Wyred 4 Sound DAC's...

pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
edited February 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
Are shipping now. I'll be keeping an eye on them once the reviews from consumers & the rags start coming in. I'm showing an interest in the DAC 1. That Sabre chip they're using along with Cullen & EJ's design knowledge, these DAC's just might be something special.
http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=396494
http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=457975
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Post edited by pearsall001 on
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2010
    I should hopefully get my ears on both by the middle of next month.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited April 2010
    Face wrote: »
    I should hopefully get my ears on both by the middle of next month.

    Perfect timing. I await your reviews.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited April 2010
    Me too, I decided to go with the Spatial Computer DACS and software instead of the W4S. I hope I made the right decision in the end.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2010
    Looks like an awesome dac!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited April 2010
    That DAC-2 is supposed to easily compete if not better the QB-9 (it already beats it in features) and kill anything from PS Audio. The DAC-1 is supposed to sound as good or better than the PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC.
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,622
    edited April 2010
    teaser:

    http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/wyred4/dac.html?
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited May 2010
    Polkitup2 wrote: »
    teaser:

    http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/wyred4/dac.html?

    I'll say!!! :mad: I was looking for the remainder of the review...but he's waiting for the DAC to be delivered for the complete review.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited May 2010
    Looking at their products has me wanting to order a Pre, Amp, and a Dac..:eek:
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited May 2010
    The more I read about these DACs the more excited I get... Can't wait for the reviews/personal experiences start getting out. Seems like exactly what I want to pair with my computer and even my denon 2910..

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    I will be checking out a DAC-1 before the end of the week and hopefully my DAC-2 will be here next week.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited May 2010
    Face wrote: »
    I will be checking out a DAC-1 before the end of the week and hopefully my DAC-2 will be here next week.

    :D:D:D Looking forward to your reviews.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited May 2010
    I'm excited.. Very interested in how the 24bit/192kHz asynchronous USB input sounds.. And how much of an improvement (if any) there would be sound-wise compared to cullen modded PS Audio DL3 or even my Peachtree Nova (with its ESS9006 DAC chip)...

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    I'll be comparing it to a Peachtree Nova at some point.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • NotaSuv
    NotaSuv Posts: 3,851
    edited May 2010
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    :D:D:D Looking forward to your reviews.

    X2 very close to pulling the trigger here as I LOVE my W4S int amp..........
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  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited May 2010
    Darn:
    We do offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on Wyred 4 Sound products. We would hope that when you make a buying decision, it is a buy-to-keep, not buy-to-try decision. Due to our low prices and inability to handle returns, we have to attach a 15% restocking fee for those who decide they’re completely dissatisfied with our products.
    For Sale 2019:
    Tortuga Audio LDR passive preamp
    Decware EL34 amp
    Allnic H-1201 phono
    Zu Union Cubes
    iFi iDSD DAC, .5m UBS, iFI Gemini cable, Oyaide Tunami XLR 1.3M, Oyaide Tunami Speaker wire 1.5M, Beyerdynamic DT1990 headphones, PS Audio P3 power center

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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited May 2010
    If they are anything like my TPA BuffaloII they will be great. This dac is very good. It doesnt have an weak area. Bass, detail, imaging. It does it all. Computer supplied spdif sounds almost as good as the sound from my transport. This is my 5th dac and may well be my last. Looks like the WFS gear will be very good.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,622
    edited May 2010
    Here's a first impressions review of the DAC-1. He states, "Short answer is that I do really like it. My source has been an Oppo BDP983 Special Edition which I have LOVED. I feel the W4S dac has a nearly identical presentation but excels a little bit in low end definition and punch and more detail. I notice more details in the recording and things like echo or reverb sustain more clearly. "


    http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=79660.40
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    It's here.

    That's all for now. :D
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited May 2010
    Dealer loan or a purchase?
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    Loaner.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited May 2010
    Cool.They appear to have developed a number of good products of late.
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited May 2010
    Face wrote: »
    It's here.

