[tosehee]

Looks darn good on far.

 

[Lil' Knight]

At $1,500, it looks like a nice deal, considering my B32s with only 16/44 USB input costs $1,350. Can't wait for some impressions.

 

[tosehee]

I wonder.. how does HT Bypass work in DAC?

I thought it was mainly for pre-amp...?

 

[Roscoeiii]

Yeah, they look to be giving the DAC2 some preamp functionality in addition to the DAC goodness.

 

[rurika]

W4S update DAC-1 pictures at their site

 

[Covenant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rurika /img/forum/go_quote.gif W4S update DAC-1 pictures at their site

Thanks for the heads-up. I actually really like the look of the casing they've used... simple, but elegant. I wish they'd posted internal shots as well though.

 

[h.rav]

I'm getting one.

 

[Covenant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by h.rav /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm getting one.

I'm seriously tempted as well, but I'd like to wait until the 24bit USB option comes out. Sending it back to W4S for upgrades would be a pain.

 

[h.rav]

I don't need the 24-bit USB input, so I'm good with the stock model.

Their products are very well designed, I have the W4S STP (preamp), it's probably the best preamp that I have used.

 

[rosgr63]

Quote:

Originally Posted by h.rav /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't need the 24-bit USB input, so I'm good with the stock model. Their products are very well designed, I have the W4S STP (preamp), it's probably the best preamp that I have used.

Hi, maybe you should reconsider as the 24/192 model uses an asynch USB module, so the money you'll save from a high end USB cable (that you'll probably need with the lesser module) is best spent on the DAC!

 

[h.rav]

Well, I don't need a USB input and I won't use the USB input.

 

[Roscoeiii]

I am mighty curious about their I2S via HDMI option. Paul from PS Audio just posted the schematics for this I@S over HDMI on diyaudio.com, and apparently W4S will be modding transports to give them this I2S output. Very intriguing.

 

[Covenant]

Keep in mind it seems the DAC-2 has some improvements over the DAC-1 beyond just the asynch USB input:

* Robust 35A Schottky bridge rectifier (also used in the STP-SE)
* 88,000uf of filtering with W4S low ESR "super-cap" (also used in the STP-SE)
* Remote control
* Defeatable - 32 bit volume control via remote

Schottky diodes in the rectifier, improved filtering caps, a volume control and remote control all seem to be unique to the DAC-2. In addition to Asynch 24/196 USB, for $500 extra that's a bargain in my books.

Although I'm curious as to whether their volume control is analogue or digital. And what exactly those W4S caps are. I doubt they manufacture their own caps, so they'd have to be rebranded.

 

[n3rdling]

Seems really nice for the price on paper

 

[paper2k1]

does anyone know how big the W4S DAC-2 is?