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Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD – Audiophile wireless streaming

With the new Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD, the Pro-Ject Box Design S2 series is extended by a solution that is supposed to allow wireless streaming in hi-res audio via Bluetooth alone. The manufacturer Pro-Ject Audio Systems even speaks of an audiophile Bluetooth solution.

The Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD is a Bluetooth receiver of the next generation, so Pro-Ject Audio Systems characterizes the latest offspring of the Pro-Ject Box Design S2 series, which is now available.

Bluetooth alone is supposed to be used here to transfer music streaming, for example, directly from the smartphone in hi-res audio to an audio system, whereby the manufacturer itself even speaks of an audiophile solution.

Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD – An offspring of the Pro-Ject Box Design S2 series

The new Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD naturally presents itself as one would expect from a solution of the said Pro-Ject Box Design S2 series. It is therefore an extremely compact product that can be easily integrated into any audio system.

The Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD measures no more than 116 mm in width, 37 mm in height, and 108 mm in depth including connectors. Thus, it weighs 320 g without the power supply unit.

The case is elegantly constructed from aluminum in the tried-and-tested manner, and features a clear front with only two buttons. One button serves as a standby button, the second one is used for pairing with mobile devices and is labeled “Pair”.

Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD - Audiophile wireless streaming
Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD – Audiophile wireless streaming

At the back, you’ll first find the connection for an included rod antenna, which is supposed to guarantee an always optimal signal transmission via Bluetooth.

The new Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD first provides an optical S/PDIF interface, a so-called TOS link. In addition, there is a pair of RCA jacks as an analog output.

The power supply is, as already indicated, via an external power supply unit, whereby the connection for this is implemented in the form of a micro USB interface and is thus also designed for 5V. The matching power adapter in the scope of delivery supplies 5 V 1,000 mA DC.

Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD - Audiophile wireless streaming
Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD – Audiophile wireless streaming

State-of-the-art digital technology and traditional analog design principles.

The new Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD uses Bluetooth 5.0 and A2DP. Initially, the lossy codec SBC is supported, but this only achieves a signal transmission with MP3 quality. More exciting is that aptX and even aptX HD are also supported, so that a signal transmission in “CD quality” or even the promised hi-res audio quality is achieved, even if it is “only” up to 24 bits and 48 kHz in the end. However, this only applies to smartphones with Google Android; Apple still does not use aptX or even aptX HD for the Apple iPhone. AAC is used here, with which you can achieve about “CD quality”.

Pairing with source devices is as easy as can be, you just have to press the aforementioned button on the front and the connection is supposed to be established within a few moments. By the way, the Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD remembers up to eight devices.

Output stage decisively

More exact data over the assigned converter does not make Pro-Ject audio system, much more essential appears to the enterprise anyway the analog output stage, which one describes as particularly high-quality.

One has trusted here on all the experience in the development of electronic components and selected an analog output buffer stage, so that the connection to amplifier and speakers is as robust and solid as it can be.

The new Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD will be available in stores these days. The manufacturer offers this like all electronic components of the Pro-Ject Box Design series optionally in black or silver. The recommended retail price is listed at € 199.

Getting to the point

Simple and simple, that has always been the motto under which the Pro-Ject Box Design series was designed, and this of course also applies to the new Pro-Ject BT Box S2 HD, which is now to allow music streaming, for example, directly from smartphone or tablet to any audio system even in audiophile quality.

Manufacturer:Pro-Ject Audio Systems
Distribution Austria:Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH
Distribution Germany:Audio Trade Hi-Fi Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH
Distribution Switzerland:Marlex GmbH – Audiophile Produkte
Price:€ 199,-

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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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