Linn Akurate DS vs Weiss DAC2 - nas only operation ?

[sonorsnoopy]

i have to buy a new source - either Linn Akurate DS or the Weiss DAC2.

 

Weiss DAC2:

 

is it possible to run it without a pc - control it via iphone (install all the necessary software (apple/amarra, ...) on the nas ? what is your (simple) hard&software recommendation. (nas, cables, remote, amarra, jriver, ...)

 

is it possibe to control the digital volume via the iphone ?

what kind of music managemet-software is available fo the iphone and how do you find it ?

 

is it possilble to choose & listen to internetradio in this "nas-only" setup ?

 

is there a good room correction software or equalizer available ?

 

maximum firewirecablelenght ? and which one ?

 

Linn Akurate DS:

 

did you compare the sound of the two and how did you find it ?

do you use flac or aiff ? & why ?

 

what is the optimum hard&software setup for it (nas, cables, cara, ...)

is there a good room correction software or equalizer available ?

may i run it on the nas ? (edit it with a pc)

 

 

i am new to computeraudio - so i would appreciate informations about how to setup a music server - from ripping to listening - what is the simplest method now ?

 

 

god bless

 

sonorsnoopy

 

 

 

 

[CharlyD]

Hi Sonorsnoopy - here are answers to most your questions.

 

DAC2

is it possible to run it without a pc

The DAC2 requires connection to a PC/Mac (or other firewire host) via firewire. With a networked media adaupter (e.g. the Akurate DS), no PC or Mac needs to be on the network in addition to the NAS.

 

is it possibe to control the digital volume via the iphone ?

Yes, but control of the audio analog volume by changing the amplitudes encoded in the digital stream risks significant distortion.

 

what kind of music managemet-software is available fo the iphone and how do you find it ?

Try the Apple iPhone apps store. Music Management SW (e.g. iTunes/Amarra) would be running on the PC/Macintosh.

 

is it possilble to choose & listen to internetradio in this "nas-only" setup ?

See first answer. The PC/Mac acting as a Firewire controller will be able to access webradio as well as a NAS over TCP/IP.

 

maximum firewirecablelenght ?

According to Wikipedia, the maximum cable the maximum cable length is 4.5m.

 

Linn DS

did you compare the sound of the two and how did you find it ?

I've heard the Akurate DS and it sounds great.

 

is there a good room correction software or equalizer available ?

I'm not aware of any room-correction software that runs on a PC or Mac.

 

 

 

[Audio_ELF]

I'm going to give a slightly different answer to Charley's...

 

You asked first if you can use the DAC2 without a computer. The simple answer I would give is no. But I'm going to try and explainthat a little more by trying to draw analogies with the good old CD.

 

If we think of the NAS as a store of CDs - like your shelves at

home, then we have the LinnDS which is like an integrate CD player - both the transport and digital to analogue conversion are in one box. All you need to add is a NAS (running a UPnP server) and connect it to amplifer and speakers. The Weiss DAC2 on te other hand cannot run independent of a separate transport. For most people the transport is a PC or Mac computer; though you could use a DAC2 with any device with a digital output such as a Squeezebox, Sonos or Linn Magik DS (streaming devices). These streaming devices are computers - just very specialist computers rather than general purpose computers.

 

Hope this helps

Eloise

 

[PierreDLC]

I use Amarra coupled with Weiss Minerva ("home" version of Weiss DAC which is turned to professional).

 

VOLUME CONTROL

With Amarra, you have to turn the volume of iTunes to zero. Amarra then controls the volume. As a result, iPhone remote will control the playback, the selection of playlist... but not the volume since iTunes must stay shut down. Unfortunately, there are no apps or hardware to control Amarra's volume.

 

INPUTS

On Weiss Minerva, there are FW inputs and AES and SPDIF inputs so that to connect audiophile equipments. Can't explain why inputs are restrained to FW on DAC2. See Weiss website. www.weiss.ch

 

LENGTH OF CABLE

Between computer and Weiss, use the shortest FW cable as adviced by Daniel Weiss. Length has an impact on SQ. The quality of the FW cable may too. Members of computeraudiophiles recommends GoldX which is not expensive at all.

 

SOUND EXPERIENCE

Amarra full version (995 USD) integrates an equalizer. As far as my experience, the couple Amarra and Weiss Minerva provides me a greater experience than those of my Accuphase DP500 CD player (richness of medium and treble) which is a true reference in its category.

 

[Audio_ELF]

Pierre ... As far as I can remember, the DAC2 has SPDIF and AES3 input (and output) along with the FireWire connect - exactly the same as the Minerva.

 

[ted_b]

same inputs and outputs. I own one, and furthermore we've mentioned it here multiple times.

 

For the OP, there are quite a few room correction and/or EQ software choices on the PC and MAC. Most require some hardware (calibrated microphone, black box, etc.) and some cursory knowledge. Here's a couple leads:

http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/

http://www.duffroomcorrection.com/wiki/Main_Page (scroll down to "software systems")

 

or if you are more the one-stop-shop kind of person:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/KRK-ERGO-Room-Correction-System?sku=703256

 

As far as FW length and quality....I have posted about GoldX cables and love them (for all of $15-20). They stomp the stock cables. I own a 2M version and a 4.5M (supposed maximum length) version and can't discern one iota of SQ difference between the two. IOW, the 4.5M Goldx sounds wayyyy better than a 1M stock FW cable. But Daniel Weiss, as late as yesterday in an email reply to some questions, said not to worry too much about the length and for me to go ahead and try a 15 ft FW repeater I have (for a different setup I'm thinking about). I will report back on SQ. If I lose 1% SQ it's not worth it.

 

 

[PierreDLC]

I didn't make myself clear. I didn't mean to let anyone believe that DAC 2 is different from MINERVA. Having no time to double check this on Weiss website, I was only wondering myself why DAC2 could be different from MINERVA. But yes that's true: DAC2 and MINERVA are technically similar. The look&feel is more professionnal on DAC2 (and less expensive) vs MINERVA.

 

[sonorsnoopy]

Thanks for your replys so far !

 

the minerva and the dac2 are the same. but the latest versions do have an important feature - they have an variable gain control (4 fixed settings). thats the only way to use the dac2/minerva without an preamp. with that feature you can listen to your favourite volume at 90-100% digital and make small variations with the digital volume control.