The newest version from designer Daniel Weiss is now available - the DAC 502 MKll!
Available in Black or Silver
DAC501 Mkll and DAC502 Mkll
The MK2 versions use the latest DAC chips with stellar technical specifications, making for an enhanced two channel DAC with improved transparency and openness. Both line output stages and headphone output stages are built with Weiss’ proprietary discrete electronics.
Both units incorporate a stainless steel chassis with a robust 10mm aluminum faceplate. Digital processing is performed by a pair of 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chips per channel, providing superb channel separation and noise-rejection in both two and four channel applications.
An internal high-precision clock generator clocks the DACs at a frequency of about 195kHz; PCM signals up to 384 kHz and DSD x64 and x128 are re-clocked to 195kHz. Power supplies are linear, incorporating dual toroidal transformers and separate regulators for each channel, minimizing noise and crosstalk.
What’s most significant, however, is the unit’s analog stage, whose new discrete operational amplifiers are of the utmost importance. These “discrete operational amplifiers” are called OP2-BP, and are designed and produced by Weiss. Their performance far exceeds commonly-available monolithic op-amp chips, and contribute to Helios’ extraordinary sound quality and unmatched signal to noise ratio of 128 dB.
The Weiss DAC 501/502 MK2 share the same circuitry and componentry, and differ primarily in form-factor: the DAC501 MK2 is a compact, half-width unit, allowing placement flexibility in desktop and studio applications, as well as in home systems of any size. The DAC502 MK2 features a standard, full-width chassis; it also differs from the 501 by including a four-pin balanced headphone connector on the back of the enclosure.
There are five digital inputs: AES/EBU or S/PDIF via XLR, Toslink, or RCA; UPnP/DLNA via Ethernet; and USB. Outputs are by balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA; both units have front panel ¼” headphone jacks, and the DAC502 has an additional 4-pin XLR output on its back panel. Line and headphone outputs are separate, and discrete.
With their touch screen display both units are extremely intuitive and easy to set up and easy to use. Both Weiss DAC 501/502 MK2 can also be controlled by the provided full-function remote control, or by a web interface. Both units are networkable and Roon Ready.
Older DAC50x models can be upgraded to MK2 for $2,495, ($3,195 in Canada).
