Introduction
Luxury & Precision, as the name implies is a boutique audio company from China and they are very well known for their expertise in producing great digital audio players and DAC/amplifiers. They are known for producing DAP such as L3, LP5 and the ultra high end P6 Pro, also they are one of the first producers of higher echelon dongle AKA miniature DAC/amplifiers, the W2. I have personally tried the W2 and was quite impressed with the sonic capabilities they offered but they are a little lacking in their high range capabilities. Luxury & Precision has now updated their W2 with better tuning and the same DAC chips, the W2 ACG 2022 is born. Red Ape headphones store has kindly sent us the W2 ACG for an honest take on them and we are ever so grateful. How will they compare in this ever growing segment? We shall find out.
P/s : ACG is the abbreviation for Anime, Comics and Gaming as the back of the W2 ACG has all those playful logos imprinted on them which has a sort of playful take on their elegance.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the Luxury & Precision W2 ACG 2022;
- DAC Chipset : Cirrus Logic CS43198 x 2
- Connection : USB Type-C
- Format Supported : Up to 32Bit/768kHz PCM, Native DSD512, MQA support
- THD+N: 128.5dB(3.5mm, A-weighted), 131.5dB(4.4mm, A-weighted).
- Dynamic Range: 128.5dB (3.5mm), 131.5dB (4.4mm)
- Output Power: up to 260mW@32Ω(4.4mm), up to 125mW@32Ω(3.5mm).
- Dimensions: 60x22x12.5mm.
- Weight: 22 grams.
- Body : Aluminium with plastic cover
Retail Price & Where to Get
Thank you, RED APE for providing us the unit for review and testing. The W2 ACG 2022 is officially priced at RM1,499.00 and can be found at RED APE .
Shopee : https://invl.io/clfxpz3
Lazada : https://invol.co/clfxpzh
Packaging & Accessories
The W2 is packed rather a little too simple for their retail price but they are quite packed with all the necessities like a USB type C to C cable, a type C to lightning cable and a USB C to A adapter for computer connection. A case is not included and can be bought from Red Ape.
Design
The W2 is built as their name implies, luxurious and precise with great design in a small imprint. The front and back is glass covered with an OLED screen that displays all the settings and volume as well. The back has the distinctive ACG theme that I actually kind of like because of the quirky nature.
On the bottom is a standard USB type C for sound input. On the top we will have a 3.5mm that doubles as a Spdif output and 4.4mm balance. On the sides we have a volume control and a menu button which can turn on and off the screen along with access to a plethora of functions such as filters, equaliser, gain settings, display switch (on and off only) USB mode, HID key which is for switching on the USB exclusive mode, sound effect setting (can be downloaded for certain parameters) and the Spdif switch. Users can also download the tuning settings for specific earphones to match their favourite earphones with specific tuning. Overall, a solid piece of tech with a crazy amount of functionality in such a small piece of tech.
The W2 is equipped with 2 of the top portable flagship DAC chipset from the chip manufacturer Cirrus Logic, the CS43198 and they are known for their high performance with a low noise floor and a clean warmish sound that sounds superb. It can decode native DSD and MQA support as well suiting all your needs. They also boast a high gate count FPGA chipset with dual chip architecture for a true balanced sound improving their separation.
They have an internal amplification that provides up to 230 mw @ 32 ohms which is sufficient for most in-ears along with some low powered headphones. They have an incredibly low noise floor and a super low distortion that looks pretty promising on paper.
The W2 also boasts a low powered digital processing chip that will draw little current from your smartphone so battery drain isn’t a big issue here.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO M17
Questyle M15
FiiO BTR7
Shanling UP5
FiiO KA3
DUNU EST112
Moondrop A8
Letshuoer D13
Hidizs MD4
Blur daBass custom earbud
Toneking TO600s
Sennheiser HD800s
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The W2 ACG is tuned toward a warm, smooth neutral way that has a great thickness that leans toward a slightly dark side of the spectrum. It mixes well a touch of musicality and dynamism in their presentation making music more joyful while still having great technicalities. They have amazing resolving capabilities along with great details and clarity with a magic touch of lushness for more enjoyment in music listening. The W2 also have a very balanced sound as they do not lean on any specific frequencies and all of the frequencies are tuned very maturely.
