W4S DAC2 vs Benchmark DAC1 my observation

Part #2, USB comparisons.
In this post I will compare the toslink input of the W4S DAC to the USB input of the W4S DAC2. I have both hooked up to my Mac Mini and can switch in about 3 seconds. From my seat I change the mac's MIDI settings so it will be a direct A/B comparison.

I will later compare the USB input of the W4S DAC2 to the USB input of the Benchmark DAC1-HDR. My opinion on the Benchmarks USB will be from memory as I sold the unit last week.

All comparison were done on the same system as listed above with the supplied stock USB cables.

W4S's Toslink vs USB:

First off I would like to say the W4S usb section is the best USB DAC I have used. With that being said it still falls short compared to the toslink input. The difference is not as big as I have experienced with other DACs but it still holds true (IMO) that the USB inputs are not ready for prime time.

Tonal Balance:

The tonal balance of the W4S toslink input and USB input are the same or at least very close. There is fractional hint more bass with the USB (see bass comments). Both inputs have a round bass and are pretty balanced with just a little shelving down of the treble.

Highs:

The highs are much better over the toslink input. There is a lot more decay of notes over the toslink that are completely lost over the USB. This helps give the soundstage more depth (see below for more details) and a sense of more detail. The highs are all around more refined over the toslink. They are a little crunchy over the USB when directly compared to the toslink. On the USB the highs nap and cymbals hit hard but the decay is cut short. The USB has less natural highs IMO and I hate to say it but a little "mid fi" compared to the toslink. I should note that if you did not have the toslink for direct comparison the highs of the USB would sound fine...

Mids:

The mids are really about the same and it would be splitting hairs to say they are much different. The voices do come across a little different but the difference is more related to soundstage than tonal balance or detail.

Bass:

The bass of the toslink and USB due differ just a little bit. The USB has a little better leading edge transients and a little more bass extension. This give a sense of more power and a little more bass punch. The tonal balance seems to be about the same though. The toslink's bass is a little more round and does not start or stop as fast. It may have more decay but it is hard to say when it gets down that low on my system.

Soundstage:

The difference in soundstage is not huge but it is consistent. The toslink has consistently deeper soundstage, however the width seemed the same to me (in my room anyway). The soundstage effected the voices too. They seem a little more flushed out over the toslink and a little flatter in tone and space over the USB. The better decay of the highs over the toslink added to the soundstage and really gave a sense of space.

Benchmark USB vs W4S USB:

Here the W4S is the easy winner. I REALLY like the Benchmark when using the toslink input but over the USB it is another animal. The benchmark is bright and forward over the USB. The highs lack decay and the mids have some glare. All these things improve when the toslink is used on the Benchmark, and it becomes refined and balanced. I would not buy the Benchmark if I was going to use the USB input.

The W4S's USB is acceptable but if you are using the USB input on your DAC with either of these units you are holding your system back. I would guess this is true for most DACs. The W4S is my fourth USB DAC and the best by far but still does not sound as good as other types of inputs. If I had to have a USB DAC the W4S would be the one I would want to own.

Hi James - very nice writeup.

I have both a W4S - primarily used in my headphone system - and a Benchmark DAC1 USB currently used in my main system, which tends to the bright side. Last weekend I swapped the W4S into my main rig, and found it very appealing (this via USB, against the Benchmark's USB). It had a similar amount of detail, and a nice even balance, but a bit more of a natural sounding vibe to me - voices were a bit more earthy, highs present but not piercing, that kind of thing.

I couldn't leave the W4S there unfortunately - WAF and all that. I think it is an awesome DAC but man, it is rather fugly! ;)

As an aside, I'm going to try out a Wavelength Brick in the big rig - see how that goes.

Have had both. Still have the Wyred.
Benchmark has the enate ability to even make a tube rig sound bright?

Magnumpi205,

I hear what you are saying. If you are sensitive to bright gear you will most likely hate the benchmark. I think the brightness is it's one major flaw.

As for the Wyred 4 Sound DAC2 it is growing on me and I have improved the sound will some set up changes. First I toed out my speakers about 15 degrees and that really helped get the soundstage back to where it should be. I also changed interconnects between the DAC and amp which really helped out the bass impact (maybe break-in too?). The leading edge bass impact now sounds very similar to the Benchmark (maybe 95% of the benchmarks). I also removed the grills on my speakers (I keep them on most of the time) which made the highs just a touch more detailed.

I will give it a few months before I decide if I am going to keep the DAC2 longterm but all in all it sound a good bit better than it did the first few days I had it.

Jerico,

I missed your comment before.

I agree with your comment comparing the W4S USB to the Benchmarks USB input:

"It had a similar amount of detail, and a nice even balance, but a bit more of a natural sounding vibe to me - voices were a bit more earthy, highs present but not piercing, that kind of thing."

I think you will fined the same changes if you try the toslink input on the Benchmark. It may not be as extreme as the changes in DACs but I it will defiantly change the sound for the better.

It is too bad the W4S is so ugly but the price is right... Some thing like Bel Cantos look a lot better but I doubt they sound all that different and they cost a lot more. I have never heard the Wavelength Brick but I would like to hear your comments once you get a change to demo it.