Weiss DAC205 DAC Review

[Gio]

This review doesn't prove that. Thousands of people spend inordinate amounts of money on audio stuff, and seem to be perfectly happy doing that

You are right: not only this review but this entire site prove that there is no connection between money and fidelity.

 

[Haskil]

It could also happen that Amir measures devices that are not in order. If he only measures a single device, you could call it a random sample, strictly speaking.

In this case, the manufacturer or another tester who found different results when measuring another sample will come forward.

 

[voodooless]

appears to be recently discontinued

So that does not seem accurate. It has a product page:

DAC205 - Weiss Engineering

Expand and improve your existing setup by adding the DAC205 D/A converter. The DAC205 accepts incoming digital audio in the S/PDIF or AES/EBU formats and delivers a pristine analogue output that betters the DACs built into most audio interfaces, CD players, and other devices with digital audio...

weiss.ch

And does not show up on the discontinued products pages:

Pro Audio Products – Weiss Engineering

Weiss Engineering Pro-Audio – Grammy Award winning professional music mastering studio hardware. Used by the biggest pro mastering engineers around the world.

weiss.ch

Pro Audio Products – Weiss Engineering

Weiss Engineering Pro-Audio – Grammy Award winning professional music mastering studio hardware. Used by the biggest pro mastering engineers around the world.

weiss.ch

 

[dtaylo1066]

A DAC without a USB input is like a day without sunshine.

 

[Kevinfc]

It’s been discontinued, but I suppose the question is, when was it initially released? Those specs might have been SOTA ten years ago.

 

[voodooless]

Those specs might have been SOTA ten years ago.

In that time we gained 2 dB of SINAD and 5 dB of noise. We’re way into diminishing returns territory.

It’s been discontinued

I don’t see any evidence of that.

 

[DonR]

It’s been discontinued, but I suppose the question is, when was it initially released? Those specs might have been SOTA ten years ago.

Except in the area of IMD. However, that multitone test must be an isolated issue I would hope.

 

[Stokdoof]

$2600 why not round it to $3000?
Sick making amount of money for a basic enclosure with ok performance.

‘Ze zijn niet goed wijs daar bij Weiss‘

 

[dasdoing]

when was it initially released?

not a proof, but it seams to be from 2015

 

[dasdoing]

2011 they had this

Weiss DAC 202 im Test

Der D/A-Wandler Weiss DAC 202 (5180 Euro) ist durch kompakte Maße unauffällig. Kenner lässt er aber durch seine Firewire-Schnittstelle aufhorchen.

www.connect.de

 

[DonR]

2011 they had this

Weiss DAC 202 im Test

Der D/A-Wandler Weiss DAC 202 (5180 Euro) ist durch kompakte Maße unauffällig. Kenner lässt er aber durch seine Firewire-Schnittstelle aufhorchen.

www.connect.de

The 205 appears rudimentary in comparison.

 

[dasdoing]

The 205 appears rudimentary in comparison.

205 is a stripped down version of the 204

and the USB1 of the 204 also matches 2015. these came right after the Firewire devices

 

[DonR]

205 is a stripped down version of the 204

and the USB1 of the 204 also matches 2015. these came right after the Firewrire devices

Definitely has that "hand-made, low production numbers" feel to it.

 

[AudioSceptic]

you are right, this is their pro dac (3rd version)

DAC1 MK3 – Weiss Engineering

As Weiss Engineering's most advanced and precise digital-to-analog converter, the DAC1 is the ultimate in transparency and resolution.

weiss.ch

£9,695 actually seems more reasonable than the price of the DAC502, if it truly is pro-level.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Product of its time. This particular unit appears to have an issue, IMO.

I need to repeat: this thing is still being sold and therefore needs to be a product of *this* time.

 

[Purité Audio]

£9,695 actually seems more reasonable than the price of the DAC502, if it truly is pro-level.

What has ‘pro level’ got to do with it a ‘pro level’ dac won’t be any better in terms of measurement, it may offer features/connections which are more suitable for the pro environment .
Dacs are still being sold under the old ‘the more you pay the better it is’ paradigm.
Keith

 

[AudioSceptic]

What has ‘pro level’ got to do with it a ‘pro level’ dac won’t be any better in terms of measurement, it may offer features/connections which are more suitable for the pro environment .
Dacs are still being sold under the old ‘the more you pay the better it is’ paradigm.
Keith

Perhaps I'm too idealistic but I'd expect pro studio gear to have SOTA performance as a given, plus "pro" features and reliability.

 

[NHL99]

The Weiss DAC 204 is Here. Why this is the best DAC buy of 2023. |

This is the Weiss DAC 204 which is a HIGH END DAC for middle of the road money. This DAC competes with others that will cost you thousands more! My review///

www.stevehuffphoto.com

'This DAC has a clarity and crispness that I have never heard in this price range. I mean, I haven’t heard anything of this quality for under $7k.'

 

[Billy Budapest]

Definitely has that "hand-made, low production numbers" feel to it.

Production numbers are pretty high for Weiss gear. The pro stuff is widely used and the consumer units are big sellers in Asia.

 

[DonR]

Production numbers are pretty high for Weiss gear. The pro stuff is widely used and the consumer units are big sellers in Asia.

The appearance belies that but maybe that is the look they are going for. Certainly looks like a lot of jerry-rigged and one-off production line or lab test equipment.