DAC204 - Weiss Engineering (2024)

COVER ALL YOUR BASES

The DAC204 is a multi-format digital-to-analogue and digital-to-digital converter. Its many input and output options make it equally useful for use in a professional mixing or mastering studio as for an audiophile-grade listening room.

It employs no less than four oversampling sigma-delta D/A converters per channel, operated in parallel for enhanced signal-to-noise performance.

DIGITAL ACCEPTED HERE

The DAC204 accepts incoming digital audio streams straight from any USB-equipped computer, tablet, or mobile phone. It can also receive S/PDIF and AES/EBU audio via its S/PDIF or Toslink connectors.

OUTgoing AUDIO

The DAC204 converts the incoming digital streams to analogue audio, which simultaneously appears on its balanced XLR connectors and unbalanced RCA connectors.

It can also perform digital-to-digital conversion and output digital audio in AES/EBU or S/PDIF formats through the corresponding connectors and a BNC output connector.

Should the incoming audio be in DSD format, the DAC204 can convert that to PCM.

STAY CONNECTED

The DAC204 can be permanently connected to multiple digital units, and the user can easily switch between them with the front-mounted Input Selector switch.

PRODUCT COMPARISON

The DAC204 is the bigger sibling to the DAC205. The two units offer the same conversion quality, but the DAC204 has a USB input and can convert DSD to PCM audio.

The DAC204 and DAC205 are relatively affordable options to Weiss Engineering’s higher-grade units such as the DAC501 and the HELIOS. They do not have the onboard digital processing capabilities of those units, nor do they include headphone outputs or remote controls.

The DAC204 has a total of three digital stereo inputs:

• USB
• Two AES/EBU or S/PDIF on Toslink or RCA connectors.

Accepted formats: PCM 44.1kHz up to 384 kHz, DSD 64x / 128x.

• Line out unbalanced on RCA connector.
• Line out balanced on XLR connector.

• An Input Selector switch, to select the active input (USB, Toslink, or RCA).
• Two switches for DSD to PCM conversion settings.
• Power on/off switch.

• Digital inputs on USB, RCA, and Toslink connectors.
• Analog outputs on XLR and RCA connectors.
• Digital outputs (AES/EBU) on stereo XLR, RCA, and BNC connectors.
• Two toggle switches for output level setting.
• External power supply connector.

That wide, deep, and expansive sound stage gives so much air around instruments. For a digital device to bring all this, it’s not surprising that Weiss is still at the top of their game.

Jo Willow-Hecate

The attributes of the Weiss DAC204 by far exceed what we can expect from its modest presentation. Its ability to translate zeros and ones into high-quality music with such pleasant and wide presentation makes it, for me, a reference equipment in this price range.

Fernando

I think it is fair to say that this little box provided the best digital music I have heard in my system under eight thousand pounds to date. Despite its price it is hard for me to think of this as anything other than a bargain.

Martin Virgo