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Weiss and the Baltic not much different, but the Baltic sounded a bit larger and more organic, the Denafrips totally not in same class, the soundstage got much smaller and it sounded more closed in.
Thank you for sharing your opinion and the video didn't show the soundstage width properly but the Weiss sound is bigger and wider with better 3D than other Dacs. The Lampizator is more analogue and a bit richer. However the sound is less dynamic and open compated to Weiss so its a tradeoff for sure ;)
I've had a 204 for a few months now. Although it sounds pretty damn good with the stock SMPS, I added a Keces P8 LPS with SR Purple fuse and a Ghent Gotham DC cable and this package sounds absolutely spectacular. The 204 was an amazing buy at $2.9k when it came out. Perhaps slightly less of a bargain now that they're $3.5k. Glad I jumped on one before the increase. But it is an incredible sounding dac. I suspect you'd have to spend 5 figures on a dac to get an appreciable increase in overall sound quality. Super happy with my 204! And thanks for the review!
Hi, thank you for your comment and positive words. I am also very happy with this DAC and I also believe that it set a level so high that it's really hard to beat ;) Enjoy your DAC and more content on my channel ;)
I have a Weiss 202 which sounds great but I am tempted to try the 204 to hear what the latest dacs sounds like thanks for the review ,i`m saving up for a pair of your excellent speakers .
Haven't heard the 202 but I do love the 204. Depending on what speakers you have I'd either go for a big change or have fun with footers, cables and just enjoy the music as is ;)
Thank you as always for the best sound demos on YT! Weiss and Baltic close, but Baltic won by its big, full and organic presentation with a margin. Denafrips cannot be volume matched. When I raised (matched) the volume on Denafrips it was not that far behind actually...
Great video but how does it compare to the popular Denafrips Pontus II as that would have been a more equal comparison than the cheaper Ares, and how does it compare to the popular Gustard R26 and A26? Thanks
listened with headphones. I thought the Weiss was the best of the 3. It had a more holographic sound stage, instrument placement had more layered depth. The lamp sounded punchy too but instruments were all placed on the same plane, depth-wise. And for the ares 12th which I also used to own. It sounded nice, natural smooth, but a little soft. Lacked the dynamics of the other too. Were these volume matched? thanks for sharing the samples.
How exactly did you connect this DAC? I’m about to get it and I’m going to be connecting it to a Preamp. I’m asking this because I didn’t understand the part you talk about ‘clipping’
I used RCA to my amp, it's just the case of can your amp handle higher than standard 2V level inputs. If so there will be no clipping. MyNaim supernait 3 or Aiyima A07 can handle that for example
Hi, thank you for your feedback. This Weiss is definitely the best that I heard I. My listening studio. I had here Lampizator Amber 3 and 4 / Baltic 4 and some cheaper DACs. I heard many very expensive and more expensive DACs with Qualio IQ during Shows and at the customers place and the Weiss is truly magic ;) I'll try to borrow some more serious contenders to battle against the Weiss to really check what's it worth in the controlled and same listening conditions. But for the Money I'd say the Weiss 204 is the same level of a deal as the Denafrips Ares 2/12th is at 1000 Euro. It's just great ;)
I had SOtM SP500 for one day for tests and it was way better than the stock one that I use now. I will test some DIY ones that I'll do very soon I have idea for 3 different Linear Power Suppllies that I'll test within a month.
You said don’t use the boost toggle switches but I saw in your video you have them both switched in up position. Is the gain attenuation IN when the toggle switch is up or down?
I actually met Daniel Weiss today in his offices in Uster and I asked him about your comments regarding this subject. So from what I understand, there is no difference in sound quality. The DAC is most comfortable around -15 +- 5 dB. I tried this on a borrowed DAC 501 at home at 0db setting, and in my room, not to wake the neighbours, I was at about -55db On my watch db meter, I was listening at about 50 db in my living room ( it only went down to -60db max btw.). After Daniels advice, I have set the DAC 204 to -30db and no worries. I hope this helps anyone interested. My provisional setup: Stereolith Stereo Lodspeaker(Swiss), 2x Foso ZA3 as parallel amps, WiiM Pro Plus as streamer and preamp going to the Weiss DAC 204@@wwoolworth
Thank you for your message. At the moment at least with Quality IQ I'd definitely go for 4000$ DAC and 200$ D-class amp. I'll share my review of such amp very soon.