Soundstage
The soundstage that W2 gives is rather impressive as they are able to give a wide and high soundstage that has a decent amount of air along with a medium size headroom which for their size is pretty astonishing. They are great for earbuds as they do showcase the earbuds’ wide soundstage. They also have a rather true holographic soundstage that is suitable for gaming and movies.
Separation and Timbre
Separation in the W2 is rather mediocre for their price range but they do not display any faults in their performance but in this region, the Questyle M15 might be a clear winner with a clearer left right separation. Though that being said, the W2 still performs pretty well with music delivered in a clean and clear manner without any congestion. Timbre has a great thickness to them with a very minor coloration to them making music very fun to listen to without sacrificing the pureness of the music played.
Drivability
On paper, the W2 do boast a 230 mv @ 32 ohms and i must say, for the size they are pretty good but their driving power is slightly lower than other competition like the Questyle M15 and on the same level of the Hidizs S9PRO but it is adequate for most of my earphones and portable headphones but insufficient for big headphones such as my HD800s. As for source pairing, they are very forgiving in the types of files played, whether it is streaming, PCM, DSD or low bitrate files, they all sound great. For poorly mastered tracks, they do show their flaws but in a minor way.
The Bass (Low)
The bass on the W2 is a neutral forward type of bass that has good texturing and great details on them. They have decent clarity and extend very well giving an energetic bass response that is quite fun to listen to. They also have a mid bass lift that is suitable for bass light gears giving them a more impactful performance in the bass department without any bleed present. Sub-bass extension is great with them providing a deeper sub-bass rumble along with a tight rumble. Decay on the overall bass response is a slow decay that gives a more evident impact rather than a fast paced bass response. Overall, the bass response is tuned towards a fun, deep and energetic type that is suitable for a wide range of genres but they are not a purist type of bass that provides a cleaner, leaner bass.
The Mids
The midrange that the W2 possesses is a warm, forward neutral midrange that has a thick presentation along with great details and resolution. It has a slight emphasis towards the lower region making them slightly warm and they are very intimate in their presentation. They have good sparkle and possess a slight crispness in their high range. Clarity is rather mediocre as they are not bright in sound but they have a great resolution in sound as sound is presented vividly. Vocals are great but they shine better on male vocals as male vocals sound deeper and more lush. Female vocals sound good but what they lack is brilliance in their presentation. There is a slight colouration in their midrange but it doesn’t make their sound unnatural as they are very minor and they do make music played a little more fun to listen to. Overall, the midrange is rather great with a thick, fun sound that is tuned towards a fun sound along with great resolving capabilities.
The Highs
The high range is a buttery smooth response with great clarity along with good extension without any peak or shout present. They have an average detail retrieval but have decent clarity along with great air present. They have a smooth high range that is inoffensive and they can reduce sibilance present in your gear along with lower hiss and shout. They are not suitable for dark sounding gears as they might make them sound a little subdued in their high range. Treble that the W2 has is a low intensity treble that provides a more relaxing signature for a longer listening session with minimal fatigue. Overall, they have a rather low energy high range but still able to give out decent clarity and details without any fatigue present.
Comparisons
VS Questyle M15
My pick for the king of dongles, be it in or out of home, they are truly a wonderful sounding device that sounds sublime and they are easy to bring around for their size. The Questyle M15 is equipped with a single ES9038Q2M and the W2 is running on dual CS93198.
The High range on the M15 sounded more energetic and sparkled better. The M15 possesses better detailing but the W2 has a smoother high range along with better extension.
Midrange on the M15 has a fuller body, cleaner and clearer while the W2 has a thicker sound along with better lushness and intimacy. Details on both are similar but M15 has better clarity.
Bass on the W2 has better impact and texturing along with a deeper extension especially on the sub-bass region. M15 bass is tuned towards a neutral bass and they have better clarity along with a cleaner response.
