Breaking the High-Dollar Statement DAC Price/Performance Barrier - Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC

[gleeds]

WBF Members know hyperbole is abundant in high-end audio. Occasionally, a product comes along that trascends hype and redefines what is possible at an approachable price.
In 2022, Hear This introduced to the WBF community a small, powerful class-A monoblock amplifier named the Rei from WestminsterLab that redefined the genre.

After a long wait to find a digital product that could take on the heavy hitters in the same way as the Rei amplifiers, we are pleased to introduce the all-new Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC. We have compared the Wavedream RS to several respected and considerably more expensive multi-chassis DACs, and we know we have something unique to offer enthusiasts in a one-box solution under $25k. Several reviewers have said many great DACs are available. Still, in their view, none are better than the Rockna regardless of price. This is either a bold statement or merely a new chapter, but undoubtedly a notable achievement from Romania from the digital Meister, Nicholae Jiartu.

We thank Steve, Ron, and Julian for allowing us to introduce our offerings on these pages and giving beautifully crafted, innovative products of exceptional value and performance the exposure they deserve. More information will follow shortly. Also, Ron's interview with Nicholae Jiartu, Rockna's founder and chief engineer, will be part of the ongoing WBF Makers and Masters series for members interested in how the advanced digital technology found the Rockna RS is advancing the state of the art.

 

[andromedaaudio]

WBF Members know hyperbole is abundant in high-end audio. Occasionally, a product comes along that trascends hype and redefines what is possible at an approachable price.

(Good marketing ) heard that one before , lol
I ll hear it at the Munich show probably

 

[Steve williams]

Best of luck with the new DAC, Gary. Here's to you hitting a walk off home run after the huge success with REI

 

[curiousjim]

I actually am looking for a new DAC. My system is mostly new but my current DAC is an original Pontus ll. I really do like the “ladder” sound, so no matter what I end up getting, it will most definitely a ladder or ladder hybrid.

Having said that, where can I sign up to try the Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC?.

Thanks in advance.
JD

 

[gleeds]

(Good marketing ) heard that one before , lol
I ll hear it at the Munich show probably

W

I actually am looking for a new DAC. My system is mostly new but my current DAC is an original Pontus ll. I really do like the “ladder” sound, so no matter what I end up getting, it will most definitely a ladder or ladder hybrid.

Having said that, where can I sign up to try the Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC?.

Thanks in advance.
JD

JD, thanks for your post. I would be most pleased to place you on the list for an in-home demo. Please send me a private message with your home address and let me know more about the remainder of your system. Gary

 

[gleeds]

Here is a brief Q&A between Nicholae Jiartu and Sandu Vitale of SoundNews:

Q8: Crafting custom R2R modules sounds like the ultimate test of patience. Were there moments you wanted to bin the whole thing and grab some off-the-shelf chips? How many times have you revised and refined those resistor ladders? Is there a big difference between RD-0 and RD-1 modules versus your newest MK2 offerings?

A8: Even if there is some progress, we are not tempted by any off-the-shelf DAC chips. That path is relatively easy nowadays; hundreds of units with highly integrated chips are suitable for affordable devices. But where is the innovation, where is your contribution as a manufacturer, where is the fun going deeper into the rabbit hole? As a high-end manufacturer, one has to pass the moment when satisfaction is given by putting a few capacitors and a clock around a DAC chip and has to offer more. Much more. We like to go deep inside every aspect of the conversion; we want to do ourselves all the mathematics involved in the digital filters, and we like to have absolute control of what’s going on with the signal and clocks at every moment, from the input bit stream to the analog waveform. It’s also a learning process that never ends, and the more time you spend doing it, the more knowledge you gain.

Three generations of Rockna DAC technology are pictured below.

 

[Norriscd]

I had the original Rockna DAC and could not wait to be rid of it. The software interface was awful, the DAC consistently stopped and needed to be re-booted, and getting support was a huge challenge. I finally gave up. I would not purchase this DAC without a full in home trial of at least 60 days and part of that demonstration would need to be showing that it would stay up and working consistently. Also make sure you get a through demonstration of the software interface. If there is meaningful US Based support that would also need to be a consideration. At the height of my issues I was told that there was support in Canada, but when I contacted the company I was given, they had no idea what I was talking about.

