ЦАПы — Pro-Ject DAC Box RS Final Edition

The DAC Box RS Final Edition is a dual-chip converter built for a system where the DAC is a deliberate upgrade over a built-in one, not an afterthought. It sits at the top of Pro-Ject's DAC Box lineage and represents the last production run of a platform the brand has since simplified into single-chip designs below it.

Position in line

It sits above the DAC Box S2+ in Pro-Ject's DAC range and is the run-out edition of the RS platform, distinguished from the standard RS2 by parts selection rather than a change in topology - the Final Edition designation signals a limited production tail rather than a technical revision. Two Texas Instruments PCM1792 chips per channel is the same class of hardware used in some considerably pricier converters, which is unusual to find at this price point and is the model's main claim on attention.

Key specs that matter

It handles PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD128, covering the vast majority of a digital library without exotic file formats - anything ripped from CD or downloaded as standard hi-res material falls comfortably inside this window. Rated bandwidth is 20 Hz to 50 kHz, wider than audio range by design margin, a common practice to keep the passband flat well past the point where human hearing drops off. Signal-to-noise is specified at 100 dB, a solid if not exceptional figure for a converter at this level. Distortion runs 0.005-0.25% depending on output level, a wider band than the single-figure ratings on simpler DACs, reflecting the more complex dual-chip output stage where summing two conversion paths can introduce more level-dependent variation than a single chip would.

Sound and use context

Expect a dense, detailed presentation consistent with a dual-conversion design - resolving rather than lean, with the wider distortion band suggesting more character shift across volume than a single-chip converter, which is worth knowing if the system is used across a wide range of listening levels.

Pairing

Standard line-level output suits any preamplifier or integrated amplifier with a free analogue input; no special gain-matching is needed given the conventional output level.

Alternatives

The DAC Box S2+ covers the same DSD range with a single ESS9038Q2M chip at a fraction of the size and price - the Final Edition is for the listener who wants the dual-PCM1792 architecture specifically, not simply the highest resolution number on a spec sheet.