming out of our DAC. Then, we tested the same music again with the USB purifier mode activated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhile everything sounded great no matter how we listened, one of the tracks that stood out the most improved was “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” released in 1982 by the new-wave punk outfit, The Clash.\u003c\/strong\u003e Immediately, we noticed significant improvements to the soundstage with crystal clear details. As a rock song recorded in the era of 80’s punk rock, this recording is characteristically “noisy” — probably by intention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.qobuz.com\/track\/11189619?lang=en\u0026amp;zone=us-en\" width=\"300\" height=\"80\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded to analog tape, there’s a lot of inherent noise and other subtle nuances in the recording’s rhythm and pacing, overall — giving this track a great punk rock attitude. So, it surprised us when we heard how much clearer and detailed the overall presentation was when we listened to it with the USB purifier feature activated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWith the Stream Box S2 Ultra in bypass mode “cleansing” the USB signal coming out of our laptop, we were impressed by how much clearer the details were in the stereo image compared to a direct USB connection between the DAC and our laptop.\u003c\/strong\u003e The separation of details presented a little bit more depth and clarity to our stereo image too. To be completely upfront, we were skeptical at first. We truly didn’t expect this much improvement to the soundstage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the improvements were subtle, having access to the extra level of clarity and separation of details really drew us deeper into the music. \u003cstrong\u003eThe low-end rhythm and pacing and tuneful sense of timing were more musical. The separation of details were just a tad bit more spread apart, which let us hear the picking of guitar strings and other musical dynamics even clearer. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vocal also stood out presently with more holographic realism. We enjoyed it so much, we made the USB “bypass” mode one of our go-to configurations for our listening session — we really couldn’t have it any other way!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"hp-title\"\u003eOverall Recommendation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll we can say is that adding the Stream Box S2 Ultra to your home audio setup will open up many possibilities for you to enjoy wireless freedom with your favorite DAC. If the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/videos-reviews\/chord-poly-review\/\"\u003eChord Poly\u003c\/a\u003e extends the functionality and feature-set for the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/chord-mojo.html\"\u003eChord Mojo\u003c\/a\u003e, then you can think of the Stream Box S2 Ultra as Pro-Ject’s “universal Chord Poly.” \u003cstrong\u003eThe biggest difference being that Stream Box S2 Ultra isn’t limited to just one DAC —\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStream Box S2 Ultra will extend the functionality and feature-set of \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eany\u003c\/em\u003e USB DAC. \u003c\/strong\u003eIf you are a 2 channel music fan with a high-end DAC, and you don’t want to waste your money on a streamer with a built-in DAC, Stream Box is definitely for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIf you’re looking to upgrade to a good DAC or a headphone amp, we think \u003c\/em\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/pro-ject-pre-box-s2-digital-preamplifier.html\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e is the perfect DAC\/headphone amp companion for the little Pro-Ject streamer. Go for the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/pro-ject-s2-dac-and-streaming-set.html\"\u003ePro-Ject bundle\u003c\/a\u003e and snag this ultimate setup for a great price. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor the price, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvice.com\/pro-ject-stream-box-s2-ultra.html\"\u003ePro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e offers the most flexibility and the largest feature-set in a single product we’ve ever seen.\u003c\/strong\u003e If you use hard drives, USB sticks, or a NAS to store a library of hi-res music, and looking for the best universal device that acts as a network to get all of it connected for an affordable price, we can’t imagine who \u003cem\u003ewouldn’t\u003c\/em\u003e choose this\u003cem\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWith\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRoon, DLNA from the NAS, WIFI, Ethernet, Bluetooth, AirPlay, HDMI, and two USB ports for storage devices, a keyboard or a mouse, there’s really no limit to what you can do with this magical little toolbox.\u003c\/strong\u003e We were blown away by how much value can be packed inside! With this, you are free to take control of your music in every square foot of your home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt’s the \u003cem\u003eultimate\u003c\/em\u003e toolbox for high-end audio — and for just $849, it’s a fantastic deal for a dedicated computer that gives you this much connectivity and control over your music.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Pro-Ject","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":45320197767191,"sku":"PRO:STREAMBOXS2ULTRA-BLK","price":134.85,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Silver","offer_id":45320197799959,"sku":"PRO:STREAMBOXS2ULTRA-SLV","price":134.85,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0806\/0639\/6439\/files\/krd3ks88dekf_bb35ce4c-d9b4-4555-86c2-fab7b7f55247.jpg?v=1784659522","url":"https:\/\/audiodvice.shop\/products\/pro-ject-stream-box-s2-ultra-network-streamer-w49cd4","provider":"Wild Fern Baby Essentials","version":"1.0","type":"link"}