DACs

A DAC, the digital to analogue converter, turns the stream from a computer, a network or a disc into the analogue signal an amplifier can play, and every note passes through that conversion on the way. The high-end DACs here, from the compact DAC205-MK2 to the HELIOS reference converter, come from Weiss Engineering, the Swiss company whose mastering equipment has worked on many of the CDs in a typical collection. Ask Audio Lounge for advice or a demonstration.

Why an External DAC Earns a Place

Almost every digital source, from a streamer to a laptop, already holds a converter, yet few give the task the space, the power supply and the attention that a dedicated audio DAC receives. An external DAC moves conversion out of a crowded chassis and into one built for nothing else, so a high-end DAC can be judged on the conversion alone. Weiss has built hi-fi DACs since 2000 on the experience of the mastering room, and designed the DAC205-MK2 to better the converters built into most CD players and audio interfaces. Call the component a DAC audio converter or, in full, a digital to analogue audio converter: either way, the conversion shapes how much of a recording reaches the amplifier.

Choosing the Best DAC

Choosing a DAC for hi-fi starts with the sources. A computer calls for a USB DAC, and every Weiss converter here accepts USB apart from the DAC205-MK2, which takes AES/EBU and S/PDIF from a CD transport, a streamer or a studio interface. A music library on a network calls for a model that streams, as the DAC501, DAC502 and HELIOS do. Then consider the amplifier: each model has balanced XLR outputs beside RCA, so every one is a balanced DAC for an amplifier with balanced inputs. In the end, the best hi-fi DAC is the model whose controls and features suit the way the system is used every day.

The Weiss Range, Compact to Reference

The DAC205-MK2 keeps conversion simple, with two digital inputs, one selector and four output levels set by switches at the back. The DAC204-MK2 adds USB, DSD playback and digital outputs, so the converter can also pass a stream on to another component. The DAC501 and DAC502 bring network playback, a headphone output and the signal processing of the Weiss studio tools, including room equalisation, crossfeed for headphones and a vinyl emulation; the DAC502 houses the same design in a larger case with a second headphone socket. The HELIOS, the Weiss reference converter, shares that platform but carries a different conversion and analogue stage, built on discrete operational amplifiers of Weiss design.

A DAC Preamp at the Centre

With a volume control, a choice of digital inputs and outputs for amplifiers and headphones alike, a DAC preamp can run a digital system without a separate control unit. The DAC501, DAC502 and HELIOS work this way, feeding power amplifiers or active loudspeakers directly, while the DAC204-MK2 and DAC205-MK2 suit a system with an amplifier that already sets the level. On the source side, one of the music streamers here or the Creek 4040 CD, working as a transport, connects through digital audio cables built for the purpose. For headphones that need more drive, the headphone amplifiers continue the chain.

Every converter here belongs to the wider family of digital sources, and the complete Weiss DAC collection sits beside Weiss interfaces and processors. For an audition in London, ask Audio Lounge.

Questions About DACs

What is the best audiophile DAC for a high-end system?

For the most revealing systems, look first at the HELIOS, the top of the Weiss range here, with network playback and a volume control. The DAC501 and DAC502 bring the same streaming and signal processing in compact and full-size cases, while the DAC204-MK2 and DAC205-MK2 serve as pure converters beside an existing amplifier. The right choice follows the sources and the controls a system needs, so ask Audio Lounge to compare two in one system.

What does a DAC converter do?

A DAC converter turns digital audio, the numbers stored on a CD or streamed from a computer or a network, into the continuous analogue signal that amplifiers and loudspeakers reproduce. Every digital source contains one; a dedicated unit gives the work a separate power supply and output stage. The DAC204-MK2 and HELIOS accept PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD, and the DAC205-MK2 accepts PCM up to 192 kHz.

Can a DAC control volume without a preamp?

Yes, when the converter has a volume control. The DAC501, DAC502 and HELIOS each work as a DAC preamp, setting the level and driving a power amp or a pair of active loudspeakers from balanced XLR or RCA outputs. The DAC204-MK2 and DAC205-MK2 have output-level switches instead, so each partners an amplifier that sets the volume.

Which of these DACs drive headphones?

The DAC501 has a quarter-inch headphone socket, and the DAC502 adds a four-pin XLR socket at the back; both carry the Weiss headphone equaliser and crossfeed. The HELIOS drives headphones directly from the XLR and RCA outputs. Neither the DAC204-MK2 nor the DAC205-MK2 has a headphone socket, so each pairs with a separate amplifier for headphones.