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WEISS DAC502 Quick Start Manual

Dsp dac and network renderer
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https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/spdif-dac-reviews/weiss-dac502-dsp-dac-and-network-renderer-part1/
Network Player Reviews, SPDIF DAC Reviews, USB DAC Reviews
Weiss DAC502 DSP DAC and Network Renderer
Christiaan Punter │ 14 May 2020
Retail prices in the Benelux (including 21% VAT)
DAC501: 8.900 euro
DAC502: 10.000 euro
Swiss precision. The reputation is as old as time itself. But more and more Swiss audio products are
positioned as front runners at audio shows worldwide. Weiss has been around for a long time
alongside other established Swiss brands such as Nagra, FM-Acoustics and darTZeel to name only a
handful. But all these brands, along with the relative newcomers such as Soulution and CH Precision
seem to prove my point. Whereas the USA used to dominate the ultra-high-end market for so many
years, Switzerland, it seems, is the new King.
1 |
P a g e

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Summary of Contents for WEISS DAC502

  • Page 1 Swiss precision. The reputation is as old as time itself. But more and more Swiss audio products are positioned as front runners at audio shows worldwide. Weiss has been around for a long time alongside other established Swiss brands such as Nagra, FM-Acoustics and darTZeel to name only a handful.
  • Page 2 Swiss all sound the same but I can’t help but notice that the country’s famous precision as well as its political neutrality both seem to be reflected in a large chunk of the audio products. Weiss is one such product. Renowned for their neutrality and seen as an important reference by many.

  • Page 3: Headphone Connection

    (retaining the regular 6.3mm headphone socket on the front panel). Both DACs run from a sophisticated linear power supply. Incidentally, the DSP501 / DSP502 units are the same as the DAC501 / DAC502 but with digital instead of analog outputs. This is ideal for customers who like to keep their trusted DAC or who have speakers with digital inputs.

  • Page 4: Dsp Functionality

    As it stands so far, the list of features already looks pretty impressive, doesn’t it? Now consider that I’ve not even covered its most powerful feature just yet, the DSP algorithms! DSP FUNCTIONALITY The DAC502 includes a built-in selection of DSP algorithms...
  • Page 5 REVIEW CONTEXT The DAC502 will be reviewed in a system comprised of an Antipodes CX+EX music server combo, a CH Precision C1 DAC, a CH Precision A1.5 power amplifier with Martin Logan ESL15A and Magico S1 MkII loudspeakers. Additionally, I will make comparisons using the NuPrime ST-10 power amplifier and the APL DSD-AR DAC.
  • Page 6 DAC. Relative to the average DAC sound (inasmuch as that even exists) I’d say that the DAC502 is slightly on the cool side but that does not mean that it inhibits any warmth that is in the recordings and I would not label it as clinical or sterile. I might if it were to sound overly lean or devoid of richness or color but that is not the case.

  • Page 7: Output Level

    But how am I to properly assess the DAC502’s S/PDIF inputs using a CD player with such a deviating sonic style? This called for a revisit of the Aqua La Diva, which is the tightest, liveliest and most neutral CD transport that I have heard so far.
  • Page 8 APL. While not as full-blooded and organic, the Weiss has a similar kind of solidity and transient behavior. At the -10dB output level, the Weiss is a tiny bit more relaxed than the C1 but when set at the 0dB output level setting it comes right alongside in that respect. Especially now that I am comparing it directly with the C1 and in combination with the, relative to the Magicos, slightly forgiving Logans, I find that the DAC’s treble is actually very well-behaved.
  • Page 9 “Schwung”, I don’t know. I guess that its breathtaking price tag must account for something besides nice cosmetics. Even in this overly cramped setup, the tiny Xavians sounded full-bodied and super-spacious with the DAC502 as the front end P a g e...
  • Page 10 Finally, I also used the DAC502 as the front end during the review of the atm-Audio EPM-700 hybrid Class A/Class D power amplifiers, and let me tell you, this is where it landed exactly in the sweet spot. Paired with a set of Xavian La Perla loudspeakers and Driade Flow 405 speaker cable, this...
  • Page 11 At one point, I was pulling my hairs as I went absolutely nuts not being able to get it right. Imagine that a Room EQ function such as the one implemented in the DAC502 could significantly ameliorate such an issue electronically. Of course, when dealing with complex room modes, the correction would only be ideal for the listening position but that goes for all adjustments than one makes to an audio system.

  • Page 12: Preset Keys

    Conclusion The DAC502 is an absolute reviewer’s dream. In addition to being a DAC, the ‘502 is also a RoonReady and UPnP endpoint, topped off with a built-in selection of DSP algorithms offering an unprecedented range of control over virtually every aspect of the sound.