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    The Computer Audiophile

    Weiss Engineering Minerva DAC Review

    minerva-thumb.jpgHigh-End audio writers have always been masters of subjectivity. Avoiding direct comparisons and an unwillingness to brand one product the "clear" victor over another are par for the audiophile course. This style of writing can leave readers feeling a little cheated and wondering what the writer really thinks. While this may seem frustrating it is a good thing much of the time. Declaring a component the clear cut winner may unjustly prejudice a readers opinion and lead him down a delusional purchasing path while unfairly harming the manufacturers of the "losing" products. I try to steer clear of absolute terms like best, worst, never, nobody, always, everybody. A major reason is I rarely hear something so good or so bad that an absolute statement is appropriate. I can recall the best complete audio system I've ever heard. A pair of Wilson Audio Maxx 2 speakers with all Audio Research components. That decision was a no-brainer. Now it's time to crown another Best. The Best DAC I've ever heard in a computer based audio system. The Weiss Engineering Minerva is definitely THE Best.

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    People in the pro audio world have likely dreamed of using Weiss components since the late '80s. Weiss equipment is recognized around the world as some of the best money can buy. In 2001 Weiss Engineering entered the world of High-End audio with the critically acclaimed Medea DAC and Jason CD Transport. These two components are certainly good but they don't fill the needs of the computer audiophile. The Medea DAC could definitely be part of a great sounding computer based system, but it lacks the desired inputs many music servers require. This is where the Minerva comes in with a bang. In addition to the traditional DAC inputsAES/EBU, coax, and Toslink the Minerva offers Firewire (IEEE 1394) inputs.

     

    Weiss prefers FireWire over USB for several reasons. Similar to USB FireWire offers the asynchronous operating mode. Unlike USB, FireWire also offers isochronous mode that allows devices a dedicated amount of bandwidth. This insures the audio stream will keep flowing without interference from collisions or glitches. As most Computer Audiophile readers knowUSB DACs work great as long as there are no other devices on the USB bus that interfere with the DAC i.e. the keyboard and trackpad on MacBook Pro models. USB also puts more load on the CPU. Fortunately for many computers this load is negligible when audio is streaming to an external DAC. FireWire does seem like the way to guarantee a smooth audio stream to the DAC, but it is not without its detractors. Some in the industry preferUSB 1.1 because it allows a 24/96 audio stream without the need to install additional device drivers. Traditionally FireWire also has more jitter thanUSB interfaces. To handle this Weiss uses the Jitter Elimination Technologies (JET) PLL in the Minerva. This features state of the art jitter rejection and extremely low intrinsic jitter levels. Much more information about all of this is available in the very detailed <a href="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/minerva-manual.pdf">Minerva manual</a>.

     

    The Minerva DAC comes with software and device drivers for Mac OS X and Windows based PCs. I conducted this full review using my MacBook Pro running OS X Leopard 10.5.3 connected via FireWire. The software installation is very simple. It is one of those next-next-finish installs that completes in under a minute. Once the installation is complete and the Minerva is connected, the Weiss FireWire IO app can be used to fine tune the performance of the DAC with the music server. This fine tuning is very simple because there is only a couple options to chose from. I'm pretty sure most Computer Audiophile readers can handle selecting the sampling rate at which their music will be played. In the case of the Reference Recordings HRx albums this is 176.4 kHz. The only other selection to make when connected via FireWire is the Isochronous Buffering machine type. The choices are Slow, Normal, and DAW for Digital Audio Workstation. According to Daniel Weiss, President & Founder of Weiss Engineering, these settings vary the kernel buffer size on a Mac. "On faster, more powerful machines, the user can choose a smaller kernel mode buffer size. "Slow" sets a larger buffer size, resulting in more stable streaming performance on slower machines. The larger the buffer, the higher the resulting latency." Said Weiss. Throughout my review I continually heard the best performance with the DAW setting. Since there are three choices it only takes one or two songs to decide which setting works best in a given system.

     

    Mac users are likely familiar with the Audio Midi Setup application already, so I will only touch on it here. When the Minerva is connected the sampling rate can either be selected through the Weiss FireWire IO application or through Audio Midi Setup. The settings mirror each other so a change to one is a change to the other. Either way this selection is very simple. If you can turn your preamp knob to Phono, you can select 44.1, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192 etc...