Of course it all depends on what DAC / Amp combo you go for. But with Class D-amps sounding great this days, going for best speakers first and then the rest ;)
here in Poland it's not rare to just pay the deposit and borrow the unit home for a couple of days to listen. isn't that a popular practice in the USA ?
@@VirtualHiFi I’m not sure. I don’t have any dealers near me. I know there’s dealers that will loan you stuff. I assume they put a hold on your credit card though. It’s called loaning though. Not renting. As here rent is a fee paid to use something for a certain period of time. And we don’t pay when something is loaned to us. Like we rent a house by the month for example. But we can go to the local car parts store, and loan (borrow) tools with a deposit, like you refer to. No fee though. You get the whole deposit back. Another thing we do is buy online with a 15-60 (depending on the store policy) day trial period. And there’s no charge (fee), except sometimes you’ll have to pay return shipping. So I think the big difference is how we use the word rent here, versus how it’s used there. ✌️
All you need is a Topping D90 and a Benchmark amp and you will have the best measuring sound known to all humanity according to science. But if you disagree then you are against science and a colonizer. Thank you. Also, fuses and cables and anything else don't make a difference because electrons are electrons and ones and zeros are all that matter. Thank you. PS - I am poor so it helps that I don't need to spend top dollar on good sound because the best measuring system can be had without wasting money. What is your pleasure? Home Depot extension cord also is much better than the waste of money Puritan Audio PSM156 which does nothing. If you hear different than me, it is all placebo. Thank you.
Thank you for the comment and your opinion. Yes maybe measuring great is possible. But are you sure that you are measuring everything there is to measure ? One can make flat lined speakers very easy with basically speakers just add some DSP or complex crossover. It will measure great and sound like a failure 😁 I am a physicist and I understand how the theory works. Take two solid state completely different sounding amplifiers and measure the speakers frequency response in the room with those amps. They will be basically the same. So maybe there is a case that human brain and ears are better measuring system than microphone and USB sound intrlerface ? Anyway thank you very much for your time and opinion ;)
Please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE 😄👍
For stunning revolutionary 3-way speakers visit - www.qualioaudio.com
Looking for the best fullrage drivers - Cube is the answer - www.cubeaudio.eu
Love what I do ? You can buy me a coffee ☕☕☕ here - www.buymeacoffee.com/VirtualHiFi
Weiss and the Baltic not much different, but the Baltic sounded a bit larger and more organic, the Denafrips totally not in same class, the soundstage got much smaller and it sounded more closed in.
Thank you for sharing your opinion and the video didn't show the soundstage width properly but the Weiss sound is bigger and wider with better 3D than other Dacs. The Lampizator is more analogue and a bit richer. However the sound is less dynamic and open compated to Weiss so its a tradeoff for sure ;)
I've had a 204 for a few months now. Although it sounds pretty damn good with the stock SMPS, I added a Keces P8 LPS with SR Purple fuse and a Ghent Gotham DC cable and this package sounds absolutely spectacular. The 204 was an amazing buy at $2.9k when it came out. Perhaps slightly less of a bargain now that they're $3.5k. Glad I jumped on one before the increase. But it is an incredible sounding dac. I suspect you'd have to spend 5 figures on a dac to get an appreciable increase in overall sound quality. Super happy with my 204! And thanks for the review!
Hi, thank you for your comment and positive words.
I am also very happy with this DAC and I also believe that it set a level so high that it's really hard to beat ;)
Enjoy your DAC and more content on my channel ;)
Man love your Chanel and content, i life now 15 years in switzerland but the weiss dac i see for my first time on your channel😂😂😂❤❤❤
That's awesome! Thank you for sharing that ;) I also found out about Weiss from great Steve Huff Review so UA-cam it is ;)
@@VirtualHiFi it's swiss made
I own the Weiss dac and just ordered these speakers.
Hello Neil. Congrats on the speakers. I'm sure you will be more than happy with the combo 😀
Can you please do a shootout with a Lynx Hilo? Same price range but line I/O options
I have a Weiss 202 which sounds great but I am tempted to try the 204 to hear what the latest dacs sounds like thanks for the review ,i`m saving up for a pair of your excellent speakers .
