cardiackid

I do not know specifically, I use pure music (which is fabulous CHANNEL D - Pure Music) and the CIAudio bridge (CIAUDIO : Transient MKII - Asynchronous USB Converter ) and there is not enough detail provided for me to answer. However, if you email CIAudio <[email protected]>, I am sure Dustv Vawter will fill you in. It is actually a very good dac in its own right frankly, but not as good as the W4S Dac-2 SE. That dac is really "hauling water" for me.

To all, I am very pleased with the W4s Dac-2 SE upgrade, specifically the analog side which I think is a major downfall for most DACs. When I received the DAC I was not going to listen until I had 100 plus hours of burn in, but that went by the way side immediately. For reference, I have a mac mini (8 Gb, SSD HD) using a W4S USB cable running into a CIA USB to I2S bridge (with its dedicated power supply) using an Harmonic Technology HDMI cable into the I2S input. The I2S bridge made an significant difference previously and I have chosen for now to study the change in the analog side first. Later I will make the break and compare going into the USB input directly. They should be similar. Out of the box I recognized that the upgrade was significant. The speed of sharp transients was very quick and the resolution of sounds was immediately appreciated. I am drummer, at least in the past, and I could not help but note that woodblock sound not only had a strong sharp strike sound but the hollowness from within the block was clear and appropriately resonant. Over and over that first couple hours I was impressed with speed, resolution, imaging, and taut bass. I am not an electrical wizard, but I think there must have been smearing of sound previously due to slow signal rise times or slower electronic recovery between impulses. Perhaps the noise is further decreased to allow more subtle cues to now be appreciated. More texture to the music and less digititis. This is with Red Book CDs. Today after 100 hours plus of burn in the same is true, but smoother and somehow more refined. I can not help but hearing the timbre of instruments and voices than I have previously appreciated with CD. Frankly I am impressed. I compared the sound to my vinyl set-up which is admittedly much more expensive (Teres 340/Graham Phantom Supreme/Lyra Kleos with Bolder custom cables into a Manley Steelhead). This sound is outstanding and very relaxed. The imaging and resolution ... is fabulous. The important point, after listening to the vinyl, I am able to listen to my CDs through your DAC without a problem and for hours. They sound different, perhaps the vinyl as a smoother more relaxed sound, but the digital holds its own. I am very pleased and actually grateful that W4S offered the upgrade. It has made that much of an improved difference for me over the original DAC-2 with the bridge.

CIAUDIO : Transient MKII - Asynchronous USB Converter

I am sorry for not providing full information. I presumed everyone would know what I was discussing. Here is a link to the Steve Stone article and the website for CI audio. The strength of this unit is on the digital side IMO, particularly the clocking. I think there is little difference between the sound with OR5 and this I2S bridge, both excellent and no one could tell in a blind test which is in use even over time. What will be interesting is whether the USB upgrade precludes the need for these bridges because they are both extremely well designed and implemented. However, more important to me, I think the analog implementation is going to be very key in this upgrade. I say this because if these bridges to the DAC chip are comparable to the new implementation in the w4s Dac-2(se), then there is still need for improvement on the Analog side of the Dac-2. That is why I sent in my DAC-2. I believe there will be a great improvement on that side and this will bring the sound close to the optimum that a red-book CD can provide. The DSD is a bonus but unfortunately not one I can use much for my collection of music. Four DACs from $699 to $3600 | The Absolute Sound CIAUDIO TRANSIENT MKII DAC at Music Direct

Contact Dusty Vawter: CIAudio <[email protected]>. Also, the HDMI cable can make a difference, since most are weighted toward video. I spoke with the Cable Company after researching the subject and together we chose the Harmonic Technology at that time. I will say there may be others that are as good or better now, so consider talking to someone with experience for the best price to performance ratio. Good listening.

I have been following this thread of and on. I also sent my DAC-2 for the full upgrade and I expect to see it returned in the near future. I am glad to see Richard resolved his issues, which may not have happened for me, since I also use the w4s usb cable. I changed from the kimber USB to this one because I was seeking more 3D sound, ambience, transparency, whatever it is that I enjoy from analog with my digital front end. The change of the USB cable and the power cord all improved the sound but not enough for me. After Steve Stone mentioned the CIA USB to I2S bridge improved the W4S DAC-2 sound, I purchased the bridge and the power unit a couple days later. It was revelatory, moving a 2D kind of sound more 3D, but I know there is more to gain. I had been writing to Clint begging him to mod my Dac for 2 years on a custom basis, and when they issued the upgrade, I was all in. I think the analog improvement will be the key for me. I will compare the USB and the I2S bridge to see if there is a benefit from the I2S input, and I will try to let others know when I have an opinion. It may help someone to have the thoughts. I am not a frequent poster, because time is limited for me both for listening (unfortunately) and surfing. Such is life these days for too many of us.