Does anyone own the Wyred4sound DAC 2?

[LionelH2]

I was browsing this thread, as I am considering a DAC-2 to go with my Liquid Fire, due in a few weeks.
 
I ordered the Venom cable for my present setup: Sonic Diverter-Havana-Lyr-LCD-3, even though I have always dismissed the whole power cord thing. It just didn't make any sense to me.
 
The improvements are dramatic, as you all described.  I didnt think the Q Cable would make much difference with my LCD-3, either.  So two times mistaken.
 
Thanks for the tweaks, my wallet cant take much more.
 
Quote:

Here are some observations about the Shunyata Venom 3.
 
Focus was improved right from the start.  Everything in the sonic landscape has more weight and dimension.  Dynamics were improved.   Dynamic range increased and an added sense of realism occurred to no small degree on many instruments.  Soundstage increased beyond what I thought possible with the LCD's.  It is now wider and deeper than it was previously with more dimension. More spacial dimension.  Increased low level dynamics along with an increase in overall dynamics create a more powerful presence overall. The stock cable seems flat in comparison.  It's as if someone flipped the 3-D focus switch I didn't know came with the DAC-2. Music has more of a slam that it didn't quite have before. Bass is more extended and has a more solid authority.  I'm actually feeling air move in my ears.   The new dimensionality, focus and solidness really bring out the groove now in the music and I am compelled to use a term I really hate to use. PRAT.  The rig now has a PRAT it didn't quite have before.  I hate that term but now it fits so well.
 
The Venom 3 produced tighter control, tighter focus, better imaging, cleaner transients.   The background is quieter, instruments and voices seem to at times really jump out of the blackness, a sometimes startling event. Spacial coherence, better harmonic texture, and a richer tonality over all, and another level of clarity seems to have occurred. 

I can't wait to get one for the V200 in October.  It's the best $99 I've ever spent. 

 

 

[Icenine2]

The W4S DAC 2 is a great pairing with the Liquid Fire.  I own both (and Venom Cables for both as well) and the sound is everything I wished for.  I do have the LCD2.2's so your 3's should take it up a notch for sure.

 

[WarriorAnt]

Quote:

I was browsing this thread, as I am considering a DAC-2 to go with my Liquid Fire, due in a few weeks.
 
I ordered the Venom cable for my present setup: Sonic Diverter-Havana-Lyr-LCD-3, even though I have always dismissed the whole power cord thing. It just didn't make any sense to me.
 
The improvements are dramatic, as you all described.  I didnt think the Q Cable would make much difference with my LCD-3, either.  So two times mistaken.
 
Thanks for the tweaks, my wallet cant take much more.

 
Icenine2 has the Liquid fire and the DAC-2  and I believe he loves the combo.  He is also the one who first turned me on to the Venom 3.    I've been using the digital preamp section of the DAC-2 lately and I repeat that function a great deal, it has made the DAC-2 very useful to me in ways I had not anticipated. Now as I move back to a speaker setup the features of the DAC-2 digital pre amp are center stage and the DAC-2 is one of the reasons I'm considering the W4S amps.
ahh I see Icenine2 beat me to the post.

 

[WarriorAnt]

ahh I see Icenine2 beat me to the post!

 

[AppleheadMay]

I have the 250 connected directly to my DAC2 running as a "digital pre-amp." This is my two-channel AV system, connecting my plasma screen, Blu-ray player, PS3/Xbox, and computer via USB for music. Speakers are Paradigm Studio 60s. 
 
Sound quality leaves nothing to be desired vs. more expensive components I've had in this system (including Arcam, Ayre, and Cary), and everything is bulletproof. In the family room I've learned that it's a mistake to spend money on components with tubes and/or delicate faceplates. 
 

How is the soundstaging with the speakers, do you get enough depth or is everything on one row? And the positioning of instruments?

I have found these two things to be what separates the better amps from the crowd.

 

[gregeas]

Quote:

How is the soundstaging with the speakers, do you get enough depth or is everything on one row? And the positioning of instruments?
I have found these two things to be what separates the better amps from the crowd.

Soundstage is quite good. I spent a couple of hours last night listening to 24/96 files dowloaded from HDtracks. I could really hear the nuances of the mixes. I was hearing the kind of microdetail that's difficult to get from speaker systems (esp one that didn't cost $10k+).
 

 

[Audiowood]

Sorry to interupt.
[size=12pt]Anyone notice some popping sound in the USB mode. It happens once in a while (like every 2-3 min) , a subtle popping sound is heard in either left or right no matter what song I played. Is there any setting I can do to remove the annoying popping sound. The popping sound can like old records.. [/size]
 
[size=12pt]Thanks in Advanced[/size]

 

[WarriorAnt]

Never heard a popping sound before in USB mode.  What computer platform are you running and what software player are you using?

 

[WNBC]

Please interrupt 

 
Questions are good.
 
