iWonder

Is there any well documented audio observations from blind audiophiles? If being blind gives you more acute hearing then l would think that these would be very interesting.

Hi All, I've just got my first music server up and running (iMac/iTunes/Pure Music). As a newbie to computer audio, I need some tips about setting up my storage and backup. I don't want to spend too much at this stage so the Western Digital My Book Studio 2 with Raid capability seems like really good value but is it a good option? I assume that it's best to shift my music from my iMac to the external drive and configure it as a Raid 1 mirrored solution. My 680 cd's are also backed up in Apple Lossless on my iPod Classics and I also have the cd's so I figure all of that is sufficient backup. I welcome any feedback and thanks in advance.

Hi LewinskiH01, I think async USB is the way to go so in this regard, the W4S is superior than the Bryston. When I compared the two, my source was a Wadia 170i/iPod with Apple Lossless via coax. I just preferred the W4S. Now I am using an iMac as a server with iTunes and Pure Music via async USB to the W4S and the sound is sensational - the best my system has ever sounded!

It's probably a case of splitting hairs. If you heard one but not the other, I doubt if you'd be disappointed with what you're hearing as both dacs are high class. Although I've never heard the Ayre, I doubt that it would be miles in front of the W4S. If 100 people heard them in a side by side comparison, I'm sure that the results would not significantly favour one over the other. If you have to purchase without directly comparing them, then I would go for the W4S but only because it's cheaper and because of its quality, you can safely assume that you're buying a good dac and not a dog. Comparing them side by side is the only real way of making an accurate comparison. I was lucky actually because in Australia, W4S has the local importer in my town so I was able to listen and compare in my own system before purchasing and FWIW, I preferred it over the Bryston BDA-1 I had at the time and I also preferred their STi-1000 integrated amp over my McIntosh C41 & MC352 amps.

Thanks for your replies! In the Audio Midi Setup, my dac is not listed so I can't select it. From what you guys (and gal) have stated, I think I may have figured this out so please tell me if I'm wrong. Firstly, the standard DAC-1 is not asynchronous USB so the DAC-1 user manual refers to the fact that there are no drivers to install and it will self install when first hooked up. It would seem that this does not apply to the 24/192 async DAC-2. As my DAC-1 came with the DAC-1 manual with no mention anywhere about my 24/192 async upgrade, I've been going by what is stated in the DAC-1 manual. Secondly, as my DAC-1 has the 24/192 async upgrade, you guys are saying that I will definately need a driver install disc for 24/192 USB? Well this never was supplied with my dac, hence me thinking that I didn't need it, but looking at the picture of the driver install disc in the 6 Moons review of the DAC-2, the disc label clearly states it is for OS X 10.4 to 10.6 so this is a pretty big clue here! So, it looks like I will need to get hold of a driver install disc and all will be fine. When I install the drivers, is there any particular sequence I need to follow (remember, I don't have a DAC-2 manual)? I'm assuming that I'll connect the USB cable, turn on the dac then turn on the iMac and wait until it boots up, and then I'll insert the driver disc and follow the prompts! Am I on the right track here? Thanks in advance.

Hi All, I need some help here. I'm trying to get my first ever music server to work. I have a 12 month old iMac running Snow Leopard 10.6.5 and a Wyred 4 Sound Dac-1 with the 24/192 async USB upgrade. I've connected the USB between dac and iMac, turned on the dac then the iMac and nothing happens. According to the dac manual, the drivers are built in to the operating system so once the dac is connected to a computer for the first time, it should self install and be ready for playback in minutes. Once installation has finished, you are prompted that the install is complete and the driver is ready to use. But nothing is happening at all - no loading of drivers, no prompts, no recognition by the iMac that there is even a dac connected to it. What am I doing wrong? There must be a way to make this work unless there is a fault. HELP!

I've just bought a W4S Dac-1 with 24/192 async USB upgrade and a W4S STi-1000 integrated amp. The synergy between these components is outstanding and I've never heard my system sound so good -much more preferred than my previous McIntosh MC352 & C41 amps and Bryston BDA-1 dac! So if you have W4S amps, then their dac paired with them will make beautiful music - why spend more? Also, if you want to run the dac in quickly, just disconnect your speakers from your amp and play it 24/7 in silence on repeat or shuffle and you'll get there pretty quick!

Just another reason why Australian audiophiles are importing their gear direct themselves. Australian distributors are nothing more than greedy rip off merchants. Don't forget that the USA retail price already includes the retailers profit margin. If retailers buy their products at wholesale prices, is it not reasonable to assume that Australian importers also buy at wholesale prices which if the same as US wholesale pricing, makes you wonder how they can justify such exhorbitant pricing? My advice - check out the Wyred 4 Sound dacs with 24/192 asynchronous USB - exceptional product and half the price of the Ayre and DeepHz Audio is the Australian distributor so you can check them out first and pricing is in line with US pricing!

You can buy the W4S DAC-1 with 24/192 asynchronous USB for an extra $250 but it must be ordered and built like that because you can't get an existing DAC-1 upgraded. In my case, with the STi-1000 amp, just no need to pay for the extra features in a dac because the amp has what I need. Just out of interest re my earlier comment about how good this W4S dac and amp combo is - they have replaced a Bryston BDA-1 dac and McIntosh MC352 and C41 amp combo. Do I miss the more expensive gear? Not one bit! I think I actually prefer the sound of the W4S gear! With the money from the sale of my dearer gear, I added extra speakers and a blu-ray to go Home Theatre - I feel like I've won the lottery!

l think I'll initially place the dac near the iMac and try USB first (I've bought a DAC-1 but with the 24/192 asynchronous upgrade card). I'll use a 27ft pair of XLR cables from the dac to the XLR inputs of my W4S STi-1000 amp as I think long lengths of XLR cables are fine. Anyone see any problems with this? Eventually I'll get a Mac Mini. By the way, the W4S dac and amp combo are divine. I've only played it for 2 hours thus far (Wadia 170i as source) but I'm liking what I hear, especially as these are meant to need 300 hours before sounding their best. Very impressed!

bottlerocket - Very perceptive of you to point out that the DAC-2 is asynchronous USB but no mention of that for the DAC-1. I completely missed that so now I need to reconsider things. Is asynchronous 24/96 USB a sound advantage over optical or coax 24/96?

Also, is optical out from a Mini better than its USB out?

Yes, that is a serious option as well because not much difference between the cost of a Mac Mini versus the alternative.

bottlerocket, I'm about to take delivery of the dac so nothing is set up as yet. I don't want to spend up on USB to Spdif converters if I'm gaining nothing over stock USB. The W4S Dac-1 is asynchronous and can handle bit rates up to 24/96. One advantage with Spdif is it can handle up to 24/192 but priority is with the best sound quality for 44.1 because at this point, 99.8% of my music is cd standard. I know that an A/B comparison would answer my question but as I say, I don't want to spend up big only to find I have wasted my money. Also, I'll need a cable length of about 9m/27ft and they don't come cheap and I don't know yet what long cable I'll need - XLR or Coax or half and half of coax and USB or even optical - so many decisions!

Cmon folks, surely someone can help me out here. Is an iMac's USB output equivalent or better than using a USB to spdif converter?