Wadax Studio Player Review

[Tontoverde]

I use 4.0V output and (assuming you are using balamced connection) 600Ω input impedance on the L10/L1. Output impedance from the SP tends to vary a little depending on cable and speakers, but with the other settings fixed it's easy enough to settle on a preference. It's also worth playing with the gain structure between L11 and M1.1 - adding a little at the input, removing a little on the amp...

Thanks for the reply. I’m out of town and will check when return home.

 

[earlinarizona]

How many AC watts does the PSU unit when hooked to the Player and clock? If using a regen you only have so many watts available.

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[rthomeint]

I am interested in the Studio player but I have a question. Since there are no inputs for the DAC portion of the unit can a separate streamer be used as a Roon server then use the studio player as an end point via it's ethernet port?

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

I am interested in the Studio player but I have a question. Since there are no inputs for the DAC portion of the unit can a separate streamer be used as a Roon server then use the studio player as an end point via it's ethernet port?

The simple way is to set up a Roon server on your network to then let the WADAX Studio Player act as a Roon Endpoint over Ethernet.

 

[rthomeint]

The simple way is to set up a Roon server on your network to then let the WADAX Studio Player act as a Roon Endpoint over Ethernet.

I know that is the preferred way to do it. What I want to know if a different server, possibly a better server that the build in one. For me not having an input to the DAC is concerning. I don't play physical media. All of my CDs and SACDs are stored as ripped file to a NAS. The disc transport is the one part of the player I would likely not use.

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

I know that is the preferred way to do it. What I want to know if a different server, possibly a better server that the build in one. For me not having an input to the DAC is concerning. I don't play physical media. All of my CDs and SACDs are stored as ripped file to a NAS. The disc transport is the one part of the player I would likely not use.

The WADAX Studio Player will act as an endpoint (client) only where you'll need a separate Roon (server) on the same network. This could be a computer or a dedicated audio server (Roon Nucleus, InnuOS, etc.) with or without an internal hard drive for stored music. You can connect your current NAS to the Roon server for access as well.

You can also use Jplay (UPnP) to access your NAS as well as Tidal and Qobuz as an alternative to using Roon without the need for any additional hardware.

I hope that helps.

 

[matthias]

The disc transport is the one part of the player I would likely not use.

Then the upcoming Wadax Studio DAC might be the perfect device for you
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/attachments/img_0612-png.130458/

 

[mxk116]

The WADAX Studio Player will act as an endpoint (client) only where you'll need a separate Roon (server) on the same network. This could be a computer or a dedicated audio server (Roon Nucleus, InnuOS, etc.) with or without an internal hard drive for stored music. You can connect your current NAS to the Roon server for access as well.

You can also use Jplay (UPnP) to access your NAS as well as Tidal and Qobuz as an alternative to using Roon without the need for any additional hardware.

I hope that helps.

My Studio Player should be delivered tomorrow (Tuesday). Your outline of the options to stream from the Studio Player via ROON, a NAS and/or JPlay is exactly how I intend to approach the install. I will be loading JPlay initially on a 7 day trail to get the Studio Player up and playing music. Then I will connect a NAS to access my stored music files. Whether I consider trying ROON will be a function of my experience with JPlay.

I currently use a combination of the Aurender Conductor4 app and Qobuz Direct. Since I cleaned up my Ethernet connection with a fiber optic cable, an UpTone Audio ETHERregen and JS-4 LPS, streaming via Qobuz Connect is clearly audibly superior to the Aurender Conductor4 app. If JPlay proves as good or better than Conductor4 I’ll use JPlay to stream from the NAS.

 

[rthomeint]

Then the upcoming Wadax Studio DAC might be the perfect device for you
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/attachments/img_0612-png.130458/

I think that’s exactly what I want. Any idea of the ETA of this DAC?

 

[QuadDiffuser]

For those who own the Wadax Studio player already and are running it "direct" into their power amplifiers. What difference do you hear when you set the output impedance to the lowest setting, vs higher setting? Is there better bass extension in the former? Very curious!

 

[matthias]

I think that’s exactly what I want. Any idea of the ETA of this DAC?

In February mentioned @WADAX likely end of the year:

Wadax World Premiere at Munich Highend

@WADAX @Elliot G. IIRC, Wadax announced in Munich further devices in the Studio line, like a streaming DAC without a CD/SACD transport. Is this correct? If yes, when will it be released? Thank you :) What I do know from what I have been told ( this does not mean things wont or cant change BTW)...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

I think that’s exactly what I want. Any idea of the ETA of this DAC?

I believe that 2026 is realistic after the launch of the Studio series external Power supply and Clock in fall.

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

My Studio Player should be delivered tomorrow (Tuesday). Your outline of the options to stream from the Studio Player via ROON, a NAS and/or JPlay is exactly how I intend to approach the install. I will be loading JPlay initially on a 7 day trail to get the Studio Player up and playing music. Then I will connect a NAS to access my stored music files. Whether I consider trying ROON will be a function of my experience with JPlay.

