New Wadax Atlantis Reference Dac

[CKKeung]

Four Wadax Reference DACs have arrived in Hong Kong!

 

[CKKeung]

Visited a friend in Hong Kong last night.
He is one of the very few Wadax Ref DAC owners in HK.




It was paired with the Wadax Universal Transport and an Extreme server.

There have been so many negative comments on the Ref DAC since its announcement, mainly about its high price and the external design/appearance.

Last night I look at the real object and I can confidently tell you that it is not ugly.
Yes, it's big and heavy but I believe that the form follows the function and the complicated innards.

 

[howiebrou]

Visited a friend in Hong Kong last night.
He is one of the very few Wadax Ref DAC owners in HK.

View attachment 59334
View attachment 59335

It was paired with the Wadax Universal Transport and an Extreme server.

There have been so many negative comments on the Ref DAC since its announcement, mainly about its high price and the external design/appearance.

Last night I look at the real object and I can confidently tell you that it is not ugly.
Yes, it's big and heavy but I believe that the form follows the function and the complicated innards.

Wow. I like the Curling rock next to the Atlantis.

 

[Stereophonic]

More pictures...

 

[Stereophonic]

 

[Stereophonic]

 

[Stereophonic]

 

[mallen123]

More pictures...
View attachment 60069 View attachment 60070 View attachment 60068 View attachment 60071

I know the owner with the marble statue pillar. I bought his Esoteric N 01 that he replaced with the Wadax Ref DAC.

 

[caesar]

There's a pathetic review of this DAC by Roy "Stop Rambling and Get to the Point Already" Gregory. No comparisons. Just that it's the BEST. Bunch of gibberish and a Total waste of time, so not sharing the link.

If anyone knows how this compares to other top DACs, your input is appreciated.

 

[Stereophonic]

I have a friend who has changed his entire DCS Vivaldi system for a Wadax Reference Dac and another who has changed his full Esoteric Grandioso system for an Atlantis one.
But I can see that your interest would not outweigh my effort to describe the comparison.
Anyway, it would be useless. You have to heard it by yourself to believe it.

 

[caesar]

I have a friend who has changed his entire DCS Vivaldi system for a Wadax Reference Dac and another who has changed his full Esoteric Grandioso system for an Atlantis one.
But I can see that your interest would not outweigh my effort to describe the comparison.
Anyway, it would be useless. You have to heard it by yourself to believe it.

Thanks for the data points - very helpful. Both dCS and Esoteric make severely analytical sound in my experience, and one needs to have a very musical system to avoid that fate. So I'm assuming that this DAC is not on the analytical side.

Was going to try to hear it at Axpona and RMAF. I hope these shows don't get canceled.

 

[howiebrou]

Thanks for the data points - very helpful. Both dCS and Esoteric make severely analytical sound in my experience, and one needs to have a very musical system to avoid that fate. So I'm assuming that this DAC is not on the analytical side.

Was going to try to hear it at Axpona and RMAF. I hope these shows don't get canceled.

You would be right saying that it is not analytical. I have listened to it a bit but not compared it directly with anything else. It certainly does not fall into the tiresome school of dacs.

 

[gian60]

You are lucky in HK
In Italy we can listen maximo DCS Rossini and MSB Analog

 

[howiebrou]

You are lucky in HK
In Italy we can listen maximo DCS Rossini and MSB Analog

When this mess is all over Gian, come and visit us!

 

[gian60]

Could be one day.
Every year i go to China near Shanghai to visit my company,the biggest producer in the world of linen yarn for textile.
I am their sales manager in Italy since 16 years

 

[nonesup]

You can also come to Seville (Sound Sevilla) to listen to it, much closer than Hong Kong

 

[gian60]

Yes,Sevilla is fantastic,

 

[SCAudiophile]

I know the owner with the marble statue pillar. I bought his Esoteric N 01 that he replaced with the Wadax Ref DAC.

I know him as well and talk to him regularly; he has an outrageously good TT setup (TechDAS Air Force 1 I believe) and says that after the Wadax Ref DAC broke in he has not felt the need to listen to vinyl; that to me is one hell of a statement.

Rumor has it the Reference DAC will be joined by a Reference Transport, don't know when but can hardly wait to see what Javier and team would come out with for such a ref transport!

 

[CKKeung]

I know him as well and talk to him regularly; he has an outrageously good TT setup (TechDAS Air Force 1 I believe) and says that after the Wadax Ref DAC broke in he has not felt the need to listen to vinyl; that to me is one hell of a statement.

Rumor has it the Reference DAC will be joined by a Reference Transport, don't know when but can hardly wait to see what Javier and team would come out with for such a ref transport!

Yes, a Reference Streamer/Server and/or a Reference Transport.
Hope that Javier's plan is not disrupted by the stupid virus.

 

[Thieliste]

So at the end no one knows if this DAC outperforms MSB Select ll 3 box version ?