Woo Audio WDS 1 Digital-to-Analog Converter - Black

A DAC That Leaves the Signal Alone

Most converters upsample or oversample before they convert. The argument is that more processing means a better result. The WDS-1 does neither. Woo Audio chose to keep the original signal intact, and let a Texas Instruments 24-bit/192kHz converter handle it as delivered.

Four inputs cover a system: asynchronous USB 2.0, coaxial RCA, optical TOSLINK and a balanced AES/EBU on XLR. Every one of them accepts up to 24-bit/192kHz, so no input is the compromised one you avoid using.

Outputs are one balanced XLR pair and one unbalanced RCA pair. A digital volume control is built in. That means the WDS-1 can drive a power amplifier directly, if you would rather leave a preamplifier out of the chain.

Where a Nine-Pound DAC Puts the Weight

Inside are individual power supplies for the digital and the analog circuits, fed by a custom-built toroidal transformer. Keeping the two apart is how a design stops switching noise from the digital section reaching the analog output stage.

The USB input runs asynchronous. The WDS-1 clocks the data itself rather than following the computer's timing. That is the difference between a USB input treated as an afterthought, and one treated as a primary source.

The boards inside are multi-layer military-grade, and the extruded aluminum chassis shows no screws from any angle. It measures 9.05 inches wide, 12.59 deep and 3.30 tall, and weighs nine pounds. It comes in silver or black, and carries a three-year limited warranty.

Who Is This DAC Best For?

• You want fewer boxes, not more — the built-in digital volume control lets the WDS-1 feed a power amplifier directly, so a preamplifier becomes optional rather than assumed.
• You distrust processing — no upsampling and no oversampling means what you feed it is what gets converted, which is a design choice rather than a cost saving.
• Your sources are varied — USB, coaxial, optical and balanced AES/EBU all accept 24-bit/192kHz, so a computer, a disc player and studio gear each get a full-rate input.
• You run a balanced system — AES/EBU in and XLR out mean the signal can stay balanced from a professional source right through to your amplifier.
• You want the headphone amplifier chosen on its own merits — RCA or XLR out into one of our headphone amplifiers

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run the XLR outputs to a balanced input on your amplifier, or the RCA pair if it is single-ended. Because there is a volume control on board, you can go straight into a power amplifier and skip the preamplifier.

A computer connects over USB, a disc player over coaxial or optical, and studio or broadcast equipment over AES/EBU. Note that the power cord and audio cables are supplied separately, so have those to hand.

Pairs Well With

Building around the WDS-1? Here are some great companions:

• Power Amplifier: The volume control means you can go direct — see our Amplifiers.
• Headphone Amplifier: For listening after hours — see our Headphone Amplifiers.
• CD Transport: Feed the coaxial or AES/EBU input — see our CD Players & Transports.
• Interconnects: Balanced XLR keeps the path balanced — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can it drive a power amplifier directly?

Yes. A digital volume control is built in, so the WDS-1 can connect straight to a power amplifier without a preamplifier in between.

Which inputs does it have?

Four: asynchronous USB 2.0, coaxial RCA, optical TOSLINK and balanced AES/EBU on XLR. All four accept up to 24-bit/192kHz.

Does it upsample?

No processing of that kind is applied. Woo Audio deliberately avoids upsampling and oversampling, converting the signal at the rate it arrives.

What does asynchronous USB mean?

The DAC controls the timing rather than the computer, which keeps jitter from the computer's own clock out of the conversion.

What comes in the box?

The WDS-1 itself. The AC power cord and audio cables are supplied separately, so plan for those when you order.

What size is it, and what is the warranty?

9.05 by 12.59 by 3.30 inches and nine pounds, in silver or black, with a three-year limited warranty.

See It in Action

VeryCoolAlan reviews the WDS-1:

And here it is coming out of the box:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about digital converters, balanced connections, or asynchronous USB? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.