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Bidat vs Perfect Wave vs Weiss and others

This is thread I started a while ago and promised in February i would start doing some real world comparative testing using the Bidat (Plus Mod) as the ref. The units under test are to include in no specific order the MSB Platinum Dac, the Weiss Minervera and the Playback Design player. I posted this under the follow-up of the original thread and it is there is you do a search under Digital for "ps audio perfect". I can't understand why it did not 'promote' to the top of the digital section as it did in the past whenever there was a new contribution, so I have started a new related thread with the first entry of my fun (and I hope edifying comparative experiences).
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Ok, I just got a broken in Weiss Minerva (several hundred hours at least). It has been in my system burning in for about 18 hours (18 hours since arriving in my home, time to come to thermal equilibrium). I have done some comparative listening to the Museatex Dcc-1 (a rarely known digital preamp 19 bit dual differential type) using glass Tos on both and then glass on the DCC1 vs a very expensive (can't name it yet as the manufacturer has not released it...sorry :( ) Firewire on the Weiss. I have a Mac Mini (2007 model) 2.0 ghz Core2Duo with 4Gig of ram running Leopard (although this model can only see 3.01 gig of that (I used 4gig as the memory transfer is optimized when the mem modules are the same). I also have a 1TB NAS (all over wifi). I am of course going to reserve final judement until a bit later.

I will be comparing the Museatex Bidat with the Plus Mod later this weekend. As a teaser, I will go on record and say that honestly at this point I don't agree with the stellar reviews concerning the Weiss Minerva.

It is resolute, almost technicolor but just to give you a short glimpse of what I am hearing, I could imagine a well healed vinyl person listening to Holly Cole on vinyl and then listening to the Weiss (playing the same in CD format) and saying "this is why I will never leave vinyl". Now that may sound harsh, but this is a hobby and I don't have a dog in the race, I am just reporting my ears findings.

I listened to a few high resolution files 176.4/24 and 96/24 but what I heard was a really clear highly resolved soul-less rendition of the music. It never ever made me smile or relax into the music the way the DCC-1/Bidat or even my former (when I actually spun cd's...wow time flies) stellar Dynavox Dynastation 2 (the finest CD player I have ever heard).

In a nutshell (at this point) it just sounds like digital and that aint good in my camp because I am not forgetting about the gear and just listening to the music. I don't like syrupy or dark, I have heard plenty of players try to use that trick to sound musical. No, I look for something that is more elusive and few their be that find that magical combination when forging through the nether regions of the digital domain. I will continue listening to see if the Weiss surprises me :)

More to come...
audiofun
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
Heymikey: It sounds like you have a nice setup. I met Steve and started dealing with him over 10 years ago when he started GNSC. I was a beta tester for one of his first in-house products...a isolation transformer house in a very attractive sort of on end standing housing. He does great work.

I have wanted to try one of the Wireworld Supernova glass TOS cables, perhaps I will order one.
heymikey
80 posts
 
Thanks, I have a feeling your set-up might put mine to shame.
I got my Wireworld Supernova 6 at GCAudio.com (Galen Carol Audio), they can also be had from The Cable Co. It sounds surprisingly good.
Yep, Steve at GNSC is a good guy, I've had the opportunity to deal with him a few times in the past.
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
Ok, some thoughts on the Sim Audio 300D... NICE!!! It is acquitting itself very nicely against the DCC-1 at this point. The presentation is not as languid as the Dcc-1 and it doesn't quite have the weight, but I could imagine this dac being teamed with a BAT or Joule pre (had a REX and a Joule Electra LA100 formerly) and sounding awfully awfully good.

I say that because with no tubes at all it is not sterile at all, it is musical and I think that in 1997 or '98 this kind of sound would have been upwards or 5-7k. The minor faults I find are purely by omission and not commission.

Another thing, it has made a believer out of me that USB may be a viable format. Every other USB dac I've heard failed to impress (I'm being nice) though admittedly I have not heard a great deal of USB dacs. This sounds really nice with a cheap over the counter (Best Buy) USB that I picked up tonight on the way home. So... the cable is nothing special, not burned in and it still sounds very good.

I actually found myself wondering what system I might be able to squeeze this unit into, but I have the Bidat for the bedroom, the DCC-1 for the office and the main 2 systems will probably get the AMR/Playback or MSB... GOTTA stop somewhere ;)

I am going to say that anyone who is looking for really good sound for under 2k should at least audition this unit, you may be surprised as I was.... Honestly I didn't really want to be bothered with bringing this one home, as I had so much on my plate what with taking notes on the others and connecting disconnecting...etc.., we've all been there.

More tomorrow, the MSB came, but I wasn't here so I will pick it up tomorrow from the P.O. :(

Regards
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
Thanks Heymiker, I may call the guys at GCAudio.com.
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
I picked the MSB up this morning. It is charging and I will give it a whirl this evening. Stay tuned... "same bat channel same bat time" .... Ok, if you not in your mid 30's or up that probably means nothing to you LOL!!!
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