Hello,
I`m new on this forum but i`m reading posts here for a long time.
I own this S2 DAC for a year and not planing to buy new one soon and will tell you my personal opinion or better, also my friends opinion, because this DAC was moving to many systems recently and no one for now tell that this is bad DAC. Of course, we did not use DAC on USB Power only because we have spare Power Bank and with that it was already improvement in sound quality, puncher and tighten bass, wider stage, more natural sound etc. But than some ppl say Power bank is not good for Hi-Fi than i think, why not order a Linear power supply. I Ordered S12 Ultra Low noise Linear supply from Aliexpress with audio grade capacitors and R Core (D TYPE) transformer and some alu box. I assembly that and use S2 DAC that way.
Now sound got huge step forward in sound quality. For example: you listening something and disconnect external power supply, sound quality drop instantly and jump back instantly when u put it back, it`s like you listening another much expensive device which have huge sound stage, excellent details in full spectrum and background silence which is rare etc.
Headphones:
My headphones are only 32 ohm with some replaced drivers from aliexpress and drivers sound amazing believe or not
so i have no problem with that. We try AKG also and some others, there is no problem driving them with attached Linear power supply attached to S2.
PC audio:
I use ONLY USB on S2 and and most tracks are 24 bit or DSD for listening, now to fix PC timing problems, Kernel timer resolution optimization etc, you need another software to fix that, (I don`t want to do sponsor them and get kick from forum, google it) with that you got more upgrade in sound quality comming out from S2. Now you got sound which is NO more analytical that can usual coming out from PC audio and you can enjoy your S2 with full potential. I also prefer WASAPI exclusive mode out instead of ASIO, sound with WASAPI mode, sounds little little more natural.
S2 direct on Mono block pre-amplifiers:
We try S2 on a huge Karan Acoustics mono block Amplifiers (2x 2000W sinus on 8 ohm, don`t ask for price
) and S2 can drive them more then enough for even loud listening and we still have 30% of volume left.
Distortoin Compensate On or OFF? Well, default is OFF, but with ON you again gain a little in sound quality.
Filters OFF, except for DSD-s you need to use some because DSD-s should be listened with some filters, usual fast minimum filter )if i remember good) do good job but that depend on your choice. also remember that only PCM 358 Khz can compare with DSD in sound quality.
16 Bit 44.1 Khz (CD Quality) can`t match even to 24 bit 44.1 Khz so don`t be fooled that CD can sound better than 24 bit PCM or DSD. It simply can`t or you have same album which is badly mastered in 24 bit or your CD player is much better than your DAC.
If you plan to buy S2 DAC so you can enjoy MQA, DSD, PCM listening, don`t forget to buy Linear power supply, you won`t regret.
p.s. sorry for bad english.