Every once in a while there will be something going on in the background of my computer that is using up a lot of system resources that results in a hiccup or stutter of playback.  The hiccup can sound like a quiet pop.
It is very rare and seems to be when Google Chrome processes are requesting more memory/CPU than normal.  Close Chrome and then it goes away.  Chrome is nice but there's a lot under hood.  It definitely wasn't coming from the DAC-2.
 
For PC, good old CTL + ALT + DEL and then select task manager to see what processes are requesting a lot CPU resources. 
 
 
 
Quote:

Sorry to interupt.
[size=12pt]Anyone notice some popping sound in the USB mode. It happens once in a while (like every 2-3 min) , a subtle popping sound is heard in either left or right no matter what song I played. Is there any setting I can do to remove the annoying popping sound. The popping sound can like old records.. [/size]
 
[size=12pt]Thanks in Advanced[/size]

 

 

[Icenine2]

I recall something like that years ago w/a sound card.  It somehow triggered the "sounds" -clicking-from my computers. I forget what it was but somehow got it all shut off.
 
Quote:

Sorry to interupt.
[size=12pt]Anyone notice some popping sound in the USB mode. It happens once in a while (like every 2-3 min) , a subtle popping sound is heard in either left or right no matter what song I played. Is there any setting I can do to remove the annoying popping sound. The popping sound can like old records.. [/size]
 
[size=12pt]Thanks in Advanced[/size]

 

 

[Red Jacket Mike]

It makes sense that your computer itself, as well as your music player software, and probably all of your connected gear will sound better (and be click and other noise free) when your computer is doing as little as possible other than playing music.
 
Close applications you're not using; and check your preferences again; there's almost always something that can be switched off, uninstalled, or otherwise disabled that can contribute to less than ideal audio.

 

[Audiowood]

 
Thanks for all the reply..
 
It seems that the poping sound only occur when I use Wyred 4 dac. I have dacport and played it whole day using the same system resource and no pop sound at all. I have send an email to tech support and will update it here.. In the meanwhile pls continue your conversations. I view this thread all the time and its this thread that got me with all the Dac and venom cable etcc... I am considering the USB cable now.
 
WarriorAnt - I saw you're selling your V200, I actially was considering this amp a while ago..  may I ask why ya're selling ?

 

[WarriorAnt]

Quote:

 
Thanks for all the reply..
 
It seems that the poping sound only occur when I use Wyred 4 dac. I have dacport and played it whole day using the same system resource and no pop sound at all. I have send an email to tech support and will update it here.. In the meanwhile pls continue your conversations. I view this thread all the time and its this thread that got me with all the Dac and venom cable etcc... I am considering the USB cable now.
 
WarriorAnt - I saw you're selling your V200, I actially was considering this amp a while ago..  may I ask why ya're selling ?

You still haven't said what computer platform you are using?  
 
I am selling the V200 (extremely reluctantly) because I have gone back to speakers and won't be using headphones anymore.  I purchased a pair of Gallo Stradas soon to be paired most likely with a Gallo TR-3 subwoofer (or two, I've always been a two subwoofer guy) so in order to fund the speaker rig the headphone rig had to go.   I'm leaning real hard towards a Wyred 4 Sound ST 250 amp for the Stradas and pairing it up with my W4S DAC-2  using the DAC as the Pre amp.  

I really did not want to sell my LCD-2's or the V200, both are so excellent and air so well together, but in my heart of hearts alas I am a speaker guy and it is my true love and I'll gladly give up very late night listening of headphones to get back into speakers again.  The Gallo Stradas have amazing resolution. 

 

[Bigg35]

Been looking at the Wyred 4 Sounds Dac2 and was wondering how you guys would compare it to the Benchmark Dac1? Do you guys know of any cheaper dacs, say in the 800.00 and under price range that would give as good or better performance as either the Benchmark Dac1 or the Wyred 4 Sound Dac2? I have been looking into the Audio-gd dac19 and also the cheaper Nfd-3.1, anyone know how they compare?

 

[Audiowood]

 
I am using window 7 platform and itunes and this is their official reply from their tech support.
 
"I understand. With Windows 7 systems you will need to be able to select Kernel streaming as the output mode to properly bypass windows mixing. I don't believe that this option is available with iTunes. I would recommend using J river media player as it will sound much better and allow you to configure the output properly. You can also test it out with trial version before you purchase the full version. Its our number one recommended media player and you should really enjoy it. There are also players available such as foobar that will work but J River will be more effective at getting album artwork etc.
 

Let me know what you find and how else I can help.

 
Best Regards,"
 
Well, I guess I will switch it to Jriver since its so well documented here and recommended offically from W4S.
 
Warriorant- I kinda of guesstimate you much have gone back to speakers as these are "dream gears" to alot of ppl here. Anyway your inputs, recommendations and questions you ask here on your "crusade of Headphone superiority quest" has benefit alot of people (including myself)...you save me alot of typing .. and thats one reason my post count is so low

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