DAC501

About the DAC501

The Weiss Engineering DAC501 is a compact, high-performance digital-to-analog converter that combines state-of-the-art DAC technology with advanced digital signal processing (DSP) and network rendering capabilities. It supports a wide range of digital inputs including AES/EBU, S/PDIF via XLR, Toslink, RCA, USB, Ethernet with UPnP/DLNA, and is Roon Ready. The DAC501 accepts PCM sampling rates from 44.1 kHz up to 384 kHz and DSD64 and DSD128 formats. It uses dual 32-bit oversampling, multi-bit sigma-delta DAC chips (ESS 9018K2M) in a dual mono configuration for each audio channel, clocked by a high-precision low-jitter clock generator running at about 195 kHz to reduce jitter and improve signal quality. The analog output stage is discrete and features separate regulators for left and right channels to minimize noise and crosstalk. The unit includes a powerful non-switching toroidal power supply with separated digital and analog sections. The DAC501 offers extensive DSP features such as DeEsser, Vinyl Emulation, Equalizer, Room Equalizer, Dynamics control, Crosstalk Cancelling, Loudness Control, Headphone Equalizer, and Crossfeed, all accessible via a color touchscreen LCD, rotary knob, IR remote, or web interface. Outputs include balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA, and a 1/4" headphone jack. The chassis is made of stainless steel with a 10 mm machined aluminum front panel, measuring 18.8 cm (W) x 30 cm (D) x 6.6 cm (H) and weighing approximately 6.6 pounds. The DAC501 is designed for audiophiles and professionals seeking pristine studio-quality sound with versatile connectivity and advanced processing in a compact form factor.