I'm using an Sbooster with a 205. I prefer the sound with the Sbooster. I also added the add-on purifying gizmo. Could be a case of audio nervosa and/or confirmation bias though. The 205 itself seems to have been a huge upgrade over the Chord Qutest (which is now in a different system). I was using a Denafrips Iris DDC, so didn't need the features of the 204. Listening to a Mozart clarinet concerto right now. Beautiful. Note: I paid $1350 new (advertised price $1695, I think) for the 205, from Vintage King, after I got a call asking if there was anything I was interested in. I see that the advertised price is much higher now. Yikes!!!
23 responses Add your response
Yes, I got a nice improvement in sound quality with the linked power supply. BTW, most of these power supply types have an internal trim pot that let's you adjust the voltage anywhere within the specified range. Ultra-low noise Linear power supply DC 5V/9V/12V/15V/18V/19V |
@surround4life Yes, usb into the Denafrips Iris. But coaxial into the Weiss 205, not toslink. One possible cause for my preference for the Weiss over the Qutest is its ability to output 7.5v vs. maximum of 3v from the Qutest. Into a Benchmark HPA4 via XLR (Qutest has only RCA out) and then to a Benchmark AHB2 set for lowest gain. |
I just purchased a Keces P3 so I'll be able to try the 205 with an LPS soon enough. Hopefully it gives the unit a little more bass/dynamics as that is one area where I think it could be a little better. Its overall presentation (minus the dynamics) reminds me a lot of the Bricasti M3 I owned for a short while, lots of detail, but not analytical or overly forwarding/fatiguing. Map, yes the 204/205 prices jumped significantly over the summer. In the $2K range I'm really happy with the 205. I just sold a Meitner MA3 which has been my long term reference. I don't think the 205 is better, but it is good enough that I think I can live with it for a while... I'm feeding it with a Bricasti M5. |
Can you compare the Meitner MA 3 with the Bricasti 3 and Weiss. I purchased the Meitner MA 3 after considering the Bricasti and Weiss. I really like the Meitner because I listen to a lot of classical music and prefer a mid-Hall perspective. I don't like bright sound and don't need details front and center - though I want them to be there. My only criticism would be that the Meitner might not be as dynamic as some other setups I've heard. Never heard the Bricasti or Weiss. By reputation, I think they have a similar sonic signature. Why did you switch? And what do you think now? |
@paullb, that is a good way to describe the MA3. I loved how smooth and easy to listen to it was while offering very good resolution. Yes, it likely wasn't the most dynamic DAC I've owned. The M3 I only kept for a short while and compared it more directly with an older SimAudio 380DSD, along with the RME ADI 2FS and Topping D90. I thought the M3 had very good dynamics (compared to SimAudio and RME) and likely equal to the D90 in resolution. It was not fatiguing like the D90 but was also leaner than the 380DSD. I replaced it with a more expensive MojoAudio R2R DAC that equaled its dynamics, gave up some resolution, but was more mid-hall, rounded, natural, organic, etc.. sounding. The MA3 took the MojoAudio and M3 strengths and blended them together. I don't remember for sure, but I'm thinking the MA3 likely isn't as dynamic as the M3 or at least isn't more so. Resolution I would estimate is about the same. The Weiss with the LPS likely has about the same dynamics as the MA3, but I actually think is cleaner and has more resolution. It is not fatiguing or forward like how I found the D90, it almost has a 'sweet' presentation. It is on the leaner side though more like the M3 or RME. My preference would be for the MA3 out of all of the DACs I've owned, but when you consider I have no need for the integrated volume control and streamer, the cost of the MA3 vs the ~$2K Weiss was just too great for me. If you don't mind a slightly leaner presentation the Weiss is very easy to listen to while giving you an amazing look into the recording. I actually find myself hearing more details in some of my favorite recording with the Weiss. There are other recordings where I slightly miss the extra fullness/mass of the MA3, but overall I'm very happy with the tiny Weiss. Hope this helps...
|
@surround4life, yes 204/Plixir my current DAC, yes I feel the Plixir is an improvement in all ways, some subtle, but worthwhile |
@cbrez how did you contact Daniel Wright? I will be getting the dac 204 in a week and curious about this power supply upgrade. @jw944ts is the plixir like way better than the stock SMPS? Where do you get the pkixir in the states and which one, 5v-9v? For everyone else, is this really a big upgrade over the stock power brick? My first time with this much of a high end dac.Will any of these other LPS units be just as good or do they all sound good. Thanks |
yes, Plixir was a nice improvement, not huge, but across the board....bought from Gramophone in Edmonton, Cananda...the resulting combination sounds amazing...caveat, I am not one to go around A/B testing, so I have not truly compared to others....just with and without the Plixir, and I would say it is a worthwhile additon |
@jw944ts Thanks, which one did you get? which voltage one? |
@duketbrd88 I just used the email address on the ModWright website - modwright@yahoo.com. They got back relatively quickly. Just an FYI that I still have not received mine, but they have communicated about it and given that when I reached out this was still “beta”, I wasn’t in a rush. I did see Dan at Axpona this weekend and he said they are very close to having them ready. I’m definitely excited for when it, given Dan’s great reputation. |
@cbrez Thanks, I did see that on one of the Facebook groups I belong to and Dan posted about it. |
@jw944ts Thanks |
@cbrez I did finally get a hold of Daniel and will be getting one in a couple weeks. Thanks |
@duketbrd88 Thanks for that update and hope you enjoy! Hopefully mine is one the way soon as well. |
Curious as to hearing from those who went with the Modwright external power supply with their Weiss DAC - @cbrez & @duketbrd88 I am a current user and supporter of Dan and Modwright. Fantastic experiences with them on the PH 9 phono preamp and the LS 100 ( currently have his new LS99 preamp on order). I was looking to possibly acquiring in the near future a Weiss 204 and came across this thread. Would love to get some feedback!
|
@norust Of course there are a lot of DACs out there in the $3500 range and some very new ones have been reviewed quite recently (LTA comes to mind in the ballpark). For me, in my system, the Weiss 204 sounds wonderful for the money. It is musical, detailed without any fatigue, dynamic, and quite open. The ModWright LPS was just more icing on the cake for me. Daniel Weiss is well known in the industry for a reason. Also, when I had some questions, Daniel got back to me promptly. I am a big fan of the sound of the 204. Add the LPS and good interconnects from the unit to the preamp and a very good DAC becomes even more special. |