 

[matthias]

Here is a brief Q&A between Nicholae Jiartu and Sandu Vitale of SoundNews:

Maybe it makes sense to read the complete review:

ROCKNA Wavedream Reference Signature DAC - A Digital Audio REVELATION - Soundnews

How would you describe digital-to-analog perfection? A perfect sine wave appearing on a screen? A near zero distortion, having the lowest noise floor and the highest signal-to-noise ratio? Should it deliver an “as the artist intended” sound? Should it be sweet sounding, should it awaken certain...

soundnews.net

 

[Ron Resnick]

Please enjoy my interview at Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Ron Resnick with Gary Leeds of Hear This for Rockna Audio and WestminsterLab. Gary introduces the Rockna Audio Wavedream Reference Signature DAC:

 

[gleeds]

It makes sense to read the complete review:

ROCKNA Wavedream Reference Signature DAC - A Digital Audio REVELATION - Soundnews

How would you describe digital-to-analog perfection? A perfect sine wave appearing on a screen? A near zero distortion, having the lowest noise floor and the highest signal-to-noise ratio? Should it deliver an “as the artist intended” sound? Should it be sweet sounding, should it awaken certain...

soundnews.net

Mathias, yes, thank you! Enthusiasts can never get enough data points

 

[gleeds]

I had the original Rockna DAC and could not wait to be rid of it. The software interface was awful, the DAC consistently stopped and needed to be re-booted, and getting support was a huge challenge. I finally gave up. I would not purchase this DAC without a full in home trial of at least 60 days and part of that demonstration would need to be showing that it would stay up and working consistently. Also make sure you get a through demonstration of the software interface. If there is meaningful US Based support that would also need to be a consideration. At the height of my issues I was told that there was support in Canada, but when I contacted the company I was given, they had no idea what I was talking about.

Hi Norris,

I'm sorry that was your experience. I appreciate you posting it, as it allows me to update WBF readers on what has changed at Rockna and with North American distribution and service in the US and Canada.

- Hear This, a well-known contributor on WBF and respected US importer of high-end products from Europe. We have recently been appointed the exclusive North American Distributor. We replaced a firm based in Canada approximately six months ago, so I cannot comment on your experience with them or their retailers.

-I am aware that specific early versions experienced software issues.

- The all-new Rockna RS software was developed and exhaustively tested over two years. Our experience over the past six months across multiple reviewer and demo units has been rock solid.

- By law, European warranties are two years. Hear This will offer a five-year warranty on all new Rockna DACs.

- Hear This will handle and manage the US service and hold spare parts to reduce the repair lead time.

- We strongly believe in the importance of home demos for SQ and system compatibility testing.

We offer new product replacements for purchasers of our DACs. If a unit fails within 90 days, we will replace it with a new one and pay for shipping both ways.

This means one can confidently purchase any product from Hear This and our authorized retail partners. We believe that at these price levels, a high level of service and support are table stakes and essential to the long-term vitality of our business and the brands we serve.

Who knows, Norris, perhaps one day you will give Rockna another try.





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[matthias]

Mathias, yes, thank you! Enthusiasts can never get enough data points

I will listen to this interesting DAC at High End Munich in May

 

[gleeds]

I had the original Rockna DAC and could not wait to be rid of it. The software interface was awful, the DAC consistently stopped and needed to be re-booted, and getting support was a huge challenge. I finally gave up. I would not purchase this DAC without a full in home trial of at least 60 days and part of that demonstration would need to be showing that it would stay up and working consistently. Also make sure you get a through demonstration of the software interface. If there is meaningful US Based support that would also need to be a consideration. At the height of my issues I was told that there was support in Canada, but when I contacted the company I was given, they had no idea what I was talking about.

I will listen to this interesting DAC at High End Munich in May

Matthias, the Rockna RS will be exhibited at HE 2025 in the Tube Audio/Trafomatic Rockna suite and for something different at HiFi Deluexe with the latest from Von Schweikert Audio paired with WestminsterLab. I hope to see you there!

 

[curiousjim]

W

JD, thanks for your post. I would be most pleased to place you on the list for an in-home demo. Please send me a private message with your home address and let me know more about the remainder of your system. Gary

DM sent.

 

[davidavdavid]

I have had the pleasure of both the WaveDream NET and WaveLight Rockna music servers here at mine for a fair bit and I am a stickler for sofware design [UI - user interface] and [UX - user experience] in both instances the browser based configuration screens were clearly thought out, laid out and implemented. I cannot imagine that the power that is Rockna would deviate from the software layout and design for the configuration screens for their new Reference DAC. Honestly, everything was where it needed to be and more importantly supposed to be in each tab on screen.

Granted, with more decades than I care to admit in the world of computers, networks (data and voice) no instructions were necessary, it was all so intuitive. I await to both hear this new DAC and sample its own on-screen configuration software.