And now let my reply to my reply and make this my third and final post on sound quality of W2. I was finally able to A/B W2 and DX300. DX300 and W2 were through Tidal with CD/Redbook sound quality using 4.4 balanced. W2 was through my MacBook Pro using an Anker 12 inch USB C to USB C cable.
I did this with three IEMs from easy to drive to hard to drive. Baby Bear (Katana), Mama Bear (Odin) and Big Daddy Bear (Elysium).
In my last two posts I talked about how when I first got the W2 the sound was tolerable. That alone is a huge step for a dongle DAC/Amp. First time ever for me and I have dated a lot of dongle DAC/Amps. Then over time whether due to brain burn or burn in the sound became more than tolerable. That is when that tingly feeling started and I knew the relationship could go deeper. Anything less than tolerable has to have a break up at some point. Anything tolerable is tolerable and maybe I will continue the relationship based on functionality vs. our needs as a couple. Well more than tolerable is something to post about
The DX300 is more than tolerable for me. It is detailed but not clinical. It is for me a very engaging DAP and the functionality is superb. After A/Bing with the three IEMs, overall I can say that the W2 competes. That really is all that has to be said. That to me is monumental. A little thing that competes with a very good DAP. Hallelujah!
I did not hear a difference in quality with and easy to drive Katana. With Odin there was a minimal difference in separation of notes but nothing to write home about. Odin bass with both were excellent. With Elysium the W2 is engaging and enjoyable but there was more of a difference in the thickness of the notes and the separation of the notes. But again really not much to worry about. I was expecting less out of the hard to drive Elysium.
In general I did find the W2 to be a little more clinical than the DX300. Maybe a little more bright and the notes were more on the thinner side. That to me is just a different flavor and not less quality.
I find the W2 to be engaging and I feel that I am not missing out on quality of sound. Those are EXTREMELY important to me with sources and IEMS.
I may end up posting someday out of frustration when there is an update that seems important to my needs. I would then have to go out to bars and befriend someone that has a PC and then get their digits and then take the effort to get to know them enough so that they are comfortable letting me use their PC to update my W2. That sounds exhausting but could be an adventure.
