There are currently two conventional DAC products in the Wyred 4 Sound lineup. Based on our immensely po pular, multi-award-winning DAC-2 series (DAC-2, DAC-2 DSD and DAC-2 DSDse), our new DAC 2v2 series is like an upgraded "classic". The physically small yet opulent sounding converter displayed excellent orchestral and vocal stereo locational placement, huge depth perspectives, and a wide soundscape while still maintaining that profound “stereo image focus” to its maximum. Of course, the pre, amp section is fully defeatable for those with preamps that they prefer to use. The back of the DAC-2v2 supports a host of digital connections: Coax, Toslink, AES/EBU, USB and I²S. However, to put it in perspective, this might not be a fair comparison as the Bel Canto DAC3.7 carried more than three times of the DAC-1v2’s price tag. This is the first DAC I have evaluated from Wyred 4 Sound and while many of you have had experience with the standard DAC2v2SE, I cannot directly compare the special edition unit here with its younger sibling. We continue to be so glad we got W4S gear and appreciate all your help. It’s quality build, reliability, cosmetics, ergonomics, and most of all, beautifully engaging sound attributes compares or outclasses many DAC’s that cost twice as much money! offers audiophiles the clearest window into their music and a truly sublime listening experience. A simple driver install is needed for USB streaming from PC systems. More updates include premium inductors and resistors as well as Wyred4Sound’s proprietary ultra-low noise regulators. The Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1v2 is a competent DAC with the capability of processing the current high-resolution high sample-rate signals. Although I do not think this is a deal breaker, I do like the convenience of being able to control everything remotely from my seat. NOS vs OS (no oversampling vs oversampling). Besides this, all Wyred 4 Sound company products always offer a trial program for some of their popular offerings; thereby allowing you to have the opportunity to listen to a component that interests you in your system for minimal financial risk. I would say that on many of the above recordings, generally speaking, the classical repertoire showed the Wyred 4 Sound to have a barely noticeable more “upfront” presentation of the complete sound stage while the Audio Note was a “tad” more laid back so to speak. updated casework with a new color: anthracite gray. The Audio Note may have had a cinch softer or “subtle” amount of “ambience” to the overall presentation, but both were truly outstanding and realistic in this respect. I know those are audiophile key words but it is all true. The DAC was used in its full form, with its variable volume control (as a preamplifier), and then with 2 other separate preamplifiers in a ‘fixed’ volume output mode. It is the updated version of the popular DAC-1, which includes upgrades such as new ESS SabrePRO chip, fully balanced circuitry, and even an updated casework. At $1299, the DAC-1v2 is intended to be the more economical option to the top-of-the-line DAC in the Wyred 4 Sound DAC lineup, the DAC-2v2. He was a member of the SECRETS Team in the early years, before moving to Singapore for a number of years. The DAC2v2SE set forth a pristine example of harmonic instrumental tonality and the fast decay times of all orchestral instruments with just about every one of these types of recordings. However, even with its break-in listening period, using it as a DAC/preamp and directly connected to my PS Audio M700 monoblocks, the sound quality was a touch more sterile and a bit sharper tonally in its mid and high-frequency response, although midbass and bass were strong, firm, highly pronounced and tight. In many instances, components that were once so perfect may now seem somewhat flawed and exposed to some failings.But once again, it must be mandated that with audio sound reproduction in our homes, this may be very subjective as to the listener’s subjective “abilities”, room acoustics, and associated components as to what is “natural” or correct to him personally! The Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1v2 has a half-width form factor (8.5”) in a rather unassuming appearance. Enhancing the already stellar performance of our DAC-2v2, the DAC-2v2 SE includes an array of highly upgraded components: Vishay Z-Foil resistors, ultra-low noise discrete regulators, ultra-fast recovery Schottkey diodes, premium grade inductors, green OLED display and a premium upgraded fuse. Wyred 4 Sound Dac’s conventionally have Automatic signal upsampling and is performed internally to reduce jitter and to keep the output filtering to a minimum. Copyright@thesoundadvocate 2020 all rights reserved. Let’s just say that the McIntosh didn’t stay around for very long. Some users might use the DAC-1v2 as an external DAC to upgrade the DAC of their CD players, some might use it to augment their digital sources, such as CD transports or digital streamers, and some others might use it as a USB DAC for their computers or other digital sources with USB high-speed outputs. Both involve multi-rate (differing input to output sample rate) digital filtering techniques. 100%): 10.5V (20.1 db), Unbalanced Output Level (Vol. TONE-ExceptionalValue2017.jpg Moreover, the DAC-1v2 can handle multiple inputs to accommodate the digital to analog conversion of other devices. In general, a more musical experience than before. Which is more natural, or neutral as far as the program material it was fed would be a matter of personal taste. Moon releases its 40th Anniversary System with its now established and supremely musical high-end 680D streaming DAC and matching 600i…, Keep us on your radar for some exciting Sound Advocate 2019 New Year Attractions as we will be delightfully taking…, OPINION - Do all audio enthusiasts have the same ability to judge accurate sound reproduction equally? Using the analog outputs of the Yamaha CDC-902, the resulting sound lacked texture and transparency in comparison to the sound processed through the DAC-1v2. I can't believe you guys have me as a "lifetime" customer. Wyred 4 Sound currently hosts a plethora of exciting and wonderful sounding audiophile digital electronics ranging from power amps, preamps, streaming servers, and of course, their DAC2v2SE DAC which has been highly praised for some years now. My music has never sounded better! Below are a few technical highlighted features in Wyred 4 Sounds 10th Anniversary edition DAC: ESS Sabre 9038PRO DAC chip ● Hand-matched custom Vishay Z-Foil resistors (0.1% tolerance and a +/-0.5ppm/°C), Femto Grade Clock (82 fSec phase jitter) ● An Oversized toroidal transformer for solid and noise-free power, Fully balanced design with balanced and unbalanced outputs ● Coaxial, Toslink, AES/EBU, and I²S inputs, Galvanically isolated, asynchronous USB input ● Up to 384kHz PCM and DSD 256 file support via USB or I²S. The DAC also provides several filters, which affects subtly the sonic results, some are more discernable than the others. These parts are probably the bulk of the increase in cost this DAC has over the standard, along with a jump in price from the basic DAC which is available at approximately $3,000 to the Anniversary which retails for $4500. Of course, the preamp section is fully defeatable for those with preamps that they prefer to use. SEE REVIEWS AND MORE AWARDS ON OUR ACCOLADES PAGE. The coaxial and optical inputs can process signals up to 24 bit/192 kHz. I mostly settled with it’s default filter, which is called the apodizing fast rolloff linear phase filter, as I thought that was the one that fit my sonic taste the most. When the digital optical output of the Yamaha CDC-902 CD changer (new retail was $500) was connected to the DAC-1v2, the resulting sound easily outshined the one from the changer’s internal DAC. 5: October 2020, What We’re Listening To. With its built-in volume control functionality, the DAC-2v2 allows audiophiles with 100% digital systems to completely eliminate the need for a pre-amp, reducing signal processing and increasing transparency. Sonic balance across the frequency spectrum was very good. This is human nature.When evaluating a new audio component, and playing music source material we know well, it is natural to sometimes, immediately identify differences (for better or worse) in sound reproduction from the new addition. At the heart of the, PRO chips offer many significant improvements over their predecessors including higher, and the latest iterartion of ESS' HyperStreamDAC technology.