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DACs — Weiss Engineering DAC502
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Weiss Engineering DAC502
Image source — © Weiss Engineering
The DAC502 is a flagship DAC and preamplifier from Weiss Engineering, a Swiss manufacturer with decades of professional audio and mastering-studio heritage, building reference-tier digital conversion equipment used by both professional engineers and discerning home listeners. The DAC502 brings that professional-grade engineering into a domestic-oriented preamplifier-DAC combination.
Key specs that matter
DSD compatibility reaches DSD128, with PCM support up to 32-bit/384kHz. Frequency response spans 20Hz to 20,000Hz within plus-or-minus 3dB. Output level is selectable up to a substantial 7.957V balanced or 3.98V single-ended, giving genuine flexibility to match a downstream power amplifier's input sensitivity precisely. Total harmonic distortion plus noise is an exceptionally low 0.00014% at 22kHz - a reference-tier figure reflecting Weiss Engineering's professional mastering-studio heritage. At 450 x 300 x 66mm and 5kg, the DAC502 keeps a comparatively slim chassis profile for its considerable capability.
Sound and use context
Expect exceptionally clean, professionally validated conversion reflecting Weiss Engineering's decades of mastering-studio equipment heritage - the near-immeasurable 0.00014% distortion figure places the DAC502 among the cleanest-measuring DACs available, a genuine testament to engineering standards originally developed for critical professional mastering applications.
Pairing
The selectable output level up to 7.957V balanced gives genuine flexibility to precisely match a wide range of downstream power amplifiers, letting the DAC502 function as a complete preamplifier without needing a separate gain stage.
Alternatives
Weiss Engineering's broader DAC and professional audio catalogue, including models targeting different studio and domestic applications, offers alternatives for buyers wanting a different balance of features and connectivity within the same reference-tier Swiss engineering philosophy. Weiss Engineering's continued involvement in professional mastering-studio equipment alongside its domestic-oriented products ensures the same rigorous engineering standards carry through consistently across both markets, a genuine hallmark of the brand's decades-long reputation. Recommended overall for discerning digital-source buyers. A dealer demonstration alongside a comparable domestic-market rival is the best way to appreciate exactly how this professional heritage translates into audible, real-world performance differences.
Key specs that matter
DSD compatibility reaches DSD128, with PCM support up to 32-bit/384kHz. Frequency response spans 20Hz to 20,000Hz within plus-or-minus 3dB. Output level is selectable up to a substantial 7.957V balanced or 3.98V single-ended, giving genuine flexibility to match a downstream power amplifier's input sensitivity precisely. Total harmonic distortion plus noise is an exceptionally low 0.00014% at 22kHz - a reference-tier figure reflecting Weiss Engineering's professional mastering-studio heritage. At 450 x 300 x 66mm and 5kg, the DAC502 keeps a comparatively slim chassis profile for its considerable capability.
Sound and use context
Expect exceptionally clean, professionally validated conversion reflecting Weiss Engineering's decades of mastering-studio equipment heritage - the near-immeasurable 0.00014% distortion figure places the DAC502 among the cleanest-measuring DACs available, a genuine testament to engineering standards originally developed for critical professional mastering applications.
Pairing
The selectable output level up to 7.957V balanced gives genuine flexibility to precisely match a wide range of downstream power amplifiers, letting the DAC502 function as a complete preamplifier without needing a separate gain stage.
Alternatives
Weiss Engineering's broader DAC and professional audio catalogue, including models targeting different studio and domestic applications, offers alternatives for buyers wanting a different balance of features and connectivity within the same reference-tier Swiss engineering philosophy. Weiss Engineering's continued involvement in professional mastering-studio equipment alongside its domestic-oriented products ensures the same rigorous engineering standards carry through consistently across both markets, a genuine hallmark of the brand's decades-long reputation. Recommended overall for discerning digital-source buyers. A dealer demonstration alongside a comparable domestic-market rival is the best way to appreciate exactly how this professional heritage translates into audible, real-world performance differences.
Specifications
Model name
Weiss DAC502
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
N/A
DSD compatability
Yes
Parameters
up to PCM 32/384 and DSD128
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
20
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
20000
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
7.957 (selectable)
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
3.98 (selectable)
Input Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
0.00014
Dimensions (mm)
450 x 300 x 66
Weight (kg)
5
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