     

    As I mentioned previously I conducted this review using one of the FireWire interfaces on the Minerva. I also spent a small amount of time listening to th Toslink interface connected to my MacBook Pro optical port. In the limited time I had this connection running I noticed nothing wrong with the sound. If you don't have a FireWire port on your computer I strongly suggest using this S/PDIF interface until you can add a FireWire card or upgrade to a computer with an available FireWire port. Shortly after Daniel Weiss shipped the Minerva from Switzerland I began my hunt for a quality FireWire cable. I quickly ruled out the cheap-o five dollar cables and the expensive $1000 FireWire cable that I found. I settled on the Monster Digital® Firelink™ 6 pin to 6 pin cable. As an audiophile this was a gut wrenching purchase. Clicking "add to cart" for a Monster Cable product just didn't feel right. I guess I found one area in the audiophile world the entrepreneurial high-end cable vendors haven't cornered ... yet.

     

    In order to really put the Minerva through its paces I had to have music in many different resolutions. Of course the 16/44.1 selections were covered and the new HRx 24/176.4 albums had recently arrived. So, I finally started to rip my DVD-Audio discs and quickly had a little 24/88.2, 24/96, and 24/192 music to go along with the other resolutions. I was finally ready to hear what the Minerva was all about.

     

    In general I usually don't like to ask myself questions. As Adam Carolla would say this is a blow-hard move. But, I'll make an exception for this review. Was the Weiss Minerva really the best DAC and was it everything I had built it up to be? Yes and yes. Over the last few weeks I have been hinting in the forums and in other articles that the Minerva is really something special. I'm sure some of the forum regulars wondered if I would ever finish this review! Truth be told, I hated to complete the review because this meant the Minerva had to be sent on its way. Talk about a sad day in Computer Audiophile history. Anyway, I've had quite a few DACs here in my listening room and I've listened to many others at High-End shops and shows. I have yet to hear a DAC, connected to a computer based audio system, as good as the Minerva. The DLIII and the DAC1 PRE don't hold a candle to this thing. At a US retail price of $4950 the Minerva better be a superior product. Fortunately it is superior and the difference between the Minerva and its competition thus far is astounding.

     

    By far and away the best music I've ever heard from a computer based audio system is the new Reference Recordings HRx material played through the Weiss Minerva. Played back at full 24 bit / 176.4 kHz resolution via FireWire there is no current competition. Listening to the Crown Imperial by the Dallas Wind Symphony is truly an awesome experience. The Minerva pulls every ounce of music from this recording and reproduces it with stunning detail. After spending far too much time listening to the HRx albums I had to move on to the other resolutions in my repertoire. All the 24/88.2 through 24/192 music sounded great as well. A favorite of mine is Stone Temple Pilots first album Core. Ripped at 24/96 from a DVD-Audio disc this album has new life! Equally important as the high resolution albums is the standard 16/44.1 material. Since the vast majority of our music is still in this resolution, the Best DAC must perform just as well with music that sounds far from perfect. As expected, the stunning detail reproduced during the HRx listening sessions was reproduced when playing back some harsh recordings. The compression Red Hot Chili Peppers'Californication was still very harsh and terrible sounding through the Minerva. This is a good thing in my opinion. I don't like those "Hi-Fi" sounding components that make everything sound good. The day Californication is remastered I will jump for joy. I really love the content on that one, but the sound quality limits my time with the recording to a minimum. The new Walter Becker album Circus Money has been spinning nonstop around Computer Audiophile (spinning as in hard drive spinning). I've become pretty familiar with the sound of the album through the DAC1 and the DLIII . When I played the album back through the Minerva I instantly notice a tighter and fuller sound that was absent in the other two DACs. Compared to the Minerva the DAC1 rounded the edges of the drums and greatbass-lines on Circus Money. DAC1 owners, myself included, please take this in the spirit in which it's intended. I suggest you don't listen to the Minerva unless you plan on purchasing the DAC. Once you try this DAC you'll never go back. Think about it this way. Any HDTV in your home usually looks fabulous. But, when you compare your model sitting directly next to the latestBravia XBR in your local dealer, your HD picture just doesn't cut it anymore.

