Weiss DAC204 Review and Measurements

A shout out to headphones.com for lending us the Weiss DAC204. This thread will be new one split from here where it all started: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...to-make-it-work-dna-weiss-musician-zmf.14367/ This will on the loaner after I am done with measurements and wrap up with my in-a-nutshell summary.



First things first (measurements from SE output below)

Weiss DAC204
Coax input
1kHz 0dbFS

At full output, the DAC204 has some harmonic spikes with odd order higher than even order. However, it's all pretty low, most of the spurs well below -125db with only the 3rd order at -115. If I had to guess, AmirNAD is probably about 114db, but no one cares about AmirNAD (SINAD 0dbFS 20kHz bandwidth).

What's interesting is that just a little bit below full scale output, the harmonic distortion disappear.

-20dbFS


-60dbFS

 

Weiss DAC204
1 kHz THD (no N) vs output (dbFS)

THD goodness doesn't scale better when levels get above around -15dbFS. Another way to confirm what we saw in the prior post.

Let's check out two other frequencies.

Weiss DAC204
37HZ and 8.2kHz THD (no N) vs output (dbFS)


37Hz has a THD blimp around -35dbFS. Lets take a look around that -35dbFS spot in the full spectrum. Say -40dbFS and -30dbFS

-40dbFS


-30dbFS


Hmm, looks like it's not harmonics, but rather noise floor. Maybe something to do noise shaping in the ESS chip. FWIW, noise floor is super low - noting only using FFT length of 64K.

 

Wiess DAC204
THD (no N) vs Frequency


here is the THD+N version below (I like to see the difference between THD and THD+N)

 

In a nutshell:

Considering it's high cost, use of ESS parts, and poor synergy with my bedside headphone system, I really wanted to hate this DAC, but I cannot. Weiss belongs in the rare list of ESS Whispers who can pull good sound from the Sabre chips. Most typical no-name ESS DACs sound horrible (including big names like here) - horrible with digital nasties, harsh highs, lean clinical flat boring presentations.

The tonal balance of the DAC204 is warm and full bodied. Reminds me a bit of the Resononessessence Labs Invicta, except the Invicta was disjointed with extra lushness combined with bad-Sabre stridency in the highs. While I wouldn't say that the Weiss DAC204 has smooth liquid delicate butter-like highs of the better R2R implementations (there's a tiny bit of rasp - hey it's still delta sigma for worse and better), the Weiss piece works. The timbre is plenty fine even with neutralish/bright headphones like the HD600 and neutralish amps. (In fact I feel the Weiss's presentation works really well in such cases. And I would be wary of placing the DAC204 with dark sounding downstream gear). There's edge and incisive attacks when the music calls for it, but it's not pervasive being there when it's not supposed to be there.

The thing that really surprised me was the DAC204's expressiveness and hint of wetness (opposed to dry and surgical - for example, the X-Sabre Pro or Modius E) while retaining clarity. However, the downside with using an older chip that resolution of fine detail isn't quite up to par with today's best chips.

The complaints I have are basically too pricey for too old of a chip, no AES input (the AES is an AES output as the DAC204 can be used as USB-AES converter), and switcher brick. A $3.5k DAC shouldn't be coming with a cheap switcher brick. (I hear improvements can be gained with a suitable LPS - which I totally believe because during my stint at Eddie Current, I learned that power supply is half the sound, and they have their own sound).

However, what I said before: I still cannot hate the Weiss DAC204 because despite all the complaints, it still sounds darn good. And also because it has a unique presentation. How many warm full-bodied delta-sigma DACs are there on the planet? (That is are cohesive sounding and don't sound like shit). Bottom line is that it is expensive, but worth consideration if it's that final synergistic piece.

 

Let me put the Burl on the table. (They are different - take different approaches to presentation). To be continued.

 

The ESS IMD hump is something I don't worry about. It's of interest academically, and as y'all mentioned it could be attributable to differences in noise shaping at different output levels. Remember the cherry-picked SONCOZ DAC with perfect AmirNAD and IMD that got shipped to ASR? And it turns out that the products shipped to customers exhibited the IMD weirdness? How come no one at ASR heard it?

I doubt people can hear the ESS IMD hump.

Do I want to investigate why with more and different measurements to get to the bottom of it (and other strange behavior)? Nope. Not enough time. I just finished priming the Jeep bumpers and need to sand for final paint.

 

Pictures or it didn't happen. Direct comparison.


Comparison with Burl B2. As I mentioned and suspected, just different.

Important things to note pertaining to YMMV:

• Burl is Pro stuff, so XLR outs only, thus necessitating the use of Cinemag CMLI-15s with the DNA amp. This will of course color the sound somewhat: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...vel-input-transformers-uh-oh-its-magic.13989/
• The Burl B2 here is using the BOPA8 output board instead of the BOPA1 here (https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-bomber-dac-review-holy-sh-this-is-good.9575/). That being said the vintagey jist of the DAC isn't too different with the BOPA8s.
• Weiss has XLR outputs too, but I opted for the SE output. Sounded best this way without having the couple the Cinemags.

Thoughts:

• No surprise, Weiss DAC204 tonal presentation is warmer and more full bodied
• Weiss DAC204 is very marginally more resolving or fine detail, I chalk this up to the use of the Cinemags with the Burl B2. I suspect these are equal if the balanced outputs were used on each, assuming the use of an amp that can take full advantage.
• Burl B2 can be tuned warmer somewhat but increasing the output level. However the Burl's warm is more inner warmth and tends to exhibit more at higher levels or dynamic peaks.
• Weiss DAC204 is smoother more liquid. Burl B2 is more grainy. This gives the sense of the Weiss being more delicate, especially with sounds at lower volume gradations.
• However, Burl B2 is more dynamic, more rockin'. Sounds at the higher volume gradations jump more. B2 is definitely more energetic.
• Weiss has more air, more expansive. Burl is more compact but has more precise localization of instruments.

 

Warn is the one to get, but to be totally honest, not sure I how often I would use a winch. Maybe stupid shit like burying the spare tire / wheel on the beach and dragging the Jeep towards it for fun? Not sure if the bury wheel thing would work.


I will probably think about it for a while. The bumper I got from Next Venture is two pieces (three if you count the skid plate), so much less PIA to put the winch in later. The top piece in the photo below bolts in and then the winch goes on top of it. The rest of the front bumper then bolts on to that. Quite an ingenious design. I've got the primer on with some light sanding waiting for final paint. Still can't decide if I want a white, grey or black bumper.

 

Burl B2 because of the vibe of the B2. You will want the energy and saturated vintage sound (which you can adjust with the output dial). Just keep in mind that the B2 Burl is pro gear and as such will only have balanced outputs.