Soundstage on the M15 is slightly wider and height but the W2 holds its ground in their airiness along with a slightly bigger headroom.
VS FiiO KA3
The FiiO KA3 is currently the top offering in the dongles department of FiiO and they have a similar chipset with the M15, the ES9038q2m. What they do lack is the versatility of the W2 along with better sound refinements the W2 brings.
Highs on the KA3 seemed a little stronger and might sound a little harsher at times while the W2 sounds way smoother along with similar details and clarity. Extension is also better on the W2.
Midrange on the KA3 has a more forward take to them and the W2 has a thicker, clearer midrange. Clarity on both are similar but the W2 has better resolution and better lushness.
Bass response on the W2 has better impact and better extension especially on the sub-bass region. Details and clarity is also better on the W2. The bass on the KA3 sounds slightly cleaner with a tighter, faster response.
Soundstage on the W2 is wider and higher than the KA3 but possesses a similar air and headroom size.
Synergy
Moondrop A8
The Moondrop A8 is my favourite multi BA earphones that has a superb resolution along with a top sound that can rival earphones that cost more than them. They are indeed earphones that stand the test of time for sound quality.
High range amounts seemed the same in the amount but air and extension is added in the mix making the A8 sound wider. Details and clarity has increased by a tad bit.
Midrange on the A8 sounds thicker and more lush with details increased by a little. Vocals become more intimate and they have more ‘in your face’ type of sound.
Bass has become slightly more boomy while still retaining a great degree of resolution and clarity. Sub-bass becomes deeper and with a better rumble.
Soundstage mostly remained the same overall with a slight airiness added into their presentation.
Overall, a great synergy with them sounding top class. Truly amazing.
Dunu EST112
The famous tribrid from Dunu TopSound China and they are equipped with 1 dynamic driver, 1 balanced armature driver and a dual Sonion electrostatic drivers that have a great natural tone along with a balanced sound signature along with a perfect tone.
High range on the EST112 is smoother overall with all details intact but they do seem to lose some sparkle by a little. Airiness is better here with a smoother hint in their presentation.
Midrange has become slightly thicker and resolves better. The midrange has been pushed slightly forward making them a little more intimate. Details have been added but clarity remains the same.
Bass has a more dynamic take to them with better extension especially on the sub-bass region. Details and clarity remain mostly the same. Soundstage width and height increased by a little while airiness on them sounds better.
Who Is It For?
The W2 ACG is for those who want a top end sound and features along with the best versatility in a small package for an ultimate portability in sound and size. The W2 is sufficient for most In-ears and some low impedance headphones but will not be sufficient for power hungry headphones. They are a very inoffensive, smooth sound that is highly configurable that will suit most mainstream users as well as those hardcore audiophiles with their refined sound signature. They are more well suited for those who want a warm, smooth sound and those who are treble sensitive.
Final words
The Luxury & Precision has certainly kept their house sound and improved it further with this latest iteration of the W2. With a cooler back design along with updated tuning in their amplification that brings a better resolving sound along with a slightly crisper high end, they are indeed one of the best in their segment. Though for those who want more authority in clarity and details, the Questyle M15 might be a better choice with a slightly lower price and the Lotoo S2 might also give the W2 a run for their money. But all that being said, I am still impressed with what they have to offer in such a small package and not to mention, the plethora of settings to cure the itch for a matching sound. A great new take on a legendary product indeed.
I would rate this product a solid 4 stars over 5.
Pros ;
- Highly resolving, musical sound
- Solid build with great design
- Great informative OLED screen
- Warm, thick, smooth and inoffensive
- Highly configurable with loads of settings
- Sound profiles can be downloaded to suit your IEM
- Quite powerful for their size
- Doesn’t draw much battery
- Spdif output
Cons ;
- Pricey
- Packaging doesn’t reflect the price range
- Lacks brilliance in the high range
- Doesn’t pairs well with some warmer sound gears
- Sound might not be clinical enough