     

    Another 16/44.1 recording I spent some time with is Chris Isaak's Baja Sessions. I love the sound of his voice and acoustic guitar on this whole album. Two songs in particular that I frequently listen to are his cover of Roy Orbison's Only The Lonely, and I Wonder. Listening to Only The Lonely through the Minerva made me question all previous systems I've owned. Shortly after the guitar intro there is a little "touch" of a cymbal before the vocal begins. This cymbal has been very present in my other systems. With the Minerva the sound is a little more what I call appropriate. The sound fits in with everything else instead of standing out from everything else. Note to Daniel Weiss: Thanks for invalidating all previous audio components I've owned. Listening to I Wonder was really a treat with the Minerva. Chris Isaak's glossy voice and clear guitar sounded like we were both in the same coffee shop. Those of you who are familiar with my musical tastes and reviews know I have to crank up a little Pearl Jam to make sure every component is really up to snuff. This time I put in Pearl Jam's album Yield. The very first track, brain Of J, sealed the deal for me. Shortly after an expedited "1234 - 1234" the guitar started and then the drums completely filled my listening room. Jack Irons was the drummer on thisrecording and the sound of his drums is really a reason in itself to pick up this album. The rest of Yield went off without a hitch through the Minerva.

     

    A common topic in many audiophile conversations these days is the so-called future proofing of an audio system. Many people are concerned about purchasing a DAC or music server that may not be compatible with all the current and forthcoming high resolution music. The Minerva from Weiss Engineering removes any doubts about compatibility with virtually all current high resolution content. Nobody can be sure of the future formats music will come in, but I am willing to bet nothing will edge over 24/192 any time soon. If this is true the Minerva is more than a wise investment for your audio system. It is a component designed to last with high build quality and high resolution.

     

     

    After all of this listening it was "officially official" the Minerva was and is the best DAC I've heard in a computer based system. The musicality of my McIntosh tubes and Avalon Acoustics speakers in combination with the Minerva DAC was really an audio treat that everyone should experience.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    If you're interested in reading the driver release notes from the install I've made them available <a href="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/weiss-install.txt">here</a>.

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    <a href="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/install-3-large.jpg"><img src="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/install-3-small.jpg" alt="Weiss engineering Minerva FireWire DAC Review"></a>

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    <a href="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/audio-midi-minerva-2-large.jpg"><img src="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/audio-midi-minerva-2-small.jpg" alt="Weiss engineering Minerva FireWire DAC Review"></a>

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    <a href="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/minerva-app-00-large.jpg"><img src="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/minerva-app-00-small.jpg" alt="Weiss engineering Minerva FireWire DAC Review"></a>

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    <a href="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/minerva-app-01-large.jpg"><img src="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/minerva/minerva-app-01-small.jpg" alt="Weiss engineering Minerva FireWire DAC Review"></a>

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    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Hi Luca<br />

    <br />

    With the Minerva we do e.g. interchannel level and phase response matching to tighter tolerances. <br />

    The Vesta and AFI1 units are based on the same basic hardware. The Vesta is 2 channels AES/EBU I/O and the AFI1 is 8 channels AES/EBU I/O and 16 channels ADAT I/O. I.e. the AFI1 is aimed at the pro audio market. Both units can be switched to so called dual wire mode (at 176.4 or 192), where one AES/EBU connection transfers a single channel. Some converters can use that mode. Of course with the AFI1 only 2 channels can be used and the rest "discarded".<br />

    <br />

    Daniel <br />

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    Thanks, Daniel.<br />

    All it is more clear for me now...<br />

    <br />

    PS (last Qstionz):<br />

    do you thinK that there will be difference in term of sound under MAC OS with iTunes AND windows Vista with MediaMonkey (or Foobar) ???<br />

    Any suggestions for best results compatible to the firmware of the AFI1?<br />

    Firewire cables: ??? (5 meters is toto much?)<br />

    <br />

    L.

