VCoak

+1. My late 12 has zero issues and even the wife likes it better than the old PC laptop.

Good day to all; It has been awhile since my last post. I returned to work after a nine month off due to an injury. My mac mini is up and running with the W4S DAC2-DSDse. With nearly 150 hours the timbre has expanded, the bass still amazes me especially in classical and movie sound tracks. Very pleased with my setup right now. I choose JRivers for mac but do use the latest P.M. too. Taking time away from my system and performing more listening when listening makes me appreciate the DAC that much more. To anyone that is in the market, IMHO, The W4S DAC2-DSDse should seriously consider this one. I still consider myself a newbie since I only started D.A. (Hi-Rez) this year. In fact I think I will enjoy some music right now :-) Mark

Hi Richard, Sorry for the late response. In the above pictures Mac Mini is connected to the DAC. W4S and the mini are working very well, so good I have not a single issue. I do need to tighty things up before everything settles as I am moving hardware around. Still undecided on my storage. Leaning towards a DAS. Mark

Today installed Pure Music on my mac mini (late '12 ssd, 16gb) that runs into my W4S DAC2-DSDse. I download some hi-res from 2L. Pure music handled them perfectly and the sound is excellent. Never used Pure Music before. Mark

Today I installed the Mac mini and W4S DAC2-DSDse. I load up the DSD files from 2L. Some pretty large files in terms of storage. As for the W4S they played them perfectly. The separation of the sound required another chair adjustment. Not a problem as the room is 25x30. Another thumbs up for Wyred4Sound. No issues at all with any hardware/software. See below for a quick look Mark

Hi everyone. I am looking at the Synology 1513+ but before I purchase it, any new updates or issues with the DSM 5.0? This will be my first NAS, primarily for audio but knowing myself will most likely use it for streaming movies, storage access, etc. Plus it will free up my 2 1tb usb ext. HDD's and use them for back ups. Mark

In addition, Sorry everyone, my intent is not to focus on other equipment in any detail but merely to achieve the best sound quality that I am missing. The DAC hears it and I am jealous. LOL.

It has been a few days since my last report on the W4S DAC2-DSDse. I just topped 100 hours and is just beginning to settle in. The best way to describe the increase in sound quality is this... It is sounding to me warmer with no brightness. Something I prefer. Reminds me of the vinyl days. Music from Pink Floyd's Dark Side and Miles Davis have opened up instruments that literally hang in the air and some I have never heard before. Folks, this is one stellar piece of equipment. I will be honest in having to admit I was guarded in the motion of burn in. To test the idea I have listen many times over the particular tracks at the same volume, sitting location and resolution. Noting no changes in cables, amps etc. But I do have to be fair in the following yet subtle difference I am hearing. Let me begin that in very low volumes the music is clean. What I mean there is no pops or computer added noises but an almost veil covering. At a slowing increase in volume, like a fine wine, the music truly breathes and is at its best. Now before we jump on "its the dacs fault" I believe it might just be one of two or both that I am thinking of. First I am as of now running a some older and heavily used equipment. Sony TA-N77ES amp, Adcom GFP-750 pre-amp and soon to be modified Polk SDA SRS 1.2's. Polks are power hungry speakers that thrive on volume and power. To be fair, I will be testing the following. I will switch to an Adcom GFA-5500 and listen. I do expect a sound difference. Then will compare and contrast both amps with and without the pre-amp. As for the speakers I am switching our the drivers, replacing the tweeters (all 8) and sealing the gaskets. This gives the Polks a tighter air chamber to work with. (if interesting in more checkout Polk forums here. Club Polk In closing, why all this. Well the quality of the W4S DAC2-DSDse in my opinion deserves to flourish yet not be constrained. BTW, I am a believer in burn in as of now Mark

I do like the idea of the NAS in another room and I can easily add the NAS. A simple system that does not need much attention would be great. I just installed the 16gigs or ram into the mini. So I am closer to switching out my old pc for the mini. The fan noise could be cumbersome especially when listening to classical.

danlevy I posted in another thread about the drobo that maybe you can clear the mud for me. The Drobo 5D or 5N choice. I only need the Drobo for audio only into a mac mini. I do have an ethernet next to the audio equipment now if needed. 50% files are lossless format 45% hi-res and 5% DSD. As hi-res IMO gains in popularity will Drobo 5N be ok to use for this? or just use 5D? The mini is a 12 I7 2.3,SSD 250 evo, crucial 16mg. Thank you Mark

I am switching to mac mini headless and was looking to do either DAS (Thunderbolt) or NAS. Do you find one is better for sound quality? My mini will be for audio only. I am looking at the Drobo 5D. Thanks guys Mark

Richard, Thank you for sharing with us. Once my speakers are modified I may try running my system without a pre-amp and try the variable volume. Speakers should be completed near the end of April. Do have a question if you have done sound comparisons when using balanced and unbalanced cables. Also have tried the DAC without the pre-amp? Mark

Thank you for the tour . And the information on the mini.

Richard, Thank you for sharing the pics. Truly nice relaxing listening room. Such warmth yet strong without being over bearing. Congrats. If I may ask, the keyboard/touch pad for the mac mini do you use bluetooth or usb? And can you hear the Promise Pegasus "work" while listening. I keep tossing my build for NAS i.e. thunderbolt directly to the mini or connect via ethernet. Thank you so much.

As some of you know this is my first DAC (external) as I have made the switch to digital. Yesterday I downloaded some sample DSD songs from 2L and Blue Coast. Thank you Richard the recommendations. The W4S DAC2-DSDse with Femto clock playing Beethoven in DSD was simply perfect. The musicians for a lack of using words, were playing in my home. I could not believe the incredible sounds as if they would hang in the air and fill the room. I am close to 40 hours on W4S DAC. I have been sampling a few genres that I listened to on album, CD and now digital. I can say without any thought some music does sound better on album But some sounds better in Hi-Res. Overall, I feel very fortunate listening tosome fantastic music in the digital format. W4S is the perfect fit as I am upgrading my system.