Weiss DAC 202

Did you try the headphones with it?

Yes, the 555 had the edge but nevertheless the Weiss sounded remarkably good, and given the price differential is excellent value and a very flexible but of kit to boot.

The Weiss features two different filter settings, swappable via the remote on the Fly; one setting was clearly preferable to the assembled, being clearer and livelier, but I suspect there might be over-bright recordings that would be tamed by the less favoured one.

Thanks to John and pal for an interesting afternoon.

quote:

Did you try the headphones with it?

No - but the owner reckons it's a very good quality h/p amp.

John.

The 202 is a nice box. Did it have the edge on hi-res files?
Did you use Naim-ripped CD files, or ripped on the Mac with e.g. EAC/dBP?
Thanks for the report
Cheers
John

A very nice DAC. Thanks for the report John. Hope all is well with you

James

Was this yours, James? If so, we know it was well fed.

quote:

Originally posted by js:
Was this yours, James? If so, we know it was well fed.

Nope - I'm more Scot than Swiss these days

Thanks for the post, John. It would be very interesting to hear from you on how does DAC202 stand against nDAC/XPS.

Hi John,

Good write up, thanks for your kind comments.

I had a great day, thank you. The time went so quickly always a problem when you are enjoying some tunes. I would add the following observations:

The 555 has been back to Naim and sounded much better for it than I remember from hearing it before. Tony said that his has also had the same treatment with similar results. It would be interesting to know exactly what has been changed.

Mac Rips were ALAC ripped by a combination of iTunes and XLD. We tried music players and both Pure Music and AyreWave sounded better than iTunes, with AW having the edge. But PM has better integration with iTunes and full remote control. AW is a free beta version, is a small application and works very simply. It sounds superb in Memory play/Hog mode.

Comparing them was interesting it was soooo close. I thought the 555 had a slight edge on a couple of tracks in terms of precision, however on some vocals I found the 202 marginally preferable, but it really was a case of very happy listening to either. A point made perhaps by the fact that we then played a mixture of rips or CDs depending on what was handy. Differences in CD pressings/masterings (and cables as it turned out) were much greater.

The headphone amp is of high quality with variable output settings it will drive my AKG701s quite happily on the top setting. I understand others have enjoyed Grados with it on a lower setting.

Another really enjoyable part of the day was listening to John's other system - Mac/Lavry DA10/NaitXS/SBLs. Having downloaded AyreWave to that we proceeded to compare with bare iTunes, again AW was an improvement this time via optical. I think a HiFace would improve it further, but that system is outrageously good. It just works. The combination of room and synergy that it seems to have, has to be heard. It's one of the most engaging systems I've heard at any price.

Thanks again John, and good to see you Tony.

Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bibb:
Another really enjoyable part of the day was listening to John's other system - Mac/Lavry DA10/NaitXS/SBLs. Having downloaded AyreWave to that we proceeded to compare with bare iTunes, again AW was an improvement this time via optical. I think a HiFace would improve it further, but that system is outrageously good. It just works. The combination of room and synergy that it seems to have, has to be heard. It's one of the most engaging systems I've heard at any price.

Indeed - a system in which SBLs actually sound good...!!

Cracking amp, that Nait XS.

In the old days I had two sets of amplifiers that drove SBLs well.

Firstly 52/200, and later replaced with Nait 5i.

At the time I had some reservations about the 52 [though not the 200, which was not over faced with a 552 in front] and I think it is true with hindsight to say that the Nait was less intrusive as a replacement. I had no reservations about the Nait 5i ...

I have never heard a Nait XS as these days I make a point of not listening to sets that are more expensive than I would be willing to purchase, unless invited to a friends house!

Jon [R] you heard the old big set with 52 in Hereford, and so did John [JN], and only Frank F [at least from folf of this parish] ever heard the Nait 5i filling the big footprints of the old set driving my somewhat unusually configured SBLs. Honestly the new series of black cased amps is a great step forward over the Olives in my view.

My ideal set now would probably be some Quad ESLs with a Nait 5i now - I can dream on over that one!

In those days my recorded music sources were a CDS2 and Rega P3 ...

ATB from George

ESLs and SBLs. Still 2 of my favs.

I just find it interesting that things are often this close in comparisons. I usually hear significant differences between sources, even if I like both.

Hi John,

Did you use the Weiss's pre (not using your 552) ?

Interesting post

No.

John.

Just an observation, Naim are very good on their forums. I can't think of many other company that would allow such free discussion on competing products at their own expense.

On the topic of discussion, I auditioned the Weiss 202 but purchased the Naim DAC with Weiss firewire interface for about the same price. My Naim does not have the XPS but it does benefit from an Odin power cord and more (as did the Weiss DAC). They were different sounding beasts in my system and I preferred the Naim source in my otherwise "no naim" system. I do use room treatments etc so my system is very resolving.

Sorry guys, there is no silver bullet, you have to audition a number of DACs to find the sound that is for you.

Thanks for the review J.N. Very interesting.

I am a fan of the CD555 and am home demoing the 202 hopefully next week. Having discount the Klimax DS on acocunt of it not working in my system I have high hopes for the Weiss.

It's a shame that you didn't try it directly into the power amp.

Thanks for that JN. I am a CD555 fan but am due to listen to the 202 next week at home. Having discounted the Klimax DS because of system mismatch I have high hopes for the Weiss.

It's a shame that you didnt' try it straight into the power amp though.

quote:

Originally posted by AMA:
Thanks for the post, John. It would be very interesting to hear from you on how does DAC202 stand against nDAC/XPS.

In all fairness I think you'd be pitching the lower priced Weiss Dac2 up against the nDAC/XPS.

My own comparison of HDX/nDAC/555PS vs. CD555 seems to bear that out as well, given that the former was nowhere near the latter for enjoyment.

quote:

I auditioned the Weiss 202 but purchased the Naim DAC with Weiss firewire interface for about the same price.

Briz Vegas, could you describe the sonic difference between SAC202 and INT202/nDAC?