Weiss DAC501 Streamer and DAC Review

[Doodski]

@ $10K each if they sell a few hundred they have cash flow but not much else.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

@amirm I would love to see what "De esser reduce sibilance" is doing. Seems interesting option

 

[Waxx]

That crazy price is because they can. They were the first that made decent mastering convertors and got a reputation, and people where happy to pay those prices for the super high quality they got. And they keep asking those prices even others catched on and people keep buying them. Idem with the other big Swiss brand for pro audio, Nagra, who sells gear that is even more ridiculous priced today.

But this is not how we know Weiss for decades, and in these days, even that old very high quality don't justify the price anymore. We can get better dac's for a few hundred now and Weiss should adapt their bussinessplan like many others did in that segment of audio. A Topping or SMSL does as good or better, and cost a fraction of it. And on looks the Weiss is also not anymore what it used to be, and certainly not worth the money.

 

[DanielT]

Not a chance.

As you, Amir, said:
Finally, going into the review somehow I thought this was a $2,000 DAC/streamer. Today I double checked and was shocked that it was $10,000! I don't mind paying that much if it came in a 20 pound case with machining that would make me drool. And a high resolution display akin to a mobile phone. None of that is provided so I don't see how that price was ever justified. We have higher performance streamers selling for less than $1000 with all of these features.

By the way, thanks for the test Amir!

 

[boXem]

The day companies producing cheap DACs will provide firmware just approaching the one provided here, comments on the price will become relevant. For the moment:
- since competent firmware developers are a rare breed, better pay them. Especially in Switzerland.
- when your product is alone fulfilling a market request, you can price it the way you like.
- heard about brand power?

Concerning the linearity behavior, @amirm are you sure that all side functions were disabled/bypassed? Because this really looks like interger rounding done by a DSP function.

 

[Purité Audio]

Oh dear!
We used to be Weiss distributors when their Dac 202 was in production, ( which was very favourably measured by JA in Stereophile) .
We still have Weiss on our site although we are very rarely asked for them.
Thank you Amir for an incredibly disappointing review!
Keith

 

[Grotti]

Another glorified product busted (more or less). Kudos to the owner: it musst be hard to read the truth about your own expensive gear....i hope you can enjoy it despite the outcome of this review.

Keep going, Amir: your impact on the industry is not to be underestimated!

 

[respice finem]

...costs US $9995....

This needs fixing even before the DAC IMHO. One digit too many

 

[renaudrenaud]

Guys, you are missing the point. This model is implemting a specic technology but the internal hhtp server should be correctly configured.

And then the measurements should be perfect, because the machine had a base-plate of prefabulated aluminite, surmounted by a malleable logarithmic casing in such a way that the two main spurving bearings were in a direct line with the pentametric fan. The latter consisted simply of six hydrocoptic marzlevanes, so fitted to the ambifacient lunar waneshaft that side fumbling was effectively prevented. The main winding was of the normal lotus-o-delta type placed in panendermic semi-bovoid slots in the stator, every seventh conductor being connected by a non-reversible tremie pipe to the differential girdlespring on the "up" end of the grammeters.

 

[respice finem]

Another glorified product busted (more or less)...

This. The more hype, the more should the buyer beware.

 

[fordiebianco]

Hi @amirm, many thanks for another excellent review. There was a time when I jealously looked at such 'high-end' hardware like that and wondered how much it would multiply my listening pleasure. These days I gently pat my ASR measured Chinese Hi-Fi hardware and plan what I'm going to do with the money I have saved.

 

[martijn86]

Is it fair to put them in the rankings with the mode that isn't able to reach 4v over XLR just because that performs better?

And yes I'm one of those clowns who love to see the vinyl emulator measured just to see what it does. If it was like SMSL's sound modes for valve or transistor sounds, it would've been usable if you're into that. But the noise and the second harmonic distortion peaking at -23dB, it's just comical.

A Mola Mola Tambaqui is a better waste of your money.

 

[staticV3]

Concerning the linearity behavior, @amirm are you sure that all side functions were disabled/bypassed? Because this really looks like interger rounding done by a DSP function.

Even if Amir left a side function on by accident, should we expect and be satisfied with that kind of (non)linearity then?

 

[boXem]

Even if Amir left a side function on by accident, should we expect and be satisfied with that kind of (non)linearity then?

If we had examples of the same DSP function with better linearity results, then we could complain.
The linearity test on ASR is testing the hardware performance, so better ensure that apples are compared to apples.

 

[Sokel]

Even if Amir left a side function on by accident, should we expect and be satisfied with that kind of (non)linearity then?

DSP functions can mess with measurements big time,once I jumped of my chair with horror thinking that something got shorted

Mixed feelings about it in general.
Not the looks and premium feel that the price point dictates.
On the other hand it looks like a more than basic team is involved (cause of the EQ,DSP,etc) so cost would be higher any way (specially in Switzerland) and I expect top support,etc.

But looks and premium feel is like 50% of a product (and more) at the low-medium hi-end market so nope!
That won't do.

Thanks Amir!

 

[misureaudio]

When actual performance strictly depends on firmware correctedness, a supplement of inquiry could be needed: is it easy to open such an issue case with the manufacturer? Is it easy to install a new firmware release on your own device to see it working properly? (I had bad experiences with some high-end brand).

 

[amirm]

Concerning the linearity behavior, @amirm are you sure that all side functions were disabled/bypassed? Because this really looks like interger rounding done by a DSP function.

I have checked. Any effect function being enabled would screw up other things. Clearly it doesn't have a true bypass when you turn everything off.

 

[amirm]

Is it easy to install a new firmware release on your own device to see it working properly? (I had bad experiences with some high-end brand).

Yes, there is a web firmware update. I checked and what is there is current.

 

[amirm]

is it easy to open such an issue case with the manufacturer?

I have asked the owner if he wants to file a report with them or wants me to do so. Clearly this should be reported and see if they can replicate.

 

[DSJR]

the board shots look pretty decent for a $995 product but one wonders where the other $9,000 is going

I suspect distributor and dealer margin accounts for two thirds of the price at least... (I mean, I'm horrified how Rega products all but double in price when sold in the US)