Aspiring audiophile

Thanks for the update. We will stay tuned.

Thanks for your detailed findings. Helpful for those of us on the fence!

The dac2 uses a digital volume control which truncates digital data to lower the volume under a certain threshold. According to Clint at W4S, the dac2 can go down to 35 with a 16 bit file without any loss of resolution. I find that music seems to "come to life" at higher volumes than 35. I suspect we perceive music sounds "better" at higher volumes do to perceived dynamics and detail at higher level. Also, depending on equipment, some amplifiers are not as good with dynamics at low volume. We should feel good at least with the dac2 from 35 on up.

Richard, i hope you have beat the flu bug by now. If not, sending healthy vibes your way. Im dying to hear your review of the DAC2se without a preamp, and compared to with.

Wow! This is quite the endorsement. Ive been itching to try new amplification in my system as my B&W 800's are really power hungry. I wish there were an easier way to demo W4S gear! i like my Mcintosh MC402, but if I had the a&e experience you had, I could sell the McAmp and monoblock my entire 5 channel system for not much more.... hmmmm

Russelp, Which model Mcintosh, Aragon & ML amps did you replace with the W4S SX-1000? I'm certainly intrigued.

I tried the $200 version. I'd like to try it again and have a "shootout" with Audirvana...but I'm too busy playing with cables (a whole other issue . Hope you are recovering from your flu. I'm dying to hear your findings from using the DAC2-SE direct without preamp.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I have tried Amarra and settled on Audirvana. Audirvana was smoother with the remote app behind iTunes. I never did a real A/B comparison, but Audirvana just sounded "good" to me.

That makes sense.

Richard, Thank you for your kind words and warm welcome to Computer Audiophile. I'll admit, I have been intimidated to post on the forum (not for any negative reasons), but it is clear there are some highly intelligent folks on the forum. As my name implies, I'm new at this hobby (not the love of music, that is nothing new. It is diving into learning how to replicate that audio euphoria in a personal setting.) What a fascinating pursuit. Your sharing the journey on this thread has really helped me look closer at my system. As for my B&W's being power hungry, you are absolutely correct there . As it stands, with the W4S DAC2 as my current preamp, I can reproduce music at concert levels without my amp breaking a sweat. I just feel like something is missing. I can't put my finger on it, but it's like frosty the snowman without his magic hat (sorry, I have young kids). His form is all there, but there isn't the life, the "sparkle". If i discover that a preamp is the "cure", I'll likely need to wait a while for timing. If the SE upgrade is the missing link, I will rush and get it done. I certainly understand that you cannot say if it is in my system, but I will eagerly await your personal impressions when you have a chance to critically listen to your DAC2-SE direct to your amps. Thanks again for the great thread!

I really appreciate the feedback of those who have used the SE as a preamp. Since you still prefer the Parasound JC2 preamp in the chain, I'm curious what the difference is with and without the preamp. What specifically in terms of sound did the JC2 add for you?

Thanks for the reply. This is very encouraging! I am glad to hear the grain is gone. How would you say the soundstage, warmth, smoothness is with the DAC2-SE as the preamp compared with running into a preamp?

Thanks for the reply. I'm digital only, so lack of analogue inputs isn't a problem. I've demo'd preamps in my system (c2300, naim, d100). I actually liked the mcintosh d100, but passed as I do need home theater bypass. My DAC-2 fulfills my needs "on paper", but it lacks the warmth/smoothness I'm assuming a proper preamp may bring. I've read the specs on the SE upgrade, but again it's all "on paper". (And looks awesome, especially after hearing the reviews on this thread). I'm anxious to hear from anyone who has run the SE model direct to amps. Still drooling

First post here on Computer Audiophile. Long-time reader (I'm very appreciative of all I have learned here, also really appreciate this thread in particular). I too would love to know more about using the new W4S DAC-2 SE as a preamp vs. as a DAC only. I have the DAC2, which I'm using as a DAC/Preamp and I have had upgradeitus haunting me to buy a proper preamp. I'd considered a W4S STP-SE preamp combined with my DAC2, I was considering a Mcintosh C2300 or C48...but my head spins at the expense and logic challenges my wanting to lengthen the signal path, and buy more interconnects, etc. My current system is: MacMini transport (Mostly XLD ripped files as AIFF's, using Audirvana via itunes) > Audioquest Carbon USB > W4S Dac2 > MIT AVT2 Unbalanced RCA > Mcintosh MC402 > MIT One Wire Speaker Cables > B&W Signature 800's Everything sounds pretty good...I feel like I am "almost there". I'd like a little more warmth and feel like I have dynamics, detail, but there is just something in the way of the "emotion" of the music. My existing setup can have some brightness which drives me nuts and is fatiguing (which wasn't present when I'd demo'd the Mcintosh D100 as a DAC/Preamp. I'd have bought it, but I need home theater bypass as my system is integrated in my home theater). Anyway, that was a long-winded question drooling for more info on whether the upgraded W4S SE is my missing link as a DAC/Preamp.