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Bidat vs Perfect Wave vs Weiss and others

This is thread I started a while ago and promised in February i would start doing some real world comparative testing using the Bidat (Plus Mod) as the ref. The units under test are to include in no specific order the MSB Platinum Dac, the Weiss Minervera and the Playback Design player. I posted this under the follow-up of the original thread and it is there is you do a search under Digital for "ps audio perfect". I can't understand why it did not 'promote' to the top of the digital section as it did in the past whenever there was a new contribution, so I have started a new related thread with the first entry of my fun (and I hope edifying comparative experiences).
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Ok, I just got a broken in Weiss Minerva (several hundred hours at least). It has been in my system burning in for about 18 hours (18 hours since arriving in my home, time to come to thermal equilibrium). I have done some comparative listening to the Museatex Dcc-1 (a rarely known digital preamp 19 bit dual differential type) using glass Tos on both and then glass on the DCC1 vs a very expensive (can't name it yet as the manufacturer has not released it...sorry :( ) Firewire on the Weiss. I have a Mac Mini (2007 model) 2.0 ghz Core2Duo with 4Gig of ram running Leopard (although this model can only see 3.01 gig of that (I used 4gig as the memory transfer is optimized when the mem modules are the same). I also have a 1TB NAS (all over wifi). I am of course going to reserve final judement until a bit later.

I will be comparing the Museatex Bidat with the Plus Mod later this weekend. As a teaser, I will go on record and say that honestly at this point I don't agree with the stellar reviews concerning the Weiss Minerva.

It is resolute, almost technicolor but just to give you a short glimpse of what I am hearing, I could imagine a well healed vinyl person listening to Holly Cole on vinyl and then listening to the Weiss (playing the same in CD format) and saying "this is why I will never leave vinyl". Now that may sound harsh, but this is a hobby and I don't have a dog in the race, I am just reporting my ears findings.

I listened to a few high resolution files 176.4/24 and 96/24 but what I heard was a really clear highly resolved soul-less rendition of the music. It never ever made me smile or relax into the music the way the DCC-1/Bidat or even my former (when I actually spun cd's...wow time flies) stellar Dynavox Dynastation 2 (the finest CD player I have ever heard).

In a nutshell (at this point) it just sounds like digital and that aint good in my camp because I am not forgetting about the gear and just listening to the music. I don't like syrupy or dark, I have heard plenty of players try to use that trick to sound musical. No, I look for something that is more elusive and few their be that find that magical combination when forging through the nether regions of the digital domain. I will continue listening to see if the Weiss surprises me :)

More to come...
audiofun
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
I'm glad you are enjoying the thread :) I am familiar with Morray James. I bought a pair of his interconnects circa 1999 when he was just getting started and yes they are good. I have not had any of his newer offerings since that time. I might try some of his interconnects.

The MSB is still cooking. I like it...but I want to reserve final judgement for a while (yes I did purchase the unit). Sometimes I think I love it and others I am indifferent or put-off. I have owned other gear that did that good/bad thing while breaking in, but this thing is taking it to another level.

I still have to get the Play Back Design in to listen to. I think I may end up foregoing the PS Audio, ONLY because I am not at all interested in spinning discs and it is designed to work optimally with the PWT, so... I see no point.

I do love the 24/96 through the MSB, I downloaded an album (is it still really an album :) from HDTracks by an artist named Christy Baron. I just kinda happened upon her and I really like her quite a bit. I used to listen to Patty Barber but honestly I got tired of listening to her singing to women...kinda messed up the flow of the music for me so I have been looking for other interesting female vocalists. Suggestions are welcome.

I will follow up with other observations hopefully soon.
vhiner
544 posts
 
I'm particularly eager to hear bout the Playback Design, given the reviews I've read. Have you considered the Berkeley DAC that Robert Harley raved about a while back? I believe it handles hi-rez.

If you haven't heard Shelby Lynne's tribute to Dusty Springfield called "Just a Little Lovin" on Lost Highway records, I recommend it. It was mastered by the legendary audiophile wizard Doug Sax and was recorded on luscious analogue tape. It's great if you like that type of music.
glrtrgi
69 posts
 
Audiofun

Can you post a more detailed explanation of your thoughts on the Moon DAC? I'm looking for a DAC to use for a computer based audio playback system and I am not familiar with any of this Canadian company's products. Thanks.
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
Vhiner: I have not considered the Berkley, based on friends whose ears I trust implicitly, I was told that if I didn't like the Weiss the Berkly would not do it for me. If I get a chance to audition the Berkley I will of course report on my thoughts, but I have no desire to seek it out.
audiofun OP
799 posts
 
Glrtrgi:
The moon, is a nice sounding unit. It is relatively musical and presents the spectra of music top to bottom very well. I do think it sounds a bit 'lite' in the mid range (vocal regions), but not sterile or steely. I would suggest you use a warm sounding pair of interconnects with the unit. It has a sound I characterize with dacs in it's price range. I have noticed you don't really seem to get the weight in the sound (at least to my ears) until you cross the 4.5k to 5k barrier dollar amount.... of course mileage may vary and there are many great dacs out there. I personally would like to try one of the Audio Note kits.

As I have stated before and stand by it 100% the Moon bested the Weiss Minerva, so for $1600.00 retail (I think that is the MSRP) you will have a very very good sounding unit that with some massaging (i.e. correct interconnects, sympathetic preamp) will make beautiful music.
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