Haven't heard the 202 but I do love the 204. Depending on what speakers you have I'd either go for a big change or have fun with footers, cables and just enjoy the music as is ;)
I appreciate your great enthusiasm for giving us the best information possible, I really appreciate it, you help me a lot
So nice of you and thank you very much for subscribing ;)
Thank you as always for the best sound demos on YT! Weiss and Baltic close, but Baltic won by its big, full and organic presentation with a margin. Denafrips cannot be volume matched. When I raised (matched) the volume on Denafrips it was not that far behind actually...
Thank you for sharing your feedback. Very interesting indeed. I always match the volume with pink noise and sol meter and it's always +-0.5 db ;)
I love my Weiss 204 it is a paradigm shift compared to my old Schiit Yiggy Less is More.
Yes Weiss is awesome. I sold my Lampizator after getting the Weiss ;)
Thanks for the good video.....looking forward to receiving my 204 😍
Congratulations. I'm happy for you since it's a great DAC ;)
@@VirtualHiFi Competing with my cen.grand deluxe dac
I'm just facinated of the effortless performance of the 204. Seems it is just playing what's recorded, but only listened on videos so far@@VirtualHiFi
@@VirtualHiFi WAUW so good👍🎸
excellent channel. thanks for doing it in English. Didn't listen with headphones but the Denafrips is clearly inferior.
Thanks for watching! I hope you will enjoy more content as well ;)
Great video but how does it compare to the popular Denafrips Pontus II as that would have been a more equal comparison than the cheaper Ares, and how does it compare to the popular Gustard R26 and A26? Thanks
Will have to test them for sure :)
listened with headphones. I thought the Weiss was the best of the 3. It had a more holographic sound stage, instrument placement had more layered depth. The lamp sounded punchy too but instruments were all placed on the same plane, depth-wise. And for the ares 12th which I also used to own. It sounded nice, natural smooth, but a little soft. Lacked the dynamics of the other too. Were these volume matched? thanks for sharing the samples.
I totally agree with you ;) thank you for your comment 😁
To me that Weiss sounded about right for his price when compared. lampizator sounds much better. That other cheap dac is no comparison at all to both.
Good choice 👌
Thank you. This DAC is AWESOME :)
How exactly did you connect this DAC? I’m about to get it and I’m going to be connecting it to a Preamp. I’m asking this because I didn’t understand the part you talk about ‘clipping’
I used RCA to my amp, it's just the case of can your amp handle higher than standard 2V level inputs. If so there will be no clipping. MyNaim supernait 3 or Aiyima A07 can handle that for example
Great video. What is your reference dac? and is Weiss the best dac you have heard?
Hi, thank you for your feedback.
This Weiss is definitely the best that I heard I. My listening studio. I had here Lampizator Amber 3 and 4 / Baltic 4 and some cheaper DACs. I heard many very expensive and more expensive DACs with Qualio IQ during Shows and at the customers place and the Weiss is truly magic ;)
I'll try to borrow some more serious contenders to battle against the Weiss to really check what's it worth in the controlled and same listening conditions.
But for the Money I'd say the Weiss 204 is the same level of a deal as the Denafrips Ares 2/12th is at 1000 Euro. It's just great ;)
Did you try the upgrade power supply with the Weiss yet? Are you using USB , and does USB sound better then toslink or coaxial?
I had SOtM SP500 for one day for tests and it was way better than the stock one that I use now. I will test some DIY ones that I'll do very soon I have idea for 3 different Linear Power Suppllies that I'll test within a month.
On your SOTM power supply did you set it to 6 or 9 v out?
I had it set to 9V. The higher the voltage the more kick in the sound IMO ;)
@@VirtualHiFi thank you so much! I have one incoming from SOTM usa
What setting is the "no attenuation" setting of the two switches on the back that you recommend? Is it both switches UP or DOWN?
This is funny since in my opinion it's a bit counterintuitive. When it's set as on the miniature (up) the attenuation is off.
@@VirtualHiFithank you so much, nowhere in the manual is this explained.
You said don’t use the boost toggle switches but I saw in your video you have them both switched in up position. Is the gain attenuation IN when the toggle switch is up or down?
