AudioAficionado.org - Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 review

It has been 10 days since the arrival of the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter that was so generously passed along to me by fellow AA member Reg (aka BearCubinNY); and 4 days since the installation of the new cabling very generously contributed by Ivan. The cables are a Wire world Starlight 6 Coaxial digital cable to connect the digital output of my McIntosh MCD7009 CD player to the new DAC, and Wire World Oasis 6 Balanced XLR Audio interconnects to connect the analog outputs of the DAC to my McIntosh C40 control center’s balanced line inputs. As most of you know, I kind of improvised with existing cabling I had on hand in order to get the DAC up and running prior to the arrival of the new cables supplied by Ivan. As most of you also know, I was extremely impressed with the DAC’s audio performance from the outset, with still further improvements noted after installing the new cables. I promised a more in-depth review once I’d had a chance to become more familiarized with the unit’s features, and evaluate its audio performance more fully once things were really “tweaked”. What I hope to convey here is not only my overall impression of its audio performance, but also why I feel that the DAC-2 is a first-rate, and very unique product that deserves serious consideration by anyone looking to improve their system’s digital source. For purposes of this review, I’ll need to limit my discussion to its performance through its coaxial inputs only, as I have not yet explored the USB, Toslink, I2S or AES/EBU inputs. This is a very versatile unit, with a total of 6 digital inputs.

Before I discuss the unit’s features and audio performance, I’d like to go into a bit of my system’s history and its arrangement, and how that relates to the DAC-2 being a perfect solution in my situation. Those of you that know me and are familiar with my system know that my system is rather a blend of current day products, or pretty close to it (i.e. McIntosh MC501’s) and old-school gear and philosophies (i.e. vintage JBL and analog signal processors). The aim is to have the best of today’s technologies, along with the older-school concepts to produce an overall sound that is big, detailed, musical, and with that warm and “delicious” quality that many of us crave here. I’m also a huge McIntosh fan, and don’t like a grainy, edgy, “sterile”, or “analytical” etc type of sound. In 1998, I tried a Krell KAV-300cd digital player in my system, and returned it the next day because it lacked those qualities that I prefer. It was then I brought home the McIntosh MCD7009, which has kept me happy for 13 years. I told myself then that I would not make that mistake again, purchasing anything other than McIntosh as a primary component.

But digital technology and DAC’s march along, and I knew it. McIntosh introduced the mighty MCD1000/MDA1000 combo, with its stunning cosmetics and audio performance. I’d heard this combo at Ivan’s house, but of course in that environment you’re hearing the entire “Dare to dream” system, and then some! You really don’t know how much difference one component might make until you hear said component in your own system. Nevertheless, I pondered. Even if I could afford the steep price of the combo, where would I put it? I was pretty much out of real estate, unless I wanted to stack the pair farther away from my main rig, where by now I have a McIntosh lighted sign. I didn’t want to move that. And even if I could afford just the MDA1000 DAC, it’s too large, and really isn’t going to match my MCD7009 cosmetically. What could the answer be? A single box solution naturally comes to mind, but even the McIntosh MCD500 retails at $6500, or about $4000 in the used market.

Then along comes Dan (aka jdandy) for a visit, bringing with him one of his MCD500 players. The idea here was to impress upon me what the addition of a more up to date DAC might do for my system. As the very first notes of a familiar disc began playing, I knew that my MCD7009 had been easily trumped by the MCD500 with its ESS Sabre 24 bit quad balanced DAC’s. The presentation was far smoother, relaxed, while being much more revealing at the same time. We also connected my MCD7009’s digital output to one of the MCD500’s digital inputs, with similar results. It was right about here that Dan started pitching the idea of the Wyred 4 Sound DAC 2 as a very viable alternative, for a very reasonable cost ($1500). And, it utilizes the very latest ESS 32 bit Sabre quad balanced DAC’s. I was skeptical from the start. Where’s the McIntosh logo? Where is the black glass? It’s still another box…and I don‘t (or I’m not supposed to) have room for another box. After a fun afternoon of listening and talking, Dan packed up his MCD500 and left. Skeptical as I was, I started thinking, and started looking into this Wyred 4 Sound DAC. Soon, I started to see that this might just be the ticket. Aside from its performance potential and other features, it has two things going for it: its price, and its SIZE. While I don’t have the room for another full-sized component, perhaps I could find a spot for this little fellow, which is only 8-½” wide x 4-1/8” high x 13-½” deep. Perhaps right next to my turntable?

I started reading more about this unit, and reading reviews, including the one sent to me by Dan in the February issue of The Absolute Sound. The reviews are all quite good. I started thinking more and more that this is the way to go. As we look at the way the unit is designed, we see more and more positive aspects. After all, we know that the latest DAC chip does not necessarily make a great DAC-the circuitry around it is also very important. A quality, well regulated power supply with adequate filtration, shielding, and discrete analog output circuitry (rather than op-amps) are all desirable attributes in a DAC. The DAC-2 passes all of these tests-with an over designed power supply, with three stages of filtration and at least 88,000 uf of filtration (I’ve seen conflicting numbers here, 88,000 uF by one account and 115,000 uF in another). I shone my flashlight inside the unit and I see four large filter caps stamped with 22,000 uF- so whatever the case, I think it’s safe to say the unit is well filtered. Inside also resides a large torodial power transformer, an analog board with an upgradeable digital board piggy-backed on top of it, and high quality analog and digital connectors.

