Luxury & Precision (LP) Portable USB DAC/AMP W1 and W2 (The new W2-131 Version is Available, Related Info on Post #1)

[Orfik]

I'm running it directly out of the Macbook with the included cable, using Mest MKII, High Gain, Tone 1, Fast Filter. It's not bad but the BTR5 has noticeably better soundstage, vocals are more forward, bass is tighter and more impactful, treble is more extended, mids are more forward. Also the imaging is not great on this. The MEST doesn't display the vivid presentation I'm used to. Is this dongle some kind of joke at $300? The only thing I can think of is that I'm using a ddhihifi 2.5 to 4.4 adapter for the W2. But yeah, if this is what it sounds like it's going back today.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

How do you control gain, try to max the source out and use volume control on W2, also Tone 02 is default and arguably better sounding. Unless you low on volume, try to stick with Low Gain, less distortion this way.

 

[Orfik]

How do you control gain, try to max the source out and use volume control on W2, also Tone 02 is default and arguably better sounding. Unless you low on volume, try to stick with Low Gain, less distortion this way.

Source volume max and controlled through the device. Low gain is too thin sounding, I can't use it. I've tried both Tone 1 and 2, I actually prefer one since it sounds more spacious but with the drawback of too much distance between instruments. But with both of them the sound is simply too loose. I also tried them with my FH7 which actually has better imaging and note weight than the Mest, and that pinpoint accuracy and lush timbre was noticeably off with every setting I tried, which I believe was all of them. I'm happy to use a dongle this expensive if it has at least some benefit over the BTR5 but it doesn't so far. And not even in a sense of diminishing returns, the BTR5 is the better unit at any price right now. Hopefully I'm doing something wrong but maybe I'd be happier with the Cayin RU6.

I'm also considering the DX240 but would that be a meaningful upgrade soundwise over the W2? Or just more features, because I don't care about those features.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

On Windows with installed drivers in WASAPI exclusive, straight 4.4 no adapters it sounds pretty awesome on high sensitivity phones, but fall on its face with anything power hungry, which is understandable considering USB line power feed, wondering if something is off with Mac USB power delivery as BTR5 is using internal battery which might explain the difference. I do not own BTR5 and the only comparable dongle I have is EarStudio ES100 MK2 and W2 (OG) just walks over it.
Do you have PC or Android with UAPP to compare?

 

[Ufanco]

Definitely there something not right happening. The mest mkii sounded really good with W2 so thinks your would too. Are you controlling volume with the Mac or the W2? You didn’t to happen to accidentally changed to a eq setting or another headphone preset.

I used my W2 with low gain tune 2 and never needed to past 50% power. Hopefully it just a setting change. Your using a adaptive but that shouldn’t cause much loss in sound quality in less it’s not working right.

 

[Orfik]

Definitely there something not right happening. The mest mkii sounded really good with W2 so thinks your would too. Are you controlling volume with the Mac or the W2? You didn’t to happen to accidentally changed to a eq setting or another headphone preset.

I used my W2 with low gain tune 2 and never needed to past 50% power. Hopefully it just a setting change. Your using a adaptive but that shouldn’t cause much loss in sound quality in less it’s not working right.

Definitely wouldn't be loud enough at the settings you use so maybe my unit is messed up. Or do you just listen quietly?

 

[slxdegrees]

Definitely wouldn't be loud enough at the settings you use so maybe my unit is messed up. Or do you just listen quietly?

I'm using my Mest MKII with the W2 at low gain @ 50 vol in a standard office environment and it sounds pretty loud already. Have you tried with another source?

 

[Orfik]

I'm using my Mest MKII with the W2 at low gain @ 50 vol in a standard office environment and it sounds pretty loud already. Have you tried with another source?

I'm using my phone as we speak and I just tried low gain @50, way too quiet. I'll try on my computer when I'm home.

 

[bluestorm1992]

I'm using my phone as we speak and I just tried low gain @50, way too quiet. I'll try on my computer when I'm home.

I may have missed it, but are you using an Android phone? If so, you may need to use UAPP.

 

[Orfik]

I may have missed it, but are you using an Android phone? If so, you may need to use UAPP.

I'm using an iPhone 13

 

[rarewolf]

I'm using my phone as we speak and I just tried low gain @50, way too quiet. I'll try on my computer when I'm home.

Check your source volume. Dongle amplifiers with their own volume control suggest you set the volume at the source to maximum, and instead adjust volume with the dongle. Your smartphone should remember the setting.

 

[Orfik]

Check your source volume. Dongle amplifiers with their own volume control suggest you set the volume at the source to maximum, and instead adjust volume with the dongle. Your smartphone should remember the setting.

Volume is at 100%. My BTR5 sounds stronger from the Lightning Jack on my phone though so I wonder if that's because it has a battery and the W2 simply can't draw enough power or there's an issue with the adapter since my cables are 2.5 and it's 4.4

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Volume is at 100%. My BTR5 sounds stronger from the Lightning Jack on my phone though so I wonder if that's because it has a battery and the W2 simply can't draw enough power or there's an issue with the adapter since my cables are 2.5 and it's 4.4

May be you have HID control on. Also check phones to dongle connection, you mentioned using some sort of adapter, may be it's not fully plugged in.

 

[Orfik]

May be you have HID control on.

Nope

 

[CANiSLAYu]

Shameless self promotion for one I have on sale here in the classified.