    That's all for now. :D

    awesome =) just the DAC-1 right now correct? I'm excited!

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    Yes, a DAC-1. I don't believe DAC-2's have shipped yet.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,622
    edited May 2010
    Here's a DAC-1 review from the Wyred thread on avsforum:

    "Well, Since No one has taken a stab at reporting on the DAC-1, I'll make a attempt. My Unit has about 250 Hrs on it. The other equipment used is their STP-SE PreAmp, SX-1000 Amps playing thru Aerial 9 speakers. I have not owned a lot of DAC'S, that being a stand alone DAC. I have experienced plenty in various equipment( CDP, Pre/Pro, DVD\BRay Players ETC). My standalone DAC experience is one Cambridge DacMagic. So lets do that comparision first. With the DacMagic, I have done various A/B comparisions against High End CD Players and with those comparisions I found that several of my CDP's sounded better to me than the DacMagic, so it was mainly used for Computer Music. When using the DacMagic in this capacity I had occasionally noticed clicks, Pops, Squeezing and little fall outs. This is in Directly related to the Sample and Timing implementation of the DAC, not alot of this but it was there from time to time.Some of this is Just general different manufacture's equipment. If I would of had a Cambridge CDP those results may have been different. The DacMagic was a very fine piece of equipment, but no comparision to the W4S Dac and it shouldn't be at twice the price.
    Now with the W4S Dac, it sound as good or better than any of my CDP's, sometimes it's hard to tell if it's a DAC or CDP. This is most likley due to the Input/ Output stages of the DAC. Clarity and detail of this Dac is off the chart, you talk about digging out and reproducing Detail this Baby does that, and all without any Puffing, I have yet to notice a Sample and Timing problem. Sample and Timing problems are the occasional Clicks, Pops, Puffing, Squeezing and occasional drop outs reffered to above. I use a MacPro and Itunes for digital Music Delivery.
    There are 2-Coax, 2-toslink, and the USB input, later on you will be glad you have all these input's and they are all Independent.
    This is a very clean sounding, Well thought out piece of Audio Equipment and it does what it's supposed to very well, the other plus is all the main Mojo in the Unit is UpGradeable in case thing change down the line, and they will.
    I have a tendency to jump into equipment a little quick, I guess it just the little Boy coming out in me, you know we don't look before we leap. Now there is a MacMini in my future and I'm already doing that research for that Rig.
    The only regret I have is, I wish I would of Bought the DAC2"



    __________________
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    Two nights ago, I initially heard the W4S DAC-1 at a friend's place. His gear initially consisted of an Ayon Crossfire integrated amp, Ayon CD-2, and a pair of Sonist Concerto 2's. Later on we added a pair of Acoustic Zen Crescendos bi-amped with a Wyred 4 Sound ST-500 on the bottom. At that time, the unit had only about 20 hours of play time on it. I was told that it was a little bright out of the box, but it went away within the first few hours or so.

    As for what we listened to, I couldn't tell you for the most part other than it was Ayon's reference CD, something we've been using as reference material for the last few months. It contains various jazz and blues tracks, a few instrumentals and a couple of tracks from Clapton.

    With hardly any break in time on the DAC-1, I was impressed. Very extended on both ends, little to no coloration, excellent attack and decay, with huge dynamics. What impressed me the most was the amount of slam! Bass was powerful and tight, never sloppy. Instruments had the right amount of air around them. And the soundstage was huge, very tall with plenty of width and depth.

    Compared to the Ayon CD-2, the biggest difference was in the midrange. The Ayon had more tube bloom, as it should for being a tubed CDP. Some male vocals were slightly larger too. But I found the DAC-1 had better attack and decay, more slam, and a slightly taller soundstage.

    My friend graciously let me borrow the DAC-1 as long as I promised to keep breaking it in. :D From the moment I arrived home, it's been receiving a constant feed from either my Marantz SA-15S2 or Squeezebox Duet.

