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Considering Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 DSD purchase

Looking for some advise on a purchase with limited funds. A Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 DSD (demo) is available, but I'm wondering if the Sabre ES9018 dac chip is still a worthy contender. This DAC is now 5 years old and although it received excellent reviews, how would it stack up against a new unit in the $1000 range?
The specs and features are impressive and it uses the ESS Time Domain Jitter Eliminator which is still being used in current W4S models. (The Femto clock is available as an upgrade).

I would be pairing this DAC with my PS Audio PWT and would be able to use the I2S interface. The asynchronous USB input is limited to 24-bit 192kHz, which is fine for me.
So, any thoughts especially from those who have owned the W4S DAC-2?

128x128lowrider57
jaybe
740 posts
 
This was my first DAC. I always thought it a bit "dry" for my tastes so have moved on and up. Did spring for the big DSD upgrade but it still had the same basic character. However it was very quiet, sound seemed to come from that "blackness" we talk about. It also seemed quite dynamic. Never used the I2S input, which might make a big difference. Not sure how it would hold up against other units in your price range.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,407 posts
 
I had the DAC2 with dsd and femto clock upgrade.  I found the sound to be more in your face than it was to my previous Wyred DAC1.  I sold mine and bought the Sony music server.  I am one very happy camper.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57 OP
5,417 posts
 
That's interesting @stereo5 . By "in your face " do you mean it was very dynamic and detailed, or was the presentation too forward?
The reviews I've read stated that the basic DAC-2 DSD produced a wide and deep soundstage, and the Femto version had more detail and sense of space plus VG low-end extension.

I've owned a Chord Qute which was so smooth, but was very forward (like sitting in the front row), and the PS Audio Nuwave DSD which sounds wonderful thru I2S, but the high gain is overdriving my amp.
I'm all about soundstaging and a realistic presentation.

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,407 posts
 
I found the presentation to be very forward, I felt like I was sitting in row 1.  It was also brighter in my system than the Dac 1.  The dac 1 uses the same ESS dac so it had to be other things in the new dac contributing to that sound.  I lived with the Dac 2 for almost a year and it probably had at least 1000 hours on it.  No amount of break in or cable swapping helped the situation.
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