Wyred DACS

I should have been clearer. The issue was a bit of harshness in the upper range when i started to really drive the speakers. That's why I was wondering if it could have been the amp. With the pre-amp in place I settled on a volume of 67. Never had any issues. But now with DAC to amp I sometimes get some harshness on the high level section of a song when I'm cranking it (like Lucinda Williams voice). For me cranking it doesn't mean ear drum shattering. But my neighbors know when I'm home. It seemed like something that could be happening with the amp. Wish I had a multitude of equipment to interchange. As far as a sibilance issue. It doesn't sound like that to me. Not that I haven't heard some. But if I hear a couple seconds of sibilance once every two or three hundred songs, I don't attribute it to the DAC but to the recording or mastering/compression. That's my experience anyway. I listened through headphones straight from the DAC a couple nights ago, didn't really experience the issue. I could try out new cable combos. But sometimes you're just tired of all the experimentation and just want a solution so you can listen. :)

I appreciate everyone who's been comparing their experiences. The biggest difference in equipment is us: our own expectations and preferences.

Bhobba,

I run the W4S DAC2 with Stealth Indra IC's through a Wyetech Opal pre,to a Krell 300cx with JPS Aluminata IC's, and on to Von Schweikert VR5HSE's using Nordost Valhalla spkr cables. So I do not think it is lack of system resolution that accounts for my --and others -- not noticing any glare or sibilance. Were you using the DAC2 as a pre? Could this have been a contributing factor? Did you try any resonance controls under DAC, or swap input digicable or output IC's?

Neal

We ran the WFS as a pre. The reference system we used has an extremely good isolation stand. The amp was Macintosh 501's mono-blocks that many rate as possibly the best amps you can buy. The amps were heavily isolated as well. The speakers were Lenehan ML3's reference fully tricked out with Dulund capacitors and hand tuned. These are the bigger brothers of the famous Lenehan Ml1's that are often said to be the best mini monitors you can get. They are dead neutral and include heroic measures to reduce resonance such as lining them with steel. That is just one measure they use. Many, including myself, rate them as simply the finest speakers they have ever heard even above such famous speakers as Quad electrostatics and Martin Logsans. Take my word for it these speakers are as revealing as you can get. This is not just my view - we had a professional reviewer present who has heard more stuff that I can poke a stick at. He was so impressed with these speakers he is getting a pair as am I.

We all heard the sibilance issue as clear as a bell. Neither the Tranquility nor the systems reference DAC had it. It is not just me that heard it - everyone at the shootout including the professional reviewer did as well. I am simply conjecturing it is how revealing the system is that accounts for it. That may not be it. All I can say is I even hear it on my home system. If that is not the case then your guess is as good as mine.

Thanks
Bill

I don't doubt anything you say, Bhobba. But it is not clear to me (no pun intended) whether you heard the sibilance and glare when using the DAC2 both as a DAC and a pre, or even when using as a DAC alone. If the latter, it may be that the DAC2 is simply over its head as a pre in a system of that level.

Thanks.
Neal

I have used the DAC2 both as a pre and in a system with a pre. I have noticed zero difference in how the DAC sounds if you set the output to fixed or variable. And the input impedance of the amps I have used should have, and did not, place any strain on the DAC ie it was easily over 10K.

Thanks
Bill