    I did some quick listening that evening, but it wasn't until late last night that I was able to do any serious listening. At that point the unit had about 48 hours on it. My rig, consisting of the DAC-1, Marantz SA-15S2, Wyred 4 Sound ST-500, Mapletree Line 2A(modified with Sonic Cap platinum and Jensen caps, Goldpoint stepped attenuator, and other misc. tweaks) custom 3 way speakers, and misc. bass traps and diffusors. It may be quite humble compared to my friend's, but is still a force to be reckoned with.

    Using the same reference CD that was used an evening earlier, I compared the DAC-1 to my Marantz SA-15S2. Fortunately, the Marantz and DAC-1 output voltages were very similar, so level matching wasn't an issue...or so I thought. Immediately I noticed the DAC-1 was more extended on the top end, which is no surprise since the SA-15S2 is known for it's rolled off, or warm top end. The DAC-1 also had much better dynamics, which caused me to get up and lower the volume on a few occasions due to the fear of waking up my neighbors 100' away! Attack and decay were also better with the DAC-1, and so was overall detail, without even a hint of harshness. As for differences in imaging and soundstage, in my room they were subtle at best, with the DAC-1 having the edge.

    To wrap things up, the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1 appears to be all I could ask for from a DAC. Excellent extension, attack and decay, huge dynamics, little to no coloration, and without a hint of harshness. As our friend Raife would say, "Such Good Sound".
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited May 2010
    Are you going to replace your DAC with one someday?
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    I have a W4S DAC-2 on order, it should be shipping in 1-2 weeks.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited May 2010
    I'm leaning towards ordering a DAC-2 as well.. havent yet.. I really like my Peachtree, but I want to use my Carver C-1 pre with my Amazings and will need a DAC to access my PC-based sound files... these DAC's sound like winners to me, especially at that price range.

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • Freak When C
    Freak When C Posts: 231
    edited May 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Looking at their products has me wanting to order a Pre, Amp, and a Dac..:eek:

    A couple months ago I was interested in a used Modwright swl 9.0se preamp. When I contacted the seller he told me that it was already sold but then advised me that if I really wanted to hear a preamp that excels in every area, to look into the Wyred 4 Sound STP Special edition preamp. He said that's what he replaced his swl 9.0se preamp with and there is no comparison.

    bikerboy wrote: »
    If they are anything like my TPA BuffaloII they will be great. Computer supplied spdif sounds almost as good as the sound from my transport.

    I've read that USB is also a popular way of connecting a PC to a DAC but I would like to know how you guys feel about connecting the W4S DAC-1 (or any DAC for that matter) in the following way:

    USB out of the PC to an external sound card that takes the USB signal and converts it to SPDIF, such as the Musiland Monitor 02 US. Also, the M2Tech HiFace is another converter I came across that plugs directly into a USB port and converts to SPDIF.

    Would those methods I described above be better than directly connecting a DAC to a PC via USB or SPDIF?
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited May 2010
    I would like to know how you guys feel about connecting the W4S DAC-1 (or any DAC for that matter) in the following way:

    USB out of the PC to an external sound card that takes the USB signal and converts it to SPDIF, such as the Musiland Monitor 02 US. Also, the M2Tech HiFace is another converter I came across that plugs directly into a USB port and converts to SPDIF.

    Would those methods I described above be better than directly connecting a DAC to a PC via USB or SPDIF?
    Yes.If you want the highest resolution and lowest jitter from the USB connection.The USB interface is far more jitter prone than SPDIF.
    A great multitude of USB capable DAC's use one of the Burr Brown PCM 27XX series USB input reciever/dac chips which is limited to 16bit/48 k resolution.If you have a DAC with higher than redbook resolution (and plan to download some of the hi rez 24/96 wav or flac files from the likes of HD Tracks and iTracks) then your best bet is an Asyncronous USB interface.

    IMO Unlike most that spew nothing but BS,Muslands blurb under their ad is factual and informative.
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