Weiss New Reference Helios DAC

[nicoludio]

Finally, first review of the Helios, with a comparison to Medus. Same reviewer previously reviewed the DAC 502 Mk 2 as well. Rest of the system is up to mark too.

Helios review:

SoundStageAustralia.com - Weiss Engineering HELIOS Digital-to-Analogue Converter

www.soundstageaustralia.com

DAC 502 Mk 2 review:

SoundStageAustralia.com - Weiss Engineering DAC502 Digital-to-Analogue Converter

www.soundstageaustralia.com

 

[PhP]

Finally, first review of the Helios, with a comparison to Medus too. Same reviewer previously reviewed the DAC 502 Mk 2 as well. Rest of the system is up to mark too.

Helios review:

SoundStageAustralia.com - Weiss Engineering HELIOS Digital-to-Analogue Converter

www.soundstageaustralia.com

DAC 502 Mk 2 review:

SoundStageAustralia.com - Weiss Engineering DAC502 Digital-to-Analogue Converter

www.soundstageaustralia.com

I red, but the audio system is not my taste. I will have HELIOS at home soon, and test.

 

[Rumpole]

I red, but the audio system is not my taste. I will have HELIOS at home soon, and test.

Any updates on your review of the Helios?

 

[PhP]

Any updates on your review of the Helios?

Not yet. I wait the demo unit, probably in December. This unit is coming back from Australia. As soon as I will have HELIOS in house, I will try it and report. Stay tuned.

 

[NekoAudio]

I love the Helios. I think the simplest way to describe it is that it does everything the DAC502-4ch does but better. Basically, when listening to the DAC502-4ch and identifying its sound and comparing it to other DACs, it was easier and quicker to hear and identify those things when listening to the Helios.

 

[PhP]

I love the Helios. I think the simplest way to describe it is that it does everything the DAC502-4ch does but better. Basically, when listening to the DAC502-4ch and identifying its sound and comparing it to other DACs, it was easier and quicker to hear and identify those things when listening to the Helios.

Ok I will ear what does HELIOS vs DAC 502 4ch and vs PLAYBACK DESIGNS DACs which are my reference especially MPD-6/MPS-8. DAC 502 4ch with Pranawire Arhat power cord is so good it challenged a 22k€ DAC. MPS-8 with the same PRANAWIRE power cord is beyond words. Not yet listen to a better DAC than MPD-8.

 

[matthias]

Ok I will ear what does HELIOS vs DAC 502 4ch and vs PLAYBACK DESIGNS DACs which are my reference especially MPD-6/MPS-8. DAC 502 4ch with Pranawire Arhat power cord is so good it challenged a 22k€ DAC. MPS-8 with the same PRANAWIRE power cord is beyond words. Not yet listen to a better DAC than MPD-8.

Looking forward to your HELIOS review!
BTW, you mentioned on your blog a "Taiko Extreme power supply". Taiko didn't yet launch their battery power supply, IIUC you are referring to the Taiko DC distributor which must be connected to an external power supply.

 

[PhP]

Looking forward to your HELIOS review!
BTW, you mentioned on your blog a "Taiko Extreme power supply". Taiko didn't yet launch their battery power supply, IIUC you are referring to the Taiko DC distributor which must be connected to an external power supply.

Hello Matthias
it's DC distributor, you're right TAIKO has not yet launch their battery power. That's why I will power it from today, with a WEISS PSU 102 230/12v regulated, non switching, linear power supply. I will report how this Swiss PS improve my demo dematerialized TAIKO+PLAYBACK DESIGNS.
** PSU 102 is also use as upgrade for WEISS DAC 204 and 205.

 

[Amir]

Stereophile new review :

https://www.stereophile.com/content/weiss-engineering-helios-da-processor

 

[PhP]

Stereophile new review :

https://www.stereophile.com/content/weiss-engineering-helios-da-processor

Amir

I will finally test HELIOS very soon , in March. I am very impatient to compare it to the very best I know which is PLAYBACK DESIGNS MPD-8.

 

[Amir]

Amir

I will finally test HELIOS very soon , in March. I am very impatient to compare it to the very best I know which is PLAYBACK DESIGNS MPD-8.

