Wadax Server PSU unit has now arrived

[Elliot G.]

Thanks Elliot. If the Wadax reference dac had sounded mechanical to me I would never have bought it in the first place. So my question to you was not intended to imply a mechanical Wadax reference dac sound. However, and while I (strongly) believe that digital with the Wadax reference dac with top notch (Tripoint Audio)grounding - to my ears anyway and of course in my audio system - sounds in certain parameters better than analog (in particular the low end), analog sounds imho still ‘better’ as regards an aspect like fluidity: in a certain way analog sounds more ‘natural’ than digital to me and that is what I tried to put into words when I used the phrase ‘less mechanical’. So with my question I intended to ask you the following: yes, a dedicated power supply will of course provide a more solid foundation, greater dynamics, better separation, a larger soundstage etc. but does it also provide more fluidity, that is a more natural (or in my words a less mechanical) presentation, that is a sound which comes closer to unamplified live sound?

IMO absolutely it does. I have the best sound in my room I have ever had. It sounds fluid, relaxed, yet powerful with great micro and macro dynamics. I don't like trying to find words but it is sounding more and more like live unamplified sound ( on those that are pieces of course).
I would seriously doubt that you would not think the REF PSU and Akasa cable would not please you.

 

[Audiocrack]

IMO absolutely it does. I have the best sound in my room I have ever had. It sounds fluid, relaxed, yet powerful with great micro and macro dynamics. I don't like trying to find words but it is sounding more and more like live unamplified sound ( on those that are pieces of course).
I would seriously doubt that you would not think the REF PSU and Akasa cable would not please you.

IMO absolutely it does. I have the best sound in my room I have ever had. It sounds fluid, relaxed, yet powerful with great micro and macro dynamics. I don't like trying to find words but it is sounding more and more like live unamplified sound ( on those that are pieces of course).
I would seriously doubt that you would not think the REF PSU and Akasa cable would not please you.

Thanks again Elliot, much appreciated! I have been so long in this hobby that I am not really interested anymore in the usual audiophile descriptions such as (better) dynamics, transparency, soundstaging, foundation, separation, etc. Of course these parameters should be excellent but aspects like (more) fluency and continuousness, (less) mechanicalness, (more) purity and serinity have become (much) more important to me. Those aspects I experience very clearly when I listen to the ‘Concertgebouworkest’ playing classical music in their beautiful sounding music hall, that is in ‘het Concertgebouw’ in Amsterdam. And if I understand you correctly, all mentioned aspects benefit from (adding) the dedicated PSU. Asked you this question because the review - of the dedicated PSU and Akasa dc cables - by Roy Gregory was imho not very clear in this regard. Thanks again

 

[Elliot G.]

Thanks again Elliot, much appreciated! I have been so long in this hobby that I am not really interested anymore in the usual audiophile descriptions such as (better) dynamics, transparency, soundstaging, foundation, separation, etc. Of course these parameters should be excellent but aspects like (more) fluency and continuousness, (less) mechanicalness, (more) purity and serinity have become (much) more important to me. Those aspects I experience very clearly when I listen to the ‘Concertgebouworkest’ playing classical music in their beautiful sounding music hall, that is in ‘het Concertgebouw’ in Amsterdam. And if I understand you correctly, all mentioned aspects benefit from (adding) the dedicated PSU. Thanks again

Yes I am also in that boat. Audiophile terms mean little to me the word I like to use is MORE and this item gives that to me. In fact I am listening too the last year much more instrumental muisc of Jazz and classical as the system is allowing me in further than ever before, if that makes sense

 

[Audiocrack]

Yes I am also in that boat. Audiophile terms mean little to me the word I like to use is MORE and this item gives that to me. In fact I am listening too the last year much more instrumental muisc of Jazz and classical as the system is allowing me in further than ever before, if that makes sense

Sure this makes a lot of sense.

 

[Audiocrack]

Elliott, may I ask you the following: were you able to make an a/b comparison between the Wadax reference server with its dedicated PSU and the new Wadax reference sacd transport with its dedicated PSU in the audio setup in Munich? And do I understand it correctly that the same Akasa optical cable for connecting the reference server and dac can be used for connecting the reference sacd transport and dac?

