Naim DAC with Vs Wavelength Cosecant V3 DAC?

I'd chuck a Weiss Minerva / DAC2 into the mix too. The Wavelength is supposed to be a good one so please report if you do get to hear one.

James

quote:

Weiss Minerva / DAC2

Thanks for the tip on the Weis Minerva. I haven't heard it or the Wavelength yet but I did hear a demo of the Naim DAC and it was superb- Much better than the older model CDX2 in an A/B test.

quote:

Originally posted by james n:
I'd chuck a Weiss Minerva / DAC2 into the mix too. The Wavelength is supposed to be a good one so please report if you do get to hear one.

James

Minerva is discontinued, DAC2 is available. The successor of Minerva will be the new DAC202 in January.

Ferenc HI, what is the DAC202 do you have any details?

quote:

Originally posted by DHT:
Ferenc HI, what is the DAC202 do you have any details?

Copied from a Greek forum

This email is to announce our new D/A converter, the DAC202, which will replace the Minerva D/A. The DAC202 has all the features of the Minerva plus some more. Here is an overview:

- Digital Inputs: AES/EBU or S/PDIF on 1 XLR, 1 RCA,

1 Toslink, Firewire
- Digital Outputs: AES/EBU on 1 XLR, 1 RCA, Firewire
- Main Analog Output: 2 stereo analog outputs,

one on XLR one on RCA,
- Headphone output on 1/4" Jack

- Level control main output: 4 coarse settings via relays (analog domain), fine setting via rotary encoder (digital domain). Level control can be defeated for the main output.
- Level control headphone output: 4 coarse settings via relays (analog domain, independent from the settings in the main output), fine setting via rotary encoder (digital domain).

- Wordsync input on BNC
- Wordsync output on BNC

Frontpanel controls:
- LCD display for display of sampling rate, input source, audio level, absolute phase, upsampling filter type, various menu items
- rotary encoder with push switch
- IR receiver
- standby LED
- headphone Jack socket


Special features hidden in sub-menues:
- transparency check (allows to check the bit transparency of a playback chain)
- setting of the coarse output levels (analog domain)
- dual / single wire selection for 176.4 / 192 kHz sampling rate
- display brightness


IR Remote control switches:
- power on/off
- volume up
- volume down
- input sources (4 switches for Firewire, XLR, RCA. Toslink)
- DAC upsampling filter type
- mute
- absolute phase


Sampling rates: 44.1 up to 192 khz / 24 Bits

Mechanics: The same looks and size as the Minerva.

The DAC202 also has a new D/A converter and new analog output stages compared to the Minerva. The D/A converter uses two converters per channel to gain in signal to noise ratio. We do not disclose any information on the specifics of the analog circuitry at this time.

I am sure the DAC202 will set the standard for computer based playback. With the remote control and the headphone output the DAC202 will appeal to many customers. It can easily replace a preamplifier.

Crikey thanks Eloise, I shall look forward to hearing that, no mention of price or release?

quote:

Originally posted by DHT:
Crikey thanks Eloise, I shall look forward to hearing that, no mention of price or release?

No idea about price, but on another forum Daniel Weiss states that the INT202 and the ATT202 and another product would be available before Christmas - not sure of the "other" product reffered to was the DAC202.

Eloise

The int202 is a computer interface, dig out for $1.2k without optional supply. The att202 is a passive pre with remote for $5k. The DAC202 should be same or more as it's a Minerva replacement.

Sounds good - the only feature i miss from the DAC2 is remote control of the input switching.

James

James Hi, does the new one not have remote input switvhing. look at the remote control panel, the bit transparent featue might be useful, dual chips and a new analogue output!

I should have put - the only this i miss on the DAC 2 is...

Just noticed that M-Audio has a ProFire 610 firewire/JET topology interface for under $400 US with drivers for everything. Very TC like.

I suspect the new Weiss DAC will increase in price vs the Minerva, though perhaps close, and the DAC2 to stay as is at it's lower price point. A bit more differentiation was probably needed.

quote:

Originally posted by js:
Just noticed that M-Audio has a ProFire 610 firewire/JET topology interface for under $400 US with drivers for everything. Very TC like.

I suspect the new Weiss DAC will increase in price vs the Minerva, though perhaps close, and the DAC2 to stay as is at it's lower price point. A bit more differentiation was probably needed.

The ProFire 610 is just a little bit more plastic feeling than the Konnekt, the sound is very similar if not the same. It has one 6 outputs, so home theatre enthusiasts or digital (software) crossover users can use it

Going back to Wavelength I read all the articles I could on them. I was going to buy but one dealer said most of his customers that buy tube amps end up selling them on due to problems of replacement. The other problem is it only has one input and one output. I realized I would probably be needing a second for my Bluray player and it would be nice to have a headphone plug.

Things are changing so fast in that world I'm going to sit back as I did for TV. I"m trying to un-complicate my life.

quote:

Originally posted by ferenc:
Minerva is discontinued, DAC2 is available. The successor of Minerva will be the new DAC202 in January.

Are you sure the Minerva is discontinued? As far as I know the DAC2 is the studio version and Minerva the "consumer" version with nicer case and feet

quote:

Originally posted by JYOW:

quote:

Originally posted by ferenc:
Minerva is discontinued, DAC2 is available. The successor of Minerva will be the new DAC202 in January.

Are you sure the Minerva is discontinued? As far as I know the DAC2 is the studio version and Minerva the "consumer" version with nicer case and feet

Yes, I am absolutely sure, as asked Daniel Weiss few days ago about it in an email and he told me.

quote:

Originally posted by ferenc:
Yes, I am absolutely sure, as asked Daniel Weiss few days ago about it in an email and he told me.

WOw that is big news, especially since many of us have just bought a DAC2 or Minerva.

I wonder what the new DAC202 is like.

This makes sense since the Minerva does not justify the price lead to the DAC2.

I heard about a new attenuator with some fancy (gas driven?) control.

Looks like he's going upsampling on this one. Different circuit entirely.

quote:

Originally posted by JYOW:

This makes sense since the Minerva does not justify the price lead to the DAC2.

I suspect that is the nub of it. The DAC2 is a very strong product at the price, the Minerva made no sense for domestic systems.

Joe

I have audition a Wavelength Cosecant V3 with the numerator module and Transcendental for a month. I end up returning it to the dealer as it was not a good match for my taste and system matching.

Here are what I like about it:
- The sound is very coherence, with no single attributes calling attentions.
- It let you hear all of the details without being analytical.
- It make bad recording listenable.
- Ability to reproduce realistic human voice. The texture of the voices is unreal!

Here are the negatives:
- Only one input (USB)
- A MHDT Paradisea + come close to its performances for US$600. The differences are lower resolution on Paradisea+. I find the low bass on Paradisea+ is tronger but slightly less tuneful.
- I find Rock music sound funny on the Cosecant as it always sounded polite and pretty. The dynamic required by rock/ R&B is insufficient for my taste.

I think the Cosecant will be perfect for someone who only listen to singer/song writer type of music.

Now I am waiting for the Naim Dac, so I can audition it against the Weiss DAC2.

The Wavelength designer Gordon Rankin is a drummer.

So much for a musician designing a piece of hifi eh?

Drummer? Interesting. I only know he has a scientific/engineering background.

Everyone has a sonic bias.

The less edge sound is probably because of the tube I would believe. I really would want more than just my Mac Mini to be able to plug in.

I read all about them on the web he has some interesting ideas and technology but a bit limiting at this point.

Drummer, a person who hangs around with musicians?