In my case I use the RCA outputs as the XLRs are needed for the active speakers. On the Helios there is no front mounted headphone socket, so the Chiron adapter cable is needed, and sounds superb to my ears. I imagine others might use the XLRs instead if it suited their setup and worked better...

A further update on my transition to Weiss technology. I now have the Weiss Chiron adapter cable to drive my Utopia headphones via the rear terminals. The result is lovely -- I always expected the Utopias would scale with the quality of the source and I am not disappointed. I have never heard...

Thanks everyone. I am now pleased to report that the ethernet problem was with the Netgear Orbi unit. I noticed for other reasons that it was not functioning properly, I re-booted it and discovered that the problem with the ethernet link to the Helios also went away once the Orbi was...

That's a good thought, thanks. Yesterday I switched back to the old powerline adapter and the sound was clearly better, i.e., wonderful in the way that made me choose the Weiss DAC in the first place. So the difference, easily audible, must be caused by someting about the ethernet connection...

Thanks Chesebert. I realise ethernet quality is one of those topics that divides the "bits are bits" tribe from the "but it sounds different" tribe. Not a debate I really want to be in, having just chosen to go back to a simple, one-box solution which sounds great. I did some reading on the...

Just wondered if anyone has tried the EtherREGEN or similar with their Weiss? I'm asking because I am re-arranging the ethernet connections in my house and cautious less it changes the SQ in any way.

Completely agree. I have complete admiration for Rob Watts and the soundness of his approach. I must disagree with your last sentence, however, since there are many amazing DACs which use OTS chips. Their designers are by no means incompetent or lazy, as the audible results demonstrate.

If you already know Weiss you know what i am talking about. Good luck either way, and keep us posted!

My point is just that listening trumps theory.

I would second this. I owned the MScaler/TT2 combo for many years and thought it was the bees knees. But times have moved on. I was going to upgrade to the DAVE but then decided to do some thorough listening tests and not be unduly influenced by the WTA theories. I ended up with a Weiss DAC...

Well, this is a quiet thread compared to the Chord threads, which are always churning along with tweaks, complaints and suggestions. I guess happy listeners have nothing to post about -- no news is good news, so to speak. Not much more to add re my experiences at the moment. I have settled on...

DSP options. I have just completed setting up the DSP options on the Helios and here is a follow up report. I used the buttons on the remote to store the global presets as follows: 1 Factory reset all. This restores the pristine state. 2 DS surgical -3dB. Useful for occasional "Essie"...

Thanks for the tip! I looked this up straight away and it is great, as you say. I really like piano on original instruments rather than the ubiquitous Steinway. There is so much more scope for expression.

Just wondered if anyone has used the outputs at the back of their Helios or 501 to drive headphones? I would need to buy a cable to try it and I'm not sure I want to do that just for occasional use ...

Ha, ha! Well, even some Land Rovers look better than others! But I quite like the clean, simple designs Weiss uses for the Helios and the 501/502. Discreet and functional rather than loud and showy.

Agree about the looks. But all these devices are just boxes in the end. The attempts to tart them up can be a bit ludicrous — I always found the coloured balls and swoopy curves of the Chord inconvenient and annoying.

This is beneath you, Rob. What are you saying? "If you don't like my DACs you are no good at evaluating sound quality" Really? "Frankly deaf"! Oh dear. The world is full of people dedicated to producing better quality sound, and listening for it, writing about it, and sharing experiences...

Well, my Weiss Helios has arrived and is now installed in the living room, driving ATC active loudspeakers and fed by Roon via Ethernet and an LG OLED TV via an optical link. I have been using the 501 on loan while waiting. And it has been excellent. But once the Helios arrived ... wow! I...

I quite understand the negative reactions. This thread is for champions of Chord's customised DAC code, so why wouldn't there be push back to anyone saying anything else. I'm no electronic engineer and I am not saying which chip is better. I'm just talking about what 'good' sounds like, and...

That's where my thinking is headed. I was planning to upgrade my M/TT2 to an M/Dave combo but decided to look around. There are a number of DACs which sound decidedly better for a similar investment. I zeroed in on dCS Apex and Weiss and eventually decided on the latter. I've shared some...

I also tried a couple of power cables. The PS Audio AC3 I already own made a small difference. The Shunyata Delta v.2 made a more significant difference and could be worth considering. I want to investigate further once the Helios is here.

I have taken the opportunity to play with the DSP on the 501 while waiting for my Helios. So far, so good. I have been able to assign the choices to the global presets and quickly select them on the remote control. The main ones I have been using: De-esser. Most useful for watching TV when...

Just wondering if anyone drives their headphones direct from the Helios or find it is better to use a headphone amplifier? It's not clear from the documentation whether the design is meant to provide for that or for output to a headphone amplifier. I have Focal Utopias which are 80 ohm and...

Quick question: is there a way to turn off the display on the Weiss so that it is not glowing all the time, when not needed? (I have not had time to read the whole manual yet!)

Just plug your Roon core into the Weiss. Job done!