 

[Elliot G.]

AC no i was not able to do that and I am not sure that the Transport was a finished product yet. The transport can have a ref PS and use it with the Akasa power cable as an option like the server.
I was told deliver on the transport will be around year end so I assume there is still finishing to be done , i could be wrong about this however.
While I was in the room during the show they were only using the server as a source

 

[Audiocrack]

AC no i was not able to do that and I am not sure that the Transport was a finished product yet. The transport can have a ref PS and use it with the Akasa power cable as an option like the server.
I was told deliver on the transport will be around year end so I assume there is still finishing to be done , i could be wrong about this however.
While I was in the room during the show they were only using the server as a source

Thanks Elliot. The connection between the reference dac and the sacd transport: is that the Akasa optical cable, do you know? (I am not referring to the connection between the PSU and the sacd transport)

 

[Elliot G.]

Thanks Elliot. The connection between the reference dac and the sacd transport: is that the Akasa optical cable, do you know? (I am not referring to the connection between the PSU and the sacd transport)

It has the Akasa option available for it like the server. If one has both there is a second module available for the DAC.

 

[Audiocrack]

It has the Akasa option available for it like the server. If one has both there is a second module available for the DAC.

Interesting. You confirm the impression I got from Roy Gregory’s description. If the Wadax reference sacd transport benefits as much from the Akasa optical cable as the reference server (from Wadax) does, the former has a serious advantage in comparison to other (sacd) transports.

 

[Elliot G.]

My expectations are very high although I won’t be buying one myself however i believe they will be introducing a next level product with next level pricing if you get the drive/optical/optional PSU and Akasa power cables.

 

[Carlos269]

My expectations are very high although I won’t be buying one myself however i believe they will be introducing a next level product with next level pricing if you get the drive/optical/optional PSU and Akasa power cables.

When are the Wadax units going to John Atkinson at Stereophile for evaluation and measurements? This appears to be an intentional and deliberate avoidance at this point.

 

[Elliot G.]

The addition of the PSU and AKASA power cord to the server has been a wonderful experience and a significan t addition to my listening system.
My client just left and was blown away by what he experienced. He has heard every different version of what I have done for the last few years and told straight out that this was the best he has ever heard. Its really fun to get the system to a point at which it truly gets one lost in the music and has the weight, texture, continuity and feel of so many different pieces of music. My tastes are all over the place and today I played a bumch of new things, and some oldies, and every one felt right. It didnt matter if it was rock, blues, jazz, large scale classical, solo piano and or violin it was all just great.
a few of the pieces payed
Guantanamera - The Stimulators- Voodoo Swing
Keep the streets empty for me- Fever Ray - Fever Ray
Still Smiling -Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld- Still Smiling
Dowin the hole John Campbell- Howling Mercy
Mercy - Hilary Hahn Cory Smith- in 27 pieces
you come here often? for paino solo- Yuja wang - The American Project
A small measure of peace- the Last Samurai a filmscore

 

[Mike Lavigne]

When are the Wadax units going to John Atkinson at Stereophile for evaluation and measurements? This appears to be an intentional and deliberate avoidance at this point.

why are you not equally calling for the MSB Select II to have the same treatment? or the Taiko Extreme?

what would either have to gain? nothing. that's your answer.

 

[Carlos269]

why are you not equally calling for the MSB Select II to have the same treatment? or the Taiko Extreme?

what would either have to gain? nothing. that's your answer.

Mike your questions are so easy to answer that you practically set them up on a Tee for me to hit out of the park.

The MSB is a straight forward Digital To Analog Converter design and produces no unexpected results.No claims or reports that peak my interest.

