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You can look at bhobba's posts, he has compared them both and made quite a few comparisons between them (heh, Ted beat me to it). He preferred the Tranquility over the W4S DAC-2 because it was absent of any sibilance and was more liquid and smooth sounding. One of the most common things I hear about the Tranquility is how smooth and liquid it is, with no traces of digital glare.I have a Signature Edition Tranquility on its way over here, and I currently own the Wyred4Sound DAC-2 - so look forward to a head-to-head comparison fairly soon. I know the Tranquility SE is more expensive than the DAC-2, but it should be interesting noting the differences anyway.Regarding the W4S DAC-2 USB... I was using a Black Cat cable from the Logitech Squeezebox Touch to the W4S DAC-2 before and it was sounding good. I then bought a Mac Mini and used the W4S DAC-2's USB connection. It wasn't even close to being as good as the Black Cat cable to the Squeezebox Touch. I was using a generic USB cable from Monoprice. So I thought I'd try the Essential USB cable from dB Audio Labs - and that really pushed it up in performance. So well, in fact, that it was quite a bit better than the Black Cat / Squeezebox Touch combo. I no longer use a Squeezebox. After all the reviews and the impressions from the USB cable, I contacted Eric and ordered a Signature Edition Tranquility because I have to try this thing out.From my experience, the best sound I got from the W4S DAC-2 was using a high quality USB cable with a Mac Mini as a source. And since I am only going to use USB, it makes sense to try a product where they focus on a very high quality implementation of USB and get the most performance possible. Another thing I learned about the W4S DAC-2 was that it benefits quite greatly from isolation and damping. I just tried putting a 2.5lb weight on top of the chassis and it brought more focus and meat to the mid-range, and cleaned up the high freq. a bit. Something from Herbie's Audio Lab should kick it up a few notches. I heard this was not essentially the case for the Tranquility as it has been built to already have good isolation and damping, but it depends on each person's setup most likely.Hope this helps and sorry to derail into W4S comments in a Tranquility thread.
If you wish to read more comments about the various gear and DACs you can see them here: http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=2497.30
Sorry for a bit of topic question..... :oops:But did anyone had a chance to compare db Tranquility to Wyred 2 DAC I know that db is dedicated USB DAC and should perform better but wonder how good is Wyred USB reproduction. It certainly is more feature loaded but I am more interested in its USB conversion.
One of the most common things I hear about the Tranquility is how smooth and liquid it is, with no traces of digital glare.
I was wonder if you guys ever daisy chained external hard drives for playback or transferring files? And did you notice a sonic difference (good or bad)? What were they?
I was wondering if you guys ever daisy chained external hard drives for playback or transferring files? And did you notice a sonic difference (good or bad)? What were they?Thanks, Tom
Which year Mac Mini are you using Bill? Is it tweaked? My Signature should be here anyday. Can't wait to how it compares to the PDX.
That was exactly my impression after listening to the Signature with the modified 2010 mini at RMAF. Though the system was somewhat different from mine, it was easy to hear what the dac was bringing to the table, and it was wonderful. More of everything the original Tranquility offers without giving up anything in terms of tone and that analog-like smoothness. I have one of those modified Mac minis here and am still figuring out how to make it all work with the built-in screenreader, but what I have heard suggests that I'm in for the best listening I've ever experienced. I think it would not be unheard of to follow the Tranquility Signature by some of the very best gear and speakers and to think it was right at home with the rest of the system -- no the weak link. Some of the cuts I heard at the show would knock the socks off the most jaded audiophile -- especially if you added up the cost of the entire system.
But I want to emphasize something. This DAC is very, very, neutral and transparent. Most people have not heard stuff this neutral and transparent - especially at this price point. It may polarize some not used to this level of accuracy.
On the other hand, once you get used to it, you'll never want to give it up. What is the minimum amount of break-in that Eric suggests? Man, these comments are killing me. I keep hoping my Signature will be on my doorstep every time I come home. Not yet.. Maybe tomorrow...
On the other hand, once you get used to it, you'll never want to give it up.What is the minimum amount of break-in that Eric suggests? Man, these comments are killing me. I keep hoping my Signature will be on my doorstep every time I come home. Not yet.. Maybe tomorrow...
Its dead set simple - you simply enable memory playback - that's it.ThanksBill
"Trade-up program" : As good measure to our loyal Tranquility customers; who have supported us from the very beginning! We are offering them a "full purchase value" trade-up of your original Tranquility dac for just the difference in price between what you paid and the $1895 price. Example_ If you paid $1295 for your original dac, plus $600 gets you into the Signature dac. Hence the "full value" of your original purchase toward the Signature's current price. This applies ONLY to current Tranquility customers who have purchased their dac directly from dB Audio Labs. Trade-up dacs cannot have been modified or damaged. This trade-up program will be offered for a very limited time and is non-negotiable.
