new Weiss DAC?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Well said barrows.

 

 

Cost to manufacturer in EU >> Cost to Import to U.S. >> Distributor Markup >> Dealer Markup >> Customer

 

Everyone needs to be paid for what they do along this chain from manufacturer to customer. I don't think any of us would work for free :~)

 

[renkan]

Ted, it would be nice if you can also compare it with the Dac1-Mk2 which is similarly priced...

 

[Lars]

Companies like Wavelength Audio offer upgrades for their older DAC models.

 

[Purite Audio]

It will be interesting to compare the dacII to the new DAC202, at least now there are more than just cosmetic differences between the two,and the dac 202 is aimed squarely at the 2 channel market.

 

[barrows]

"Companies like Wavelength Audio offer upgrades for their older DAC models"

 

And that can be a great option when possible, but it looks to me like the DAC 202 is an entirely new product: new DAC section, new analog output section, new chassis, new firmware, headphone amp, etc. It would not be possible to physically "upgrade" a Minerva/DAC2 to a DAC 202.

 

I think the subtle inference here is that somehow Weiss, and in a broader sense the audio industry, is ripping off the consumer somehow. In my experience working in the industry, nothing could be further from the truth. Companies try really hard to offer as much value in products as possible, and most of these companies are operating at very small (or even no) profits.

If one wants to be upset about getting taken advantage of financially, I would suggest directing one's attention elsewhere, like, perhaps, towards our Wall Street, or the drug companies.

 

[Lars]

"I think the subtle inference here is that somehow Weiss, and in a broader sense the audio industry, is ripping off the consumer somehow."

 

Your inference is absurd and uncalled for Barrows. I was just pointing out that some manufacturers have an upgrade path for their products. Nowhere did I say or infer that Weiss is cheating anyone.

 

 

 

[barrows]

Then what is the relevance of your comment about Wavelength Audio, in a thread concerning the new Weiss DAC?

 

[Lars]

"Then what is the relevance of your comment about Wavelength Audio, in a thread concerning the new Weiss DAC?:

 

Mp asked if Weiss had an upgrade path for their products. I have no idea if they do or don't. I just pointed out that some companies do.

 

I am not trying to give you or Weiss a hard time. I may even purchase the new Weiss DAC. Please lighten up. Most people here are friendly and not trying to stick it to anyone.

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

 

[labjr]

I didn't just single out Weiss because they are a European company. I'm questioning the value of their product. And what's wrong with raising these questions? I would ask the same of any American company like Berkeley Audio Design, but that's a subject for another thread.

 

I bought some Reference 3A speakers 15 years ago when Victor Goldstein was the US importer. The guy was great at marketing and all of a sudden a $2,000 pair of speakers costed $5,000. Supposedly because of upgrades which turned out to be mostly false. Shortly after I bought them he started dumping them for under $2000 . Thus the brand had no resale value. When you can buy the same product brand new for half price or less the product suddenly has no value left. So this is a peculiar business to say the least.

 

I'd say for retail price vs. the apparent relatively small cost to produce some of these products, they should have a very generous upgrade/ trade-up policy. Even if it involves throwing an old board or tossing the whole unit. If for nothing else as an incentive to keep your business. Ayre is doing it. So is Wavelength. Metric Halo products have a very long product life with low cost upgrades. I don't expect it for free but I'm not buying a whole new product from your company every year I don't know about everyone else but I'm not wealthy. Before I lay down my hard earned money I going to question the value of the products and the way the companies do business.

 

 

[barrows]

Steve my apologies. I misunderstood your intentions, very sorry. I was responding to the general tone of some posts here that seemed to me to be taking Weiss to task while my impression is that they are working hard to bring interesting cutting edge computer audio products to market.

I did not mean to put any ill will in your direction.

 

[weiss2496]

The DAC202 is now on our website:

http://www.weiss-highend.ch/dac202/index.html

 

Daniel

 

 

[Part-Time Audiophile]

That looks like a really nice piece of kit. I guess the $64k question is, how does it sound compared to your other products??? Any comparisons you can make would be most appreciated .....

 

Oh, and when does it ship???

 

;-)

 

[Nes]

Dunno if there where already pictures posted with the display on. Here is one:

 

http://spintricity.com/64/6629/jan-2010/ces-2010---venetian-floor-29-wing-200-part-3-continued-20

 

I hope that link is working, otherwise go here and click your way through the pictures that precede it http://spintricity.com/64/public/Vol2-1 (link originally posted by kana813).

 

[Lars]

"Steve my apologies. I misunderstood your intentions, very sorry. I was responding to the general tone of some posts here that seemed to me to be taking Weiss to task while my impression is that they are working hard to bring interesting cutting edge computer audio products to market.

I did not mean to put any ill will in your direction."

 

No problem Barrows. The new Weiss202 looks very hot!

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

 

[ted_b]

Can't give my impressions over my DAC2 cuz I was not at all familiar with the sound of the rest of the system/room at the Venetian. Sounded nice, but no real info other than that. The front LED readout is brightly lit and gives all the sample rate info needed, etc. It almost looked slightly smaller than the DAC2/Minerva.

 

[mp]

If the Weiss Minerva is my only source component, would replacing the Minerva with the DAC202 eliminate the need for a preamp?

 

How does the Weiss ATT202 Passive Attenuator handle volume control vs the DAC202?

 

Thanks

 

[Purite Audio]

You can use the DAC202 as a preamp ,it has a remote controlled digital attenuator, the ATT 202 uses a stepped resistor attenuator again, remote controlled.

Keith.

 

[mp]

Which is best sonically?

 

Digital in the DAC202, Stepped resistor in the ATT202 or my current preamp Jeff Rowland Concerto, or are they all the same?

 

Thanks

 

[Purite Audio]

MP Hi you would have to compare all the options at home , experimenting here, every preamp I try adds something to the signal, I guess it depends whether you like the addition.

Keith.

 

[barrows]

Has the potential to sound "best", but there are some considerations. For a DAC run direct to power amps, with digital attenuation, to sound great (better than with a pre amp added) the output stage of the DAC has to be quite beefy, with high current drive capability and low output impedance. Additionally, you do not want to be doing too much attenuation digitally, if you do you will lose resolution. Weiss designs their gear to be able to have the output attenuated in rough steps in the analog domain, so one can then use the digital attenuation sparingly (this allows one to match the output of the DAC to the input sensitivity of the amplifier) thus avoiding any significant loss of resolution. Used as Weiss does, digital attenuation in the DAC run direct to the power amp(s) should sound best (at least in terms of neutrality, resolution, and noise).

But... There is one other consideration. If one currently has a preamp in the signal path, that preamp is adding its own "color" to the sound (along with distortion and noise), one might miss that "color" if it was gone from their system, even though the "color" is an artifact not present in the source material. Personally, I would prefer my system to sound "right" without resorting to artificial "color" produced by a component.

 

[weiss2496]

I have written a white paper on the topic of digital level control. Includes sound examples.

http://www.weiss-highend.ch/computerplayback/Digital_Level_Control.pdf

Daniel

 

 

[57gold]

Comparisons to MInerva/DAC 2 or Ayre USB unit?

 

Thanks.