Taiko Extreme makes no unusual claims and it is just it’s boutique PC computer being catered to people with money who enjoy vanity and could care less about the hardware inside the box and care far more about the exterior of the box and the panache associated with owning it. Not unlike high-end women purses and shoes, there will always be a market for these things even though at the end of the day they are just purses and shoes, like the Taiko Extreme is just a server; and one that unfortunately you cannot even use to run HQPLAYER at DSD512 or DSD1024 at that. Nothing really interesting to for me see here besides a computer grade PCB with dual CPU’s and associated peripherals.

Which bring me to the Wadax. The Wadax Dac is the one of particular interest to me. For one many claim that it sounds atypical and totally different than other DAC’s. I looked into it and I’m convinced that it is utilizing the DSP core inside the Texas Instrument/Burr-Brown Sigma-Delta off the shelf dac IC chip that it uses, and my guess, based on reports, is that it’s being used to emulate magnetic tape’s sound effects. Nothing wrong with doing this or any other type of DSP. The issue is that it is being sold to the public, and the unsuspecting owners as a dac without DSP and it could very well be just that. I’m curious to find out if my suspicions turn out to be true. Don’t you want an independent third party to confirm what you have purchased?

I think that we all learned something from what happened with Mobile Fidelity, with their deceitful practices. A simple run through the hands of John Atkinson at Stereophile would tell us what happens when he puts a pure digital sine wave thought the Wadax dac and how it is reconstructed at the analog outputs. It is as simple as that. If there is nothing to hide then this shouldn’t be a big deal. At the asking prices for the Wadax gear they knew they were going to get some attention. You would hope that everything is in proper order and that it doesn’t turn out to be Milli Vanilli.

You have any other easy questions for me today?

 

[microstrip]

When are the Wadax units going to John Atkinson at Stereophile for evaluation and measurements? This appears to be an intentional and deliberate avoidance at this point.

Surely it is an intentional behavior - Wadax marketing seems to avoid measurements and technical transparency. The same happens with many products and high-end manufacturers. Many high-end consumers are happy to ignore such aspect of the hobby, focusing on subjective experiences and reports.Others, like you and me, like to merge knowledge about both aspects, sometimes just to please our inquisitive audiophile curiosity.

The high-end is an hobby, only possible in an environment of freedom and healthy competition. As they say, the only difference between men and boys is the price and size of their toys. I enjoy mine a lot...

 

[Audiocrack]

Although it is fun to share one’s own enthusiasm about and one’s experiences with his or her audio system with other music enthusiasts or audiophiles at the end of the day only one thing matters in this hobby: does an audio set up brings the owner real joy / entertainment / relaxation etc. What other people think of an audio set up or my own audio system is (at the end of the day) not important and I surely do not need independant third parties to ‘confirm’ whatever I have purchased. I am very glad that my - subjective / personal - audio happiness is not dependent on ‘subjective’ views or ‘objective’ measurements of others (the value of measurements in this hobby has been discussed endlessly on WBF; a total waste of time to do this one more time), while the ‘need‘ for some kind of confirmation from others suggests (some kind of) insecurity.

 

[Carlos269]

Although it is fun to share one’s own enthusiasm about and one’s experiences with his or her audio system with other music enthusiasts or audiophiles at the end of the day only one thing matters in this hobby: does an audio set up brings the owner real joy / entertainment / relaxation etc. What other people think of an audio set up or my own audio system is (at the end of the day) not important and I surely do not need independant third parties to ‘confirm’ whatever I have purchased. I am very glad that my - subjective - audio happiness is not dependent on ‘subjective’ views or ‘objective’ measurements of others (the value of measurements in this hobby has been discussed endlessly on WBF; a total waste of time to do this one more time), while the ‘need‘ for some kind of confirmation from others suggests (some kind of) insecurity.

Some of us have technical backgrounds and work in very demanding professional worlds, where confirmation that you were delivered what you ordered and confirmation that it meets all specifications, claims & requirements is just standard business practice.

It is attitudes like yours that have lead this high-end audio hobby to degenerate into what it is today, a world detached from reality and one where no burden of proof or truth is required. You are ripe for the pickings!

 

[Audiocrack]

Some of us have technical backgrounds and work in very demanding professional worlds, where confirmation that you were delivered what you ordered and confirmation that it meets all claims & requirements is just standard business practice.