I currently use a combination of the Aurender Conductor4 app and Qobuz Direct. Since I cleaned up my Ethernet connection with a fiber optic cable, an UpTone Audio ETHERregen and JS-4 LPS, streaming via Qobuz Connect is clearly audibly superior to the Aurender Conductor4 app. If JPlay proves as good or better than Conductor4 I’ll use JPlay to stream from the NAS.

Roon might still be considered the go to option with the best overall user experience if streaming from multiple sources in parallel which might include stored music on a NAS etc. Adding to this is the software based EQ as well as multi-room support etc. if needed.

This put aside, Qobuz and Tidal Connect works flawlessly and might be preferable in terms of sound quality and convenience where Jplay is a very valid option as well for access to both services + stored music.

 

[matthias]

This put aside, Qobuz and Tidal Connect works flawlessly and might be preferable in terms of sound quality and convenience where Jplay is a very valid option as well for access to both services + stored music.

Purely from a SQ POV how would you rate Qobuz Connect vs JPlay with the WSP?
Thanks

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

Purely from a SQ POV how would you rate Qobuz Connect vs JPlay with the WSP?
Thanks

That's hard to say without spending some time on A/B testing. That being said, I've used Qobuz Connect almost exclusively since the release which works flawlessly and sounds fantastic.

 

[mxk116]

Before...



and after the arrival of the WADAX Studio Player...



I've had the WADAX Studio Player for a couple of weeks now and let it marinade with the remainder of the system for a few days while I was out of town. Not often I have the opportunity take a giant leap in musical enjoyment and sound quality and simultaneously reduce the device headcount from 2 to 1 (and this does not account for the simplified wiring in terms of digital and power cables).

Prior to the Studio Player, I had the LampiZator Genya for an in home audition. The DAC only Genya was wonderful to hear and without having the same opportunity to experience the Studio Player in our room, I would have happily survived with the Genya long term. But the Studio Player's combination sonic qualities heard at various audio shows and form factor compelled me to stay true to the process I started. Now that I have time with the Studio Player in our room I am happy I did.

The Studio Player has completely revised my appreciation of what's possible with digital audio and most certainly provides the finest digital sound quality I have experienced in my home. I have always experienced/appreciated music, and ultimately sound reproduction, more in terms of its volumetric qualities; sound occurring in a 3D-space, voxels v. pixels in digital parlance. The Studio Player is the first digital device that provides the sense of musical presence in my room. And not just momentarily but consistently if that presence exists on the source material. Everything I play (optical discs, files streamed or stored) is made more meaningful heard through the WADAX. Like the Genya that preceded it, the Studio Player punches way above its weight class and at its price, a not inconsiderable sum, I haven't heard anything that can touch it. Still digesting what I am hearing but digital playback has a whole new meaning for me with the Studio Player in action.

A couple of ancillary comments; prior to initiating this search I started using an UpTone Audio EtherREGEN and single-mode fiber optic break (and more recently an UpTone Audio JS-4 LPS) in front of the streamer/DAC components. The UpTone Audio products have been instrumental in optimizing the sound quality of every device I have used them with. I consider them indispensable for streaming. Lastly, big thanks to Elliot of Bending Wave for making the audition possible. Elliot is the indispensable person in this equation.

 

[Elliot G.]

The Studio Player has completely revised my appreciation of what's possible with digital audio and most certainly provides the finest digital sound quality I have experienced in my home. I have always experienced/appreciated music, and ultimately sound reproduction, more in terms of its volumetric qualities; sound occurring in a 3D-space, voxels v. pixels in digital parlance. The Studio Player is the first digital device that provides the sense of musical presence in my room. And not just momentarily but consistently if that presence exists on the source material. Everything I play (optical discs, files streamed or stored) is made more meaningful heard through the WADAX. Like the Genya that preceded it, the Studio Player punches way above its weight class and at its price, a not inconsiderable sum, I haven't heard anything that can touch it. Still digesting what I am hearing but digital playback has a whole new meaning for me with the Studio Player in action.

First thank you for your kind words and it was my pleasure to work with you. The end result that you are loving it makes all the difference and IMO the SP is truly a special product, a product that does a bunch of different things and does them all incredibly well at a price that is within reach for a much wider audience. Have fun!!!

 

[Elliot G.]

In February mentioned @WADAX likely end of the year:

Wadax World Premiere at Munich Highend

@WADAX @Elliot G. IIRC, Wadax announced in Munich further devices in the Studio line, like a streaming DAC without a CD/SACD transport. Is this correct? If yes, when will it be released? Thank you :) What I do know from what I have been told ( this does not mean things wont or cant change BTW)...

www.whatsbestforum.com

I don't know the answer to your question however I do not think a stand alone Studio DAC will be around in 2025. The Studio Clock, power supply and Akasa cables are all scheduled for delivery late this year. There has been no information given about any other products to come that I have received. I would suspect this might be shown in 2026 at the High End Show in Austria that is how it has been done in the past.