Buffalo, NY, September 22,2020—- Bluebird Music, distributor of high-performance audio products since 2000, is pleased to announce their appointment as US and Canadian distributor of products from Weiss Engineering, a leader in digital audio technology for 35 years. Weiss will be the seventh brand distributed by Bluebird, joining AVM (Audio Video Manufaktur) electronics, Jadis vacuum tube electronics, SME tonearms and turntables, Questyle personal audio products, and loudspeakers from Vienna Acoustics and Spendor.
Weiss products are precision-built in Switzerland to the most rigorous professional standards, designed to deliver flawless performance over years of constant use. In addition to their expertise in digital conversion, Weiss is a leader in DSP, featured in many of their products.
“Weiss digital processors have been used in recording and mastering studios worldwide for decades, and they’ve brought the same exemplary performance, reliability, and versatility to their home audio products,” said Jay Rein, President of Bluebird Music. “We will begin by offering two unique, feature-filled DACs, the DAC501 and DAC502, and will then expand the range.”
The DAC501 and DAC502 share the same circuitry and componentry, and differ primarily in form-factor: the DAC501 is a compact, half-width unit, allowing placement flexibility in desktop and studio applications, as well as in home systems of any size. The DAC502 features a standard, full-width chassis; it also differs from the DAC501 by including a four-pin balanced headphone connector on the back of the enclosure.
Both units incorporate a stainless steel chassis with a robust 10mm aluminum faceplate. Digital processing is performed by a pair of 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chips per channel, providing superb channel separation and noise-rejection. An internal high-precision clock generator clocks the DACs at a frequency of about 195kHz; PCM signals up to 384 kHz and DSD x64 and x128 are reclocked to 195kHz. Power supplies are linear, incorporating dual toroidal transformers and separate regulators for each channel, minimizing noise and crosstalk.
There are five digital inputs: AES/EBU or S/PDIF via XLR, Toslink, or RCA; UPnP/DLNA via Ethernet; and USB. Outputs are by balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA; both units have front panel ¼” headphone jacks, and the DAC502 has an additional 4-pin XLR output on its back panel. Line and headphone outputs are separate, and discrete.
Both units can be controlled by the provided full-function remote control, or by a web interface.
Unique digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms featured in both units include:
– Room Equalizer, which can be used to suppress room modes;
– Creative Equalizer, with low, mid, and high boost/cut to correct less than optimal recordings;
– De-essing, which removes overly-bright sibilance;
– Constant volume, which adjusts volume level across all cuts being played;
– Vinyl Emulation, which mimics the sonic characteristics of LPs;
– Crosstalk Cancellation (XTC), which allows playback of binaural dummy-head recordings through loudspeakers;
– Loudness Control, for equalizing low listening levels;
– Headphone Equalization, allowing adjustment of frequency response to individual listener’s ears.
In addition, both units are Roon Ready.
Finishes, pricing and availability:
Black or silver finish options are available on both models. DAC501 US retail pricing is $8,995, ($11,900 Canadian) and the DAC502 US retail pricing is $9,995, ($13,495 Canadian). Weiss DACs are in stock at Bluebird Music and shipping to dealers now.
“I was blown away by how good the Weiss DAC 502 sounded in my system at home. The three dimensionality and dynamics were absolutely stunning. I’ve never heard such realism in my home system – and that was the reason I decided we ought to sell Weiss DACs.” said Rein.
In his recent review in Stereophile, John Atkinson wrote, “The Weiss DAC202 is the best-measuring D/A processor I have measured in my quarter-century at Stereophile. It just doesn’t get better than this. Weiss’s DAC502 matched the DAC202 by also performing supremely well on the test bench.”
About Bluebird Music: Founded in 2000 and led by Founder and President Jay Rein, Bluebird Music is a full service, value-added distributor of hi-fi products of the highest quality. Bluebird believes in fully supporting highly-skilled retailers who are passionate about great sound. Products distributed by Bluebird can be found at over 100 select dealerships in the US and Canada.
About Weiss Engineering: Founded in 1985 and led by Founder and President Daniel Weiss, Weiss Engineering initially focused upon design and manufacture of digital audio products for mastering studios. Today, Weiss products can be found in mastering and recording studios worldwide, and since 2000, the company has produced cutting-edge digital products for the consumer audio market.