Please check the maximjm input voltage of your pre-amplifier and set the Weiss output voltage (analog domain) equal to that voltage and also set the digital volume on Zero db.
David @ddk believes the only dac with good bass (like top turntables) is Weiss .
Have fun and enjoy

 

[PhP]

Please check the maximjm input voltage of your pre-amplifier and set the Weiss output voltage (analog domain) equal to that voltage and also set the digital volume on Zero db.
David @ddk believes the only dac with good bass (like top turntables) is Weiss .
Have fun and enjoy

I know and sale WEISS for 4 years now. It's of of the best DAC that has quite perfect bass to my experience.
Bass is premium, fast, clean. Certainly one of the very best I know, the other is PLAYBACK DESIGNS which is a bit different. The other is from a UK well known digital company. I would rank WEISS in 2. PLAYBACK is quite as fast, as clear but with a lot of aplomb. I prefer PLAYBACK because it's more dynamic and more "real". If the difference is quite small, the Californian company is closer to unamplified music. Also PB MPD-8 (dream line) is more expensive than HELIOS and has no streamer like the Swiss DAC. So HELIOS competitor is more PB DESIGNS MPD-6. In any case, I do not use volume on DAC event if PB DESIGNS has a real preamp analog output. I use only volume control on my APURNA™ Soprano Limited Apogée monoblocs that have each their true monoral preamplifier.
I will test HELIOS vs my MPS-8 that has a STREAM-X2 inside, it's a comparison at quite the same price (MPS-8 is more expensive because it also has a CD/SACD transport), and I do it now because my MPS-8 is on sale

Demo DAC | PHPAUDIO

www.phpaudio.fr

 

[PhP]

Please check the maximjm input voltage of your pre-amplifier and set the Weiss output voltage (analog domain) equal to that voltage and also set the digital volume on Zero db.
David @ddk believes the only dac with good bass (like top turntables) is Weiss .
Have fun and enjoy

Hi
I received my HELIOS today .
I will listen to it and compare it to my MPS-8 DAC PLAYEr and to my new MPD-8 I received a week ago.
If the Swiss DAC looks like an upgraded version of DAC 502, it's not. It shares the general style and dimensions but is 100% made in a massive aluminium box.

 

[Juiced]

Nice.

It will be interesting to hear how the Helios sonically better then the 50x..

 

[PhP]

I will publish next week. Some reviews had been made in Europe, USA, Australia, but sometimes on average systems. What I can say right now is that HELIOS look like a more robust 50X but it's not. First it is very heavy, all panels are made of thick aluminium and rigidity is very high. Also it use 4 DACs per channel, not 2. It has also more refinements and a dedicated software. Stay tuned.

 

[PhP]

I listened to HELIOS. First the unit looks like a better made 502 4ch but it's a lot of more. The unit is made of thick aluminium and weight is heavy for such a slim unit. Inside, DAC is more complex.
Use is similar to 502 4CH and I appreciate to have many output level to choose from.
Music : much better than 502 4CH in every respect, more precision, better highs, more details and all in all a DAC for demanding audiophile. Many magazines gave awards to HELIOS this past months.

That said I prefer PLAYBACK MPD-8 which sound more analogue and is more dynamic. Soundstage are quite equal but harmonics seems more elaborated on the PB. If I use MPD-8 in optical mode with my MPS-8, the difference is even more important and the Californian DAC is awesome. I tested MPD-8 in 0dB output, using APURNA Soprano preamps for gain and control.
MPD-8 is more expensive and is a DAC only, while HELIOS is a DAC + Streamer.

 

[matthias]

MPD-8 is more expensive and is a DAC only, while HELIOS is a DAC + Streamer.

Interesting would be MPD-6 with and without USB-X4 vs HELIOS

 

[nicoludio]

Marek Dyba from Hi Fi Knights has listened to both Weiss Helios and Playback Designs MPD-6 (with and without MPS-X as well as some comments as to the potential impact of USB-X4 vs MPS-X) at about the same time frame. See links below:

Helios: https://hifiknights.com/reviews/sources/weiss-helios/
MPD-6 + MPS=X: https://hifiknights.com/reviews/sources/playback-designs-mpd-6-mps-x/

In his review of the Helios, he does offer the following broad brush overview:

"Yes, my LampizatOr Pacific 2 and Playback Design MPD-6 are a touch warmer, allowing for a bit smoother flow of music, which I personally love, while Helios seems to focus on keeping it neutral, orderly, and incredibly insightful, and yet natural."

His earlier review of the Weiss DAC501 is consistent with what I hear from my DAC502.

 

[Slingblade]

I've had my Helios for about 2 weeks now and am still amazed by it. The constant volume DSP feature is very nice and is extremely handy when watching movies/TV while my kid is asleep. It normalizes dialogue and effects so there are no unexpected loud sounds that could wake him.

From an audio performance perspective the soundstage it creates is extremely dense and full of detail, but not an in your face presentation. It's very organic and smooth, and the bass performance is off the charts good.

 

[Juiced]

I've had my Helios for about 2 weeks now and am still amazed by it. The constant volume DSP feature is very nice and is extremely handy when watching movies/TV while my kid is asleep. It normalizes dialogue and effects so there are no unexpected loud sounds that could wake him.

From an audio performance perspective the soundstage it creates is extremely dense and full of detail, but not an in your face presentation. It's very organic and smooth, and the bass performance is off the charts good.

What was the previous DAC?