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    The question is whether the player at hand is capable of feeding the audio files unaltered to the D/A Converter. Unaltered means no EQ, no sampling rate conversion, no volume control, no nothing. In pro audio circles we use the term "bit transparent" if the bits are unchanged. If that is the case then there are no sonic differences between players. (Provided the D/A Converter is handling jitter issues in a decent manner).<br />

    Our Firewire devices support ASIO drivers which make it simpler to have bit transparent transfers. Both Foobar and MediaMonkey have ASIO drivers. iTunes I am not sure. But wait for the iTunes bases Amarra application, this will give decent playback for Apple computers ( see http://www.computeraudiophile.com/sonic_studio_unveils_amarra )<br />

    We plan to add a feature to our Firewire devices which lets the user determine whether the player is doing bit transparent playback. And this at any standard sampling rate between 44.1 and 192.<br />

    <br />

    For the AFI1 you can use any decent player. It seems that the players of choice are the ones you mention, plus Amarra in not too distant time.... <br />

    <br />

    The Firewire (IEEE1394) standard mentions a maximum length of 4 meters for the cables. I guess 5 meters should still work. There are also small repeater boxes available, which are powerd via the Firewire cable (bus power) and which allow to make much longer Firewire links.<br />

    Daniel<br />

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    Exaustive! (danke).<br />

    <br />

    So, you say that the output of the AFI1 with ONE cable XLR (no dual link) at 96/192Khz to devices with input AES/XLR is full hisampling compatible? (2 channels stereo, of course).<br />

    <br />

    <br />

    L.

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    Hello to all, <br />

    <br />

    I'm fairly new to digital audio after a lifetime of collecting LPs. I've just purchased a Weiss Dac2, and the sound is fabulous. My only high resolution files are ones that I digitized from LPs at 24/96 (using an Apogee Duet and a MacBook Pro), and they sound good enough so that I have no desire to ever pull out those LPs again.<br />

    <br />

    My question is whether each time I change the sample rate in the Weiss Firewire Control Panel it is necessary to restart iTunes. I recall reading that this was true when using Audio-Midi Setup. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.<br />

    <br />

    Ron

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    Hi Ron - Welcome to Computer Audiophile. Unfortunately you still have to close iTunes and reopen it. iTunes lock in the sample rate that is set at the time the application is opened. Even if you change the rate somewhere else on the Mac it doesn't matter :-(<br />

    <br />

    I wish Apple would fox this.

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    Thanks for your answer, Chris. I was afraid that this was the case.<br />

    <br />

    Also -- thank you for running this site. I was very fortunate to have found it. It's now my favorite audio site.<br />

    <br />

    Ron

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    Great to hear those high-res needledrops are coming out so well through your DAC. Have you compared a ripped CD to the same album ripped at high-res from vinyl? I've been wondering for awhile if needledrops are a feasible source of high-res material. How much work goes into ripping one of those LPs?

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    Hi,<br />

    <br />

    Perhaps we should start a separate discussion for this, but here's what I've done. I record out from my preamp (CAT Ultimate) to an Apogee Duet to my computer. I've been using SoundStudio for recording. I also have Amadeus Pro, but I've stuck with SoundStudio so far just for convenience. To clean up the recording, I use ClickRepair and DeNoise. These are fantastic programs and quite reasonably priced. I try to keep the settings low, and this seems to clean up recordings without giving up very much. The key to ClickRepair is that it is not a filter. It searches locally for approximations to delta functions and truncates them. The number of minor changes it makes to a file can be astounding, and the result is virtually always a dramatic improvement. The final step is to go back to SoundStudio to normalize and split into separate tracks. Usually I save in Apple Lossless via Max. (SoundStudio yields an .aiff file.) The time it takes to do this (post the initial recording process) is usually between 15 and 30 minutes per LP. <br />

    <br />

    About comparison to CD, I've only done this a couple of times. I always preferred the digitized vinyl -- but the comparison isn't fair, I've always favored the sound of vinyl over CD.<br />

    <br />

    If anyone knows of ways that I can improve on the process i've been using, I'd like to hear from you.<br />

    <br />

    Ron

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    Is there any advantage in using a Lynx AES card with the Weiss Engineering Minerva DAC? It would seem that with a firewire capable computer such as a Mac Pro or a Windows PC with a firewire port, the Lynx card is unnecessary. But would the Lynx/Minerva AES/EBU combination provide superior sonics or would the Lynx/ Minerva combination result in diminished sound quality compared to a straight firewire connection from the computer to the Minerva DAC?