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Photo courtesy of wyred4sound.com

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Photos courtesy of sixmoons.com

The overall unit is very well constructed, with a nice blue readout on the front with variable brightness. The unit also comes with a basic remote control, and an installation disc with asynchronous USB 2.0 drivers. Not only do I start thinking this is the way to go, but I also begin to re-think the one-box (expensive box) solution and its practicality (or lack of it) in view of how rapidly digital technology evolves. I’m thinking-the DAC-2 is the correct route, and maybe even someday replace the MCD7009 with a (used) MCD1000 transport. We could have our cake and eat it too, for about half the price of the newer McIntosh MCD1100, which also uses the ESS 32 bit Sabre DAC.

Then along comes Dan‘s glowing review of his new MCD1100. This really begins to underscore the desirability of the ESS Sabre 32 bit DAC, but it also starts mixing me up-here is the player of players, all in one box, from McIntosh. I’m thinking again, do you really want two boxes? But the price is too steep!

Facing many financial challenges, I start to forget the whole thing….and along comes Reg, who had been reading my posts about the DAC-2 and how I was really wanting one of these. Although he was pleased with the sound of the DAC-2, he had decided he wanted a unit that did both D-A conversion and A-D conversion. He decides, much to my delight, to send me his DAC-2. Not only was I incredibly surprised and delighted, it brought me back to my senses, and real quick!!

Now for the really fun part. After a rather hasty initial setup, I slip in a disc-Gordon Lightfoot’s The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Immediately, I have the same impression I had when Dan brought over his MCD500-a very relaxed, detailed, refined, and very musical presentation. With disc after disc, I am very impressed with this new level of performance. In many respects, I feel like I could simply copy and paste portions of Dan’s review of the MCD1100 here, as much of what he said about that player applies here. I hear deeper into the music, micro details emerging from total silence, delicate shifts in the stereo image that I never noticed before are apparent, instruments and voices are precisely placed in the soundstage. Not just say, in the middle, but in a wide arc in front of you. All without any graininess or fatigue. The image is high, wide and deep. The dynamics are very impressive. Separation of multiple voices are very distinct, with no smearing. The voices in Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s Lucky Man are perfectly delineated. Elton John’s Blessed comes forth with nuances and tiny shifts in the stereo image I hadn’t heard before. Classical music is equally enjoyable. If you are a Pink Floyd fan, Comfortably Numb is quite an experience, both powerful and delicate. And yes, it has a “delicious” quality about it. Having never had the pleasure of the heavyweight DAC’s residing in my system, I can’t say for sure whether it is as smooth and “analog” sounding as the mighty MDA1000, but it definitely is not “edgy” at all, and “analog” is the word that often comes to my mind as I listen to it. And, very revealing. To borrow a phrase from The Absolute Sound’s review of the DAC-2, it is "both arresting and involving".

I’d like to say a word also about the unit’s flexibility. The unit includes a 32 bit, 70 step digital volume control. The unit can be set in the setup menu to operate either at a fixed volume level, or variable, which can be remote controlled. I likely won’t be using the variable mode or the remote volume, as I don’t especially like the idea of a digital volume control, per se. However, there are some things to be said about the way this is set up. First, Wyred 4 sound recommends that the user evaluate the volume level in the fixed mode (which by default is set at the maximum value of 70) to see if it is too loud for the system preamp (if you are using one). If the fixed volume level is too loud, then one can reduce the maximum (fixed) volume level setting incrementally, until one finds that “sweet spot” for the system preamp. After a few days of listening using the balanced outputs, I did find that the output level was indeed a bit too potent. So, after some experimentation, I’ve settled on a maximum level setting of 65. In actuality, although it’s been said that a digital volume control drops bits to reduce level, I have found this slightly lower setting to actually improve apparent detail. After all, you can expect some smearing if you are overdriving circuits. Secondly, while it may be nice to have an analog volume control in the output stage, with the way the DAC-2 is set up, one can set the maximum (and minimum) volume settings for each type of input. Hence, you could use a setting of 65 for the coax inputs, 70 for the USB, etc. I see this as a very flexible feature that could be very useful if you are using multiple sources.

Lastly, in recent days some comments have been made on AA that the DAC-2 is not much for looks. If you are looking for a full-sized component that looks like a McIntosh, I suppose that might be true. But take it from a die-hard McIntosh fan, there is nothing really wrong with the appearance of this unit. It is very well constructed, and you even have a choice of colors. And, its compact size can work to one’s advantage, as it did in my case. I really like the way it looks in my system, with its black face and pretty blue readout:

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Once I have a chance to explore further the additional inputs and capabilities of the DAC-2 with hi-res downloads, etc, I will report back further.

I would encourage anyone looking for an upgrade to their digital source to give the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 some serious consideration. If price is any consideration, this is a sure winner.

Speaking for myself, I don’t know how my digital front end could be much better-though I have to admit, I do find myself dreaming of that MCD1000 transport to compliment this premium DAC.

My thanks again to Reg, Ivan, Dan, and all my friends here. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Pete