2. digital
  3. 168893-95151

DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend

Okay...in another thread I promised to do a side-by-side evaluation of the Audiobyte HydraVox/Zap vs the Rockna Wavelight. Due to the astonishing incompetence of DHL this has been delayed. At the moment, I have a plethora of DACs here and am going to do a broader comparison.

I am going to do a compare of the Rockna Wavelight, Rockna Wavedream Signature, Audiobyte HydraVox/Zap, Chord Hugo 2, Chord Hugo TT2, Bricasti M3, Bricasti M1 Special Edition, Weiss 501 and the internal DAC card for an AVM A 5.2 Integrated amp as a baseline.

For sake of consistency, I am going to use that same AVM integrated amp driving Vivid Kaya 45s. I may branch out and do some listening on other speakers (Verdant Nightshade of Blackthorn and/or Wilson Benesch Vertexes) but want to use the Vivids for every compare as they are the fullest range speakers I have here. For sake of consistency I will use a Chord 2Go/2Yu connected via an Audioquest Diamond USB as a renderer. The only exception is the Hugo 2 which has a 2Go directly attached to it. I will use a Roon Nucleus+ as a server in all cases.

My plan is to use the same five songs on every DAC; In a Sentimental Mood from Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, Be Still My Beating Heart from Sting, Liberty from Anette Askvik, Duende from Bozzio Levin Stevens and Part 1 of Mozart String Quartet No 14 in G Major from the Alban Berg Quartet. The intent is to touch on different music types without going crazy.

I will take extensive notes on each listening session and write up a POV on the strengths of each unit. I am going to start this this Friday/Saturday and will be writing things up over the next month or so. If you have thoughts, comments or requests, I will be happy to try and accommodate. The one thing I am not going to do is make the list of songs longer as that has an exponential impact on this and make everything much harder. If and when other DACs come in on trade I may add to the list through time.
128x128verdantaudio
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Verdant,
just based on your past experiences with the Weiss how would you characterize its house sound compared to others in general?

or if you prefer not to comment outside of the specific comparison you’ve arranged with this shootout I understand

also dumb question but does Weiss have streamer built in and accept Ethernet and have a phone UI to operate it?  (Ie, is it a one box solution?)
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,500 posts
 
@treebeard   I would do my best to get as far back as you can.  Can you maybe use the adjustable studs to compensate for different depth with carpet or are you using spikes?  If you are using spikes, I get the limitations completely.  


verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,500 posts
 
@bigkidz Yep.  JC, NJ.  This weekend is quite busy with family stuff but will be in touch.  
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,500 posts
 
@dankef  I have never heard a Sonnet product. I have no idea how it performs.  I would start your own thread asking that question as the best chance to get a good answer from someone who is familiar with it.  
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,500 posts
 
@kren0006  Regarding the Weiss -

It is incredibly resolving.  One of the most detailed DACs I have heard.  I would guess that it is more detailed than the M1 SE, not sure how it will compare to the Rockna Wavedream Signature SE which is the most detailed DAC in this test thus far.  

Tonally, I find it quite neutral.  Not bright or warm.  That being said, it is an accurate, very low distortion DAC.  Some may find it clinical though lack of brightness will keep it from being cold.  I have not had the experience of it being clinical but if paired with the wrong amp, maybe.  That being said, I have not heard this DAC with pure SS gear.  All of my gear here is either pure tube (Art Audio, Canor) or in the case of the AVM, has a tube input stage.  I will have a Magnus Audio 340 coming in soon on trade which is a 50w Class A SS and will give it a listen.  

The DAC is "Roon Ready" and is UPnP and DLNA compliant so ethernet in is a good option.  In my testing, I found it to be the best input.  It also has tons of DSP options and room correction which are easily executed via a Web Interface.  It also has a nice quality remote and you can navigate via the touch screen and the front dial. That Web Interface is not used to play music though, just control the DAC.  You need to use a separate bit of software (Roon, JRiver, etc...) and have either a PC or Server on your network.  We recommend Antipodes servers with Weiss and Bricasti gear with built in network cards.  

More to discover