Those switches are resistor switches. I leave them up and that gives the purest path. I was confused at first. It gives the purest path I believe.
Exacly. I have the same here, all toggles up : )
I actually met Daniel Weiss today in his offices in Uster and I asked him about your comments regarding this subject. So from what I understand, there is no difference in sound quality. The DAC is most comfortable around -15 +- 5 dB. I tried this on a borrowed DAC 501 at home at 0db setting, and in my room, not to wake the neighbours, I was at about -55db On my watch db meter, I was listening at about 50 db in my living room ( it only went down to -60db max btw.). After Daniels advice, I have set the DAC 204 to -30db and no worries. I hope this helps anyone interested. My provisional setup: Stereolith Stereo Lodspeaker(Swiss), 2x Foso ZA3 as parallel amps, WiiM Pro Plus as streamer and preamp going to the Weiss DAC 204@@wwoolworth
I have a SunAudio 300B amp for my La Scalas - will this work me?
Yes. 300b should easily work with higher input voltage and I TR should work.amazingly ;)
Question is , would you rather use $4k dac with $500 amp or $4k amp with $500 dac?
Thank you for your message. At the moment at least with Quality IQ I'd definitely go for 4000$ DAC and 200$ D-class amp. I'll share my review of such amp very soon.
yes, i tend to think the same way, esp when dac has a good preamp section@@VirtualHiFi
Of course it all depends on what DAC / Amp combo you go for. But with Class D-amps sounding great this days, going for best speakers first and then the rest ;)
Rent it? Who rents out HiFi gear? I like the idea. But I’ve not heard of any place that does this. At least here in the US. ✌️
here in Poland it's not rare to just pay the deposit and borrow the unit home for a couple of days to listen. isn't that a popular practice in the USA ?
@@VirtualHiFi I’m not sure. I don’t have any dealers near me. I know there’s dealers that will loan you stuff. I assume they put a hold on your credit card though. It’s called loaning though. Not renting.
As here rent is a fee paid to use something for a certain period of time. And we don’t pay when something is loaned to us. Like we rent a house by the month for example. But we can go to the local car parts store, and loan (borrow) tools with a deposit, like you refer to. No fee though. You get the whole deposit back.
Another thing we do is buy online with a 15-60 (depending on the store policy) day trial period. And there’s no charge (fee), except sometimes you’ll have to pay return shipping.
So I think the big difference is how we use the word rent here, versus how it’s used there. ✌️
What power supply did you use??
it's SOtM sps-500 www.sotm-audio.com/sotmwp/english/portfolio-item/sps-500/
hard to compare on a computer, especially since we can't compare the exact same passages one after the other.
Thanks for sharing. Do you prefer that over seemles cuts and transitions ?
Not good DAC at all, I did a test too. Far away from good sound. Compressed sound, kick is stamping. All sounds pitched and too wide!
Thank you for finding the time to share your opinion. which DAC did you compare it to?
What are the other components in your system?
All you need is a Topping D90 and a Benchmark amp and you will have the best measuring sound known to all humanity according to science. But if you disagree then you are against science and a colonizer. Thank you. Also, fuses and cables and anything else don't make a difference because electrons are electrons and ones and zeros are all that matter. Thank you. PS - I am poor so it helps that I don't need to spend top dollar on good sound because the best measuring system can be had without wasting money. What is your pleasure? Home Depot extension cord also is much better than the waste of money Puritan Audio PSM156 which does nothing. If you hear different than me, it is all placebo. Thank you.
Thank you for the comment and your opinion.
Yes maybe measuring great is possible. But are you sure that you are measuring everything there is to measure ?
One can make flat lined speakers very easy with basically speakers just add some DSP or complex crossover. It will measure great and sound like a failure 😁
I am a physicist and I understand how the theory works. Take two solid state completely different sounding amplifiers and measure the speakers frequency response in the room with those amps. They will be basically the same. So maybe there is a case that human brain and ears are better measuring system than microphone and USB sound intrlerface ?
Anyway thank you very much for your time and opinion ;)
@@VirtualHiFi I know, I was just having fun. 😁😁
Ok sure I did not got it though 😅
@@VirtualHiFi That makes it even funnier.....for me! YES! 🤣👌