Digital Drive: REVIEW: LessLoss DAC 2004 w/volume control DAC Processors by schs

Model:	DAC 2004 w/volume control
Category:	DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price:	$(see web site)
Description:	DAC 2004 with its own volume control to drive amp(s) directly
Manufacturer URL:	LessLoss
Model Picture:	View

Review by schs ( A ) on July 16, 2005 at 01:27:09
IP Address: 213.3.13.119

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for the DAC 2004 w/volume control

Preliminary remark: english is not my first language, so please excuse my misspellings and grammar errors.
Review of Lessloss DAC2004 with Rega Planet, DAC2004 in master mode
Over the past few weeks I was looking for a new CD player. My current player is a Wadia 830 which is directly connected to active speakers from ME-Geithain, model RL904 (and now model 922K, see link below). As I have no need for different source components, the only thing important for me was a good quality playback of CDs (no SACD, DVD-A, no need for playback of other formats like MP3 discs, and I do not need a lot of features, for example I could even live without a remote control).
To continue using a very simple system, the new player should have a volume control (preferably not in the digital domain as the Wadia 830) and XLR connections, so that I can feed the signal directy to the active speakers as before.
These requirements (simplicity, volume control, XLR out) resulted in a quite limited choice of CD players. After searching on the internet for such players I came across the site of Lessloss. And even without the possibility to listen to their DAC2004, after some e-mails back and forth with Lessloss I was convinced that the DAC2004 could be the right solution for me. Lessloss did a very good job explaining all the details of the DAC, they answered all my questions in length. So the first impression was very good, their support is really outstanding.
I decided to order the following configuration: CD player Rega Planet modified by Lessloss, DAC2004 with volume control and cables (ok, these are pipes, not flexible) as listed on their web site (see link below).
After two weeks of listening to the Rega/DAC2004 combo and comparing to the Wadia 830, I can say that the Rega/DAC2004 is far better than my Wadia.
I hear much more details with the DAC2004 than with the Wadia, and the sound is much more natural. But the biggest improvment is with room information. The Wadia gave sometimes the impression of a bigger/deeper room, but it was never so precise as the DAC2004. The Wadia sounds like the instruments are always moving around a bit.
When listening to some of my Jazz CDs the DAC2004 sounds really like a live performance, one can really "feel" the musicians on the stage - very impressive!
Regarding the quality of the lower frequencies, the DAC2004 plays simply in another league, the bass is now so detailed, I can hear things I never heard before.
So regarding sound quality, I have really no negative things to say about the DAC2004. Maybe it's possible to get an even better sound quality, but I guess not for the same price.
Is there really nothing that could be improved? Sure, so I will mention some points. When using their nonflexible calbe, the positon of the player and DAC2004 is fixed. To change the batteries of the DAC2004 one has to open the case, so this means that you have to remove the cables, remove the player which sits on top of the DAC and open the DAC. Maybe a modified case where the batteries could be changed without opening the DAC would be an improvement (but sure, this comes at additional cost, such a case design isn't free...).
Another thing: the batteries last for more than 10 hours which is very good, but I'd like a bit more information about the charging of the batteries, I think maybe a 4-LED indicator which gives a rough idea about the battery status would be nice.
All in all, I'm very happy with my Rega/DAC2004 combo, it does exaclty what I was looking for. The sound quality is so good that I already removed my Wadia from the rack. The next thing I will change is the cabling between the DAC2004 and my speakers. And sure, I'll try the cables from Lessloss.

Product Weakness: procedure to change batteries, no detailed info of charging level
Product Strengths: natural and detailed, extremly precise, gives "live" impression, outstanding support, very good build quality

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	none (active speakers)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none (volume control in DAC2004)
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Rega Planet, DAC2004
Speakers:	ME-Geithain RL922K
Cables/Interconnects:	GAC
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	6m x 4m x 2.8m
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Two weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	none
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	procedure to change batteries, no detailed info of charging level
Product Strengths:	natural and detailed, extremly precise, gives "live" impression, outstanding support, very good build quality