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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
 
Mattzack2: Well.....lets just say I can't refute your' buyers impression. So far EVERYONE that has heard it on my end of the world has had a really really adverse reaction to it. The MSB unit has been burning in for about a day now and it is good. It is (i think) better than the DCC-1 but it cant compete with the Bidat.

I do however like the unit very much and I am now the new owner, it will take up residence in my bedroom, with the DCC-1 going to the office and the Bidat going to the living room.

I think at this point Im going to try to hear a Music Playback Design gear and then I am finished. I know I LOVED the sound of the AMR 77, but I need to hear the MPD-5.

The MSB is hard to categorize..., but it is detailed like nothing I have heard before. At 3 mintues (3 min exactly) on Renee Maries soung Bolero/Suzanne there is something going on deep deep deep deep in the background I never heard before and the MSB brought it to the forefront (thought still very very hidden).

More to come as I continue listening...

PS>Again, though I am not purchasing the unit the Moon 300D... really really good!
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
Two things, I mutilated the word 'song' in the earlier post...to early to be typing I guess :) Second, I just fired up the MSB today and I have to say I now know what I heard that caused me to purchase it. Seldom have I heard a product change its strips so much in a 24 hour period.., guess my suspicions about the unit are proven... It is very very very good!!!

I still think the presentation is different from the Bidat and AMR which are very very similar to each other.
hatari
94 posts
 
Audiofun - my reply of many days ago was misconstrued, in no way questioning your motives/experiences. Good on you (and lucky you) to be actually able to try things side by side. I just noticed some "Best" comments by others...which always make me smile (and roll my eyes). ie those that say 997 is the best without having driven a Cayman or other mid-engined sports car (Ferrari) ;). If you've tried them all, then you certainly have an informed opinion. RS4 for me these days, with kids and all.

My hard drive has crashed, an external DAC/mini is starting frustrate me...I may follow your lead, but really to just move to a one-box solution (idiot proof).
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
Hatari: No harm no foul:) Sorry about your' HDD that's a bad feeling. The RS4 is a HOT car!!!
vhiner
544 posts
 
Audiofun,

I missed this thread because it shifted from the old one. It's fascinating and I'm reading it like the latest issue of Stereophile! I'm eager to hear more about the MSB in terms of how it compares to the Bidat. I'm not surprised by what you say by "tube magic." Another friend of mine who has recently modded bidat says he wishes the bidat had a tube output stage because he previously had a DAC which did and said it had a special quality...even though the Bidat bested it.

I just spent several weeks comparing new digital interconnects from Moray James (he assists John Wright with his mods and John uses Moray's calbe to voice his mods) and I want you to know how amazing Moray's latest cable is when used with the Bidat. Several friends have confirmed by impressions of what an amazing difference this RCA digtial cable makes. Since I've had my Bidat upgraded twice (the most recent in November of '09) I can say that the digital cable has as profound an impact as the actual mods done to the unit. Bass is more realistic and FAR more musical. Microdynamics are improved without the slightest grain or "hi fi" sound. I have also switched to a Shunyata Python CX for the power cord and it has also brought out even more of the Bidat magic. I have no financial interest or relationship with either of these companies. If you're interested in reviewing one of Moray's cables, I can pass his email address on to you.
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