It is attitudes like yours that have lead this high-end audio hobby to degenerate into what it is today, a world detached from reality and one where no burden of proof or truth is required. You are ripe for the pickings!

Thanks much for your compliments.

 

[Googaliser]

Mike your questions are so easy to answer that you practically set them up on a Tee for me to hit out of the park.

The MSB is a straight forward Digital To Analog Converter design and produces no unexpected results.No claims or reports that peak my interest.

Taiko Extreme makes no unusual claims and it is just it’s boutique PC computer being catered to people with money who enjoy vanity and could care less about the hardware inside the box and care far more about the exterior of the box and the panache associated with owning it. Not unlike high-end women purses and shoes, there will always be a market for these things even though at the end of the day they are just purses and shoes, like the Taiko Extreme is just a server; and one that unfortunately you cannot even use to run HQPLAYER at DSD512 or DSD1024 at that. Nothing really interesting to for me see here besides a computer grade PCB with dual CPU’s and associated peripherals.

Which bring me to the Wadax. The Wadax Dac is the one of particular interest to me. For one many claim that it sounds atypical and totally different than other DAC’s. I looked into it and I’m convinced that it is utilizing the DSP core inside the Texas Instrument/Burr-Brown Sigma-Delta off the shelf dac IC chip that it uses, and my guess, based on reports, is that it’s being used to emulate magnetic tape’s sound effects. Nothing wrong with doing this or any other type of DSP. The issue is that it is being sold to the public, and the unsuspecting owners as a dac without DSP and it could very well be just that. I’m curious to find out if my suspicions turn out to be true. Don’t you want an independent third party to confirm what you have purchased?

I think that we all learned something from what happened with Mobile Fidelity, with their deceitful practices. A simple run through the hands of John Atkinson at Stereophile would tell us what happens when he puts a pure digital sine wave thought the Wadax dac and how it is reconstructed at the analog outputs. It is as simple as that. If there is nothing to hide then this shouldn’t be a big deal. At the asking prices for the Wadax gear they knew they were going to get some attention. You would hope that everything is in proper order and that it doesn’t turn out to be Milli Vanilli.

You have any other easy questions for me today?

Hi Carlos - you have very eloquently and succinctly summarised my own 'concerns' regarding the Wadax reference DAC. I too suspected DSP when I read about 'paradigm shifts' in DAC performance, as articulated by forum members I trust and respect. After all, my team uses Universal Audio plugins (for example) in the studio when producing, to get the sound we are after (and that consumers hear). And funnily enough..... the Studer A800 tape plugin almost always features. I am about to invest hard-earned money in a flagship DAC for pleasure (not work) - so Wadax hit my radar, along with dCS and MSB. But my due-diligence is throwing-up some red flags, also.

 

[Googaliser]

Hi Carlos - you have very eloquently and succinctly summarised my own 'concerns' regarding the Wadax reference DAC. I too suspected DSP when I read about 'paradigm shifts' in DAC performance, as articulated by forum members I trust and respect. After all, my team uses Universal Audio plugins (for example) in the studio when producing, to get the sound we are after (and that consumers hear). And funnily enough..... the Studer A800 tape plugin almost always features. I am about to invest hard-earned money in a flagship DAC for pleasure (not work) - so Wadax hit my radar, along with dCS and MSB. But my due-diligence is throwing-up some red flags, also.

It's a brave new world. The distinction between software and hardware is becoming very blurred. Computational photography is an example. My iPhone can now take better photos than my Mirrorless camera. AI will blur the lines further and faster. I believe many of the reviews extolling the virtues of the Wadax. There does seem to be a breakthrough. But if it is down to DSP - then we know the correct price point is one or two orders of magnitude less than what Wadax are charging. But wow - how exciting is that? It won't so much as trickle-down than free-fall down the price-tiers. This is all speculation though - and regardless - Wadax are to be admired, regardless of how they have achieved this epiphany that is being reported. I'm just probably too risk-averse and will play it safe with those manufacturers who I have followed over the longterm.