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    One of the goals when we designed the Minerva was that the interface used should not matter in terms of sonic quality. A good DAC design does not depend on the jitter signature of the incoming signal. So the Minerva is pretty insensitive to the interface used, even Toslink is fine.<br />

    <br />

    Daniel<br />

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    Hi, Daniel. I have been watching this site and thread for quite a period of time and I'm interested in this DAC. But is it possible to have a chance to have a listen in Mainland China just to make my decision? I inquired a guy who is very famous in HIFi circle and he simply told me to wait! Why don't you try to find someone to be your agent in China so we can soon enjoy your master work in the far east! My home is just near Shanghai.<br />

    I recommended one of my friends to install his computer-based HiFi music centre using Apogee Rosetta 200 and Big Ben simply because there is no other DACs available to chosse from. We are all sure the future belongs to Computer-based audio equipments. Hope this time I can catch up with the Zeitgeist!

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    Daniel,<br />

    <br />

    I want to build a multi-channel music server using an HP touchscreen computer with Firewire interface to an AFI1, serving as a multichannel digital source (3 pairs of channels) for my Meridian 861 processor. The 861 only accepts SPDIF. If I use Neutrik adapter cables or transformers to convert to SPDIF impedance, will this significantly impact the jitter of the delivered signal?<br />

    <br />

    Also, do the AFI1 drivers work correctly under Windows Vista?<br />

    <br />

    Thanks much for your answers, and your participation on this board!<br />

    <br />

    <br />

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    Hi MahlerFreak<br />

    <br />

    Neutrik adapters are perfectly fine for that task. No problem. <br />

    <br />

    The Vista drivers for the AFI1 are in the following stages<br />

    Original release: 32-bit is supported, 64-bit is in beta test<br />

    SP1: 32-bit and 64-bit are in beta test<br />

    <br />

    Regards,<br />

    Daniel<br />

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    Thanks Daniel, I just ordered myself an AFI1! I'll keep people here posted when I find out how well it works ...<br />

    <br />

    <br />

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    Hi,<br />

    <br />

    Following this thread with interest; Weiss seem to make some excellent DACs!<br />

    <br />

    Something I think it worth picking up on; this has been mentioned but I am surprised that there has not been more discussion on the matter - the difference between the Weiss DAC2 and the Weiss Minerva. Especially considering that the DAC2 costs £1995 here in the UK (US $3300) whereas the Minerva costs £3295 (US $5449). That's a difference of £1300 or $2149!<br />

    <br />

    From what I have picked up on this thread, it seems that these two Weiss DACs are extremely similar, though "we do more extensive channel matching and circuit optimization during the QC [?quality control] phase with the Minerva" e.g. "interchannel level and phase response matching to tighter tolerances". In an email to me Daniel pointed out that "The DAC2 and Minerva use the same electronics. Frontpanel and feet are different."<br />

    <br />

    Considering this huge cost difference, is it worth buying the Minerva over the DAC2? Is there any real difference in sound quality using the Minerva over the DAC2? It does not seem that this is the case from what I have been reading.<br />

    <br />

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    I commented on that elsewhere on this site, here it is again:<br />

    <br />

    The DAC2 and Minerva use the same electronics, same performance. The difference is in the frontpanel and feet. The price difference comes from the different distribution channels. The DAC2 is in our pro audio line of products, i.e. there is only one intermediate dealer (the distributor who sells directly to the end user, i.e. the studio). The Minerva is in the High-End Hi-Fi line of products, i.e. there are two intermediate dealers, i.e. the distributor and the retailer. <br />

    Usually the HiFi customers expect a high level of customer care, including demo units, help in setting up the computer, help in solving problems etc. which the retailer is expected to provide. In pro audio the studio people are very knowledgeable so they are ok to get equipment from the distributor without any further need for help. That is how it works.<br />

    <br />

    Regards,<br />

    Daniel<br />

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    Thanks for your reply Daniel and apologies if you had already discussed this elsewhere. I had not been able to find the information to answer my question.<br />

    Best regards,<br />

    <br />

    Dan

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