There is a new post by LP on the W2U on weibo:
https://weibo.com/5819639917/505525...trans=5819639917_5055252476986333&s_channel=4
[translation: The headline article was published: "[Answer to the burning friend's question] Thrust false mark? Electricity consumption is too fast? Is the price very expensive? 9 Questions and 9 Answers on W2 Ultra" W2 Ultra opens the reservation today, the retail price is 1999 yuan, and the delivery will start on July 15.]
The article in the weibo post, translated into English is as follows:
Answering Audiophiles' Questions: Is the Max Output Power for real? Will there be High Power Consumption? Will it be Expensive? 9 Q&As About the W2 Ultra
Since the W2 Ultra was unveiled, many audiophiles have been curious about its 800mW@32Ω continuous output power, thinking it's unlikely for a battery-free dongle to achieve such high output power. We've also received some questions, such as "At what distortion level is the W2 Ultra's 800mW output measured?", "Won't the phone's power consumption be very high with such output power?", "With such high performance, the price must be very high!", etc. To present a more realistic picture of the W2 Ultra, we address these questions in detail. We hope you read through patiently. Thank you very much!
Q1: Is the W2 Ultra's 800mW output power measured at a high distortion level, such as THD+N at 10%?
A: ( see graph below) Picture 1 shows the performance under a 32Ω load at 1kHz. This is the W2 Ultra's max output power of around 890mW. You can see that it exceeds our claimed 800mW, yet it still maintains a low THD+N of -92dB, approximately 0.0026%. We also welcome third-party tests on the W2 Ultra units.
Q2: The L&P claims that the W2U can stably output up to 800mW for a long time. How long is it in actual conditions?
A: According to our tests, with sufficient power supply and the operational amplifier's supply voltage set to ±6V, the W2 Ultra can achieve more than 1 hour of stable 800mW output. When set to ±4.5V, it can provide over 1 hour of stable 620mW output. If only using cellphone as power supply, the cellphone's OTG output circuit might overheat and trigger protection when the output power is maximized. For further enhancement, you can use L&P's Ultimate Zone "Y Cable" — WY1 to connect an external power bank or a low-noised linear power supply for better performance. The range of W series accessories is now complete, offering diverse playability and expandability. We encourage users to try different combinations.
Q3: If the high and stable output power is true, won't it overdrive low-impedance earphones?
A: Part of the W2 Ultra's circuitry is inherited from our new flagship DAP, the E7. The headphone amp's supply voltage can be switched between two levels. For IEMs, we recommend using the ±4.5V supply for high current drive. For headphones or low-sensitivity IEMs, we suggest the ±6V supply for high voltage drive. Hence, the W2 Ultra is suitable for both in-ear monitors and headphones.
Q4: With such high driving power, won't the power consumption be very high?
A: When we launched the W4 series last year, we solved the inverse relation between high driving power and low power consumption. The new W2 Ultra enhances the effective output power to 800mW while keeping power consumption at a normal level. For reference, we conducted a small experiment: using an iPhone 15 Pro Max connected to the W2 Ultra driving Sennheiser HD800S at 80% volume, the phone's battery dropped by 4% in an hour. This means that high output power doesn't necessarily lead to high power consumption during normal music listening. We can compare the maximum output power to a water tank that fills and empties simultaneously; the larger the output power, the larger the tank's capacity and water flow. You can choose between a steady flow or a surge, but insufficient capacity and inflow won't achieve the surge effect.
Q5: The W2 Ultra has custom tuning for both the HD800 and the Focal Utopia, but one has low impedance and the other high. Can a little dongle drive both effectively?
A: Since the LP6Ti in 2018, we have developed customized tuning firmware for the Focal Utopia and HD800, optimized for their driving characteristics and sound tuning. The W2 Ultra also benefits from LP6Ti's R&D. After releasing the W2 Ultra's cutomized tuning firmware for the Utopia and HD800, we will also release more special tuning firmware for other headphones.
Q6: Given L&P's usual "luxury" style, the pricing must be high, right?
A: After reading this, feel free to reach out to your dealers to inquire and place your orders. Shipping starts on July 15th, and the retail price is 1999 yuan.
Q7: It looks like the W4, so why is it still called the W2 Ultra?
A: The W2 Ultra uses the same design and volume knob as the W4. However, its core DAC chip, dual CS43131 DAC, is the same as the W2-131, so it continues the W2 series. Although the DAC is the same, the W2 Ultra's internal circuitry and other core materials have been completely redesigned and upgraded, resulting in an output power 2.8 times that of the W2-131. In a sense, it is the "ultimate version" of the W2 under our current technology, hence the name W2 Ultra.
Q8: Since it uses the same dual CS43131 chips as the W2-131, how does its sound different?
A:As the most powerful version of the W2, we have put a lot of effort into improving the sound quality. Whether it's the W2-198 or W2-131, their sound tuning has been well-received by many audiophiles. Building on this, enhancing the sound quality and listening experience of the W2 Ultra was no easy task. To achieve this, we adjusted the circuit layout, redesigned the wiring, enhanced the power supply design, adjusted the copper cladding, and optimized the heat dissipation process. We also carefully selected core components, resulting in a final sound that is more dynamic and full-bodied. We have ensured the coordination of the amplifier and DAC sound as much as possible for a harmony style. In short, the W2 Ultra is a comprehensive upgrade of the W2-131, and we welcome all users, especially those familiar with the W2, to compare and review it.
Q9: Why haven't you released the distortion and power output for the low-frequency range? Are you afraid to do so?
A: We didn't specifically release the low-frequency THD+N results. As we mentioned before, this parameter is important for AC-coupled devices because they might have design flaws at low frequencies if the coupling capacitor capacity is insufficient and the next stage's input impedance is low. But since the W2 Ultra uses pure DC coupling, there's no need to focus on the low-frequency THD+N results. However, since some audiophiles have asked, we think we should share the low-frequency performance. Here is the 20Hz performance under load as shown in the test results.
Thank you all!
