Details sent out today in W4S's newsletter (INCLUDING RELEASE DATES):
Two versions will be offered. We will have one for those looking for a DAC to focus mainly on SPDIF sources and to operate as a stand-along unit. This will be the DAC-1. We will also offer the DAC-2; it will offer more inputs including the overdue 24 bit / 92kHz Asynchronous USB interface, volume control, remote control and HT bypass. We are currently processing photos, and specs on the DACs, so please be patient, they're coming very soon.
DAC-1 product information
The DAC-1 will be offered with the following features:
* ESS 9018 Sabre32 Reference DAC (32-bit dac)
* W4S proprietary discrete output stages for optimum sonics
* ESS Time Domain Jitter Eliminator®
* Upgradable Digital, output, and USB boards (designed for future improvements)
* Automatic 500kHz oversampling for precise output filtering
* Fully balanced design with balanced and unbalanced outputs
* Oversized toroidal transformer
* Robust 35A bridge rectified power-supply with 88,000uF of filtering.
* LCD display for input and sample rate viewing
* 2x Coax inputs
* 2x Toslink inputs
* 16/48 USB input (future upgrade to 24/96 USB)
* Retail = $999 (starts shipping 4/09/2010)
DAC-2 product information
The DAC-2 will be offered with the following features:
* ESS 9018 Sabre32 Reference DAC (32-bit dac)
* W4S proprietary discrete output stages for optimum sonics
* ESS Time Domain Jitter Eliminator®
* Upgradable Digital, output, and USB boards (designed for future improvements)
* Automatic 500kHz oversampling for precise output filtering
* Fully balanced design with balanced and unbalanced outputs
* Oversized toroidal transformer
* Robust 35A Schottky bridge rectifier (also used in the STP-SE)
* 88,000uf of filtering with W4S low ESR "super-cap" (also used in the STP-SE)
* VFD display for input, sample rate, and volume control viewing
* Remote control
* Defeatable - 32 bit volume control via remote
* HT Bypass inputs (selectable via DC trigger)
* 2x Coax inputs
* 2x Toslink inputs
* 1x AES/EBU input
* 1x Balanced I2S input via HDMI cable (not standard HDMI cable format)
* 24/192 Asynchronous USB input.
* Retail = $1499 (estimated shipping 4/23/2010)
Oh boy oh boy