Metrum octave or Wyred 4 sound coax vs usb


hi my friends.
you very help me with what to buy i think i go with Wyerd 4 sound, in my country i have option to buy W4S-dac1 in budget of 1000$ instead of 1500$ price (bcz is it israel is very expensive country lol).
but on the other hand i get recommendation from here in audiogon on the dac of metrum octave that sounded very good with kind of my speakers (devore nines) and leben (amp) someone here work with metrum octave mini nos dac with similar components system to mine (shindo and nines).
but i read that metrum dac need very good usb to spdif convert like audiophilo that coast 1000$ so i like to know
if i dont use convert usb to spdif and connected pc-->coax-->metrum dac .is it sound better then wyred 4 sound dac1 or not. or i must use spdif to usb convert to enjoy the metrum octave dac (and is it must be expensive usb spdif convert like audiophilo)?
sorry if im not understood in simple words what will be good buy for me : Wyred 4 Sound dac1 in my country 1000$, or to buy Metrum octave mini nos dac from audiogon in 1000$ + OR NOT with usb to spdif convert ???

please i wanna know what to buy .:-)
thanks for all waiting for response
bolero32

Showing 2 responses by bhobba

I have owned both and I prefer the Metrum. But you must feed both by something like an Audiophellio 2.

The reason in the Metrum's case is the fact its NOS and if you don't up-sample can sound a bit mushy.

The reason in the case of the WFS is the Saber chip it uses is not as jitter immune as some think. With normal sources its is cold, analytical and with some slight sibilance issues. Virtually all of that goes with a good low jitter source but there is still a slight trace of analyticality which is why I give the Metrum the edge.

Thanks
Bill
I haven't heard the syncromesh but like all of Steve's products will be good. I don't know if it is better or worse than the AP2. People who own one tell me Steve is spot on when he says its about 90-95% the performance of the Off-Ramp which would put it about the same as the AP2.

I don't know the EE DAC although guys whose ears I trust speak highly of it. I own the M51 and I give it a slight edge over the Metrum. It has a more natural sound - but its a personal preference thing - some describe it like putting a blanket over your speakers and knowing the particular DAC people who said that were comparing it to (a PDX) I understand the comment - the PDX is a very dynamic, forward and in your face DAC - clearly better than the M51 (also twice the price) but for some its a bit too much describing the PDX like ultra violence - but to my ears the PDX is simply more real.

Thanks
Bill