Thread: 8 DAC’s in 16 minutes

Originally Posted by nc42acc

This guy is definitely on the DAC merry go around. If he had tried a MSB he could have saved so much time and money with only having to spend one minute on his video.

Just one opinion of one person, MSB is not the end all be all of anything. But I get it

Originally Posted by Edward

Sounds like he likes the Weiss. A good friend recommended it to me and so far I love it too.

The Weiss is underrated - I was actually hoping to end up with the Chord DAVE or Aqua Formula xHD rev2. But nothing beats listening and comparing in your own / familiar system.

DAC501 / DAC502 Mk2 version has been launched, with 4-channel outputs.

Weiss 5 Series DAC501-DAC502-MK2 – Asia Weiss

Understand now with with ESS9038 PRO and an upgraded analog board.

Originally Posted by nicoludio

The Weiss is underrated

I agree. I still have 4 x Weiss OP2-BP discreet opamp in a dac (switchable opamp design) and it was by far the best I have heard with any top tiers, SI, Burson, Sparkos.

Originally Posted by nicoludio

- I was actually hoping to end up with the Chord DAVE or Aqua Formula xHD rev2. But nothing beats listening and comparing in your own / familiar system.

I am actually interested in the Weiss 501 or 502 for my next dac upgrade. Did you mean to say that you compared the Aqua xHD v2 and favored the Weiss 501 or 502 ? Never been a fan of Chord.

Originally Posted by Devg

I am actually interested in the Weiss 501 or 502 for my next dac upgrade. Did you mean to say that you compared the Aqua xHD v2 and favored the Weiss 501 or 502 ? Never been a fan of Chord.

Yes, I have. The usual YMMV applies.

I have been intrigued by the Aqua Formula xHD and the very positive reviews that it had when compared to my Weiss DAC502. More positive reviews of the DAC502 have appeared since my session with the Formula.

When someone I knew was selling the Aqua Formula xHD (Rev 2), I almost most bought it unheard, actually, due to the Covid-19 lockdown but managed to find an opportunity to finally bring my Weiss to his house to compare. I went with a positive bias and wholly expected to end up buying the Formula.

It was a decent system Accuphase preamp and power amp (A75), YG Carmel 2 speakers, Cardas/Nordost (top or near top models) cables.

The Formula was warmed up so we listened to it first. The Weiss was connected cold. The playlist was mine - a mix of soundtracks, symphonic classical, choral, opera, jazz, vocals, electronica (Daft Punk, Massive Attack, Kraftwerk).

Formula xHD

Bigger soundstage with airier images. The sound could be said to be midrange centric. However, it was a more congested, less transparent, sound.

The lack of transparency appeared as a haze / greyness to the sound even before any music started - might have been a higher noise floor. There appeared to be some breakup / hardening on dynamic peaks. Generally, it was not as dynamic or punchy as the Weiss.

On good systems, in the opening drum sequence on Hotel California (Eagles Live), one should be able to hear the following: hand hitting drum skin, drum skin vibrating, followed by the drum body vibrating and the sound expanding. With the Formula, it was an amorphous thud.

Same for the bass drums on the first movement on Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (Chesky version) where on great systems, one can also hear the bass drums echoing at the back of the hall.

The last track on the playlist was Allegri: Misere (The Essential Tallis Scholars). The sound was warm but congested, and it was difficult to hear the individual voices.

Weiss DAC502

The last track with the Formula was the first track with the Weiss. It was immediately more transparent, quieter. The haze experienced with the Formula was gone. It was so clear, like nothing between you and the music.

Unlike with the Formula, it was much easier to follow individual music lines with the Weiss. One could zoom out to hear the whole or zoom in / focus on individual voices / lines.

The soundstage was not as big as the Formula (a sense of less width / height) but almost as deep. The sound was more balanced, less warm if you must, but not thin or lean. Everything was just there. It’s a bit of a cliche but things just sounded “right”.

Otoh, with the Formula, male voices like Nat King Cole / Louis Armstrong was warmer and had more air / body though.

On the Weiss, there was no issues with the drums on Hotel California or Dvorak. The session with the Weiss was shorter. It was clear to me by then that I would not end up with the Formula and I did not want to waste my friend's time as he had another potential buyer coming for a listen.

Both the Formula owner and I agreed that the Weiss was more neutral, balanced and transparent, and that the Formula had a bigger, warmer, sound.

Other comparisons

FWIW, the reviews in Stereophile on the Weiss DAC502 (Weiss Engineering DAC502 D/A processor | Stereophile.com) and Formula xHD (Aqua Acoustic Quality Aqua Formula xHD D/A processor | Stereophile.com) are representative of what I heard from both units that day.

I used to think that the review on the Formula might have been a hatchet job but it was descriptive of my experience with it. The Formula that I heard was the Rev 2 with the upgraded output board.

Having read Steve Huff’s written (review The Weiss DAC501 Review. Pristine Studio Sound. |), it’s somewhat OTT but not inaccurate. It is also useful that he managed to compare the Weiss with the Nagra Classic DAC.

The Nagra Tube DAC would be intriguing as it combines both a DAC and a tube pre. However, with the mandatory add-on power supply, it would cost 2 - 3 times more than the Weiss. However, I don’t know how the Weiss Mk 2 will sound as there are none in the field yet.

While I have not directly compared with the Weiss, another DAC / CDP that would be interesting would be the TAD D1000tx (CDP) or DA1000tx (DAC). I have not heard the TX but have heard the Mk 2 version in a system with Gryphon Pandora / Mephisto + Wilson Benesch Endeavour. Superb sound.

Even on an un-audiophile recording like Love Montage (Les Miserable: 1985 London Original Cast), when Cossette sings, one can hear the transition from chest/mouth/nose sounds. In On Earth As It Is In Heaven (The Mission soundtrack), the choir appears to be singing some 20 feet behind the speaker line.