Elliot G.
Industry Expert
Hello Dave,
No I have no experience with Solar and none ofmy clients have gone that route either. Iv'e been doing this a long time and for the firsttime ever I am using apower conditioner on my amps and actually like it.
Wadax World Premiere at Munich Highend
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No I have no experience with Solar and none ofmy clients have gone that route either. Iv'e been doing this a long time and for the firsttime ever I am using apower conditioner on my amps and actually like it.
Hi Gary,
I started a thread on here specifically for peoples impression of the WADAX Studio. I'm sure all of the potential listners and buyer would welcome and further experience you'd like to share there.
Thanks,
Richard
My latest video sharing - WADAX Studio Player
In all honesty: I am underwhelmed as regards the sound quality of this video. But videos tell us only so much while I am unfamiliar with the loudspeakers, (pre)amps, racks and cables. But it is interesting to see the Wadax reference sacd-transport in action.
Fair enough, I was there ! It was recorded ‘casually’ by the client using an iPhone. I know the distributor will soon post new video with better microphone. Stay tuned
To me, the WADAX Reference Suite was 'stunning' in terms of sound quality and performance. I have to admit that the WADAX Reference Suite (SACD Transport + DAC) is the best ever digital system I have ever experienced. I know the WADAX distributor in HK very well and will encourage they post another video clip recorded with professional microphone shortly.
Please allow me one last question: how does the sound quality of the Wadax Reference sacd transport/Reference dac in your view compares to the sound quality of the Wadax reference server/Wadax reference PSU/Wadax Reference dac? Were you maybe able to compare these two formats?
Per my observations / IMHO, not only for the WADAX Ref Suites, for virtually all ultra high end / high end systems I have ever experienced, for a given source of the same resolution density, the SACD / CD path will mostly win by a 'small' margin. However, the server side has the advantage of playing very high resolution music files, especially those truly recorded / mastered via DSD256/DSD512 upfront. Having said that, I did not have a chance to A/B compare the two scenarios you mentioned for the same source. Will share when I have such an opportunity : D
Original dxd / dsd 256 recordings of some of the finest recording companies - such as those from for example Challenge Classics (Bert van der Wolf’s recordings), TRPTK (Brendon Heinst), Reference Recordings (Sound Mirror), Channel Classics (Jared Sachs), Eudora (Gonzalo Noque) and 2l (Morten Lindberg) - sound in my view very impressive indeed with the Wadax reference dac / server / dedicated PSU. For me it is still undecided whether (sa)cd’s indeed trump original dxd / dsd 256 files. I know many believe the former sound better than the latter - Roy Gregory is for example one of them - but as far as I know an a/b comparison between various native dsd dxd / dsd 256 files and their (sa)cd counterparts was never (officially) conducted. So let’s see what the future brings in this regard.
As per my feedback above, I am very pleased to share that a new firmware #050 for the WADAX Studio Player has just been released. It includes a 'Volume Step' selection (1, 2, 5, 10) to enable adjustment of the volume level change for each press of the volume up/down key on the remote control. Reportedly it has further improvements on SACD playback.
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For most DACPre, it will not be a difficult question. using a reference quality preamp (in my case Goldmund Reference Preamp) will certainly improve the soundstage (especially the layering, less so with the size) and makes everything more 'airy'....
For the WADAX Studio Player, given its mighty output stage and the functionality to fine adjust the output impedance, not only it could drive the power amp perfectly, but in fact using it without a (even a top quality one) preamp has in fact a slight improvement in terms of resolution and transparency, so there are pros and cons. For users who wanted to save the budget for purchasing a top quality preamp, IMHO using the Studio Player without a preamp is definitely an option.
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Have a chance to listen to Wadax Studio in recent Kuala Lumpur show with T+A pre/power and Kharma.
Hard for me to comment solely on the sound characteristics of wadax studio as not familiar with other equipments.
Overall this system delivered a rich, organic, non fatiguing with decent resolution.
I hope Reference sounds/ Michael will bring the Studio player to the New Music show this weekend in Brussels.
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
Wadax Studio Player installed and basic set up done. Decent power cable and basic Ethernet cable is level one to play , listen and put some hours on it . Step two will be to upgrade those cables and perhaps some isolation platforms but for right now this products is really impressive .
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
I had a lot of people ask me how the Studio player compares to the Wadax Reference System I also own.
First I think this is not really a comparison since the studio player is not supposed not be a ref competitor.
I say this because it isn’t!
This is not a bad thing it’s just reality and it’s not fair to expect it to be with Wadax or any other company. An entry level speaker from Wilson or Magico are not competing with their reference level products .
Ok so then what is a Studio Player and how should one approach it IMO
On a value scale it’s off the chart it broke the chart .
I prefer Qobuz to Tidal , I really like Roon both of which are in progress and should happen in the near future and I have not yet played files however I am truly happy with what I heard yesterday both by streaming and playing red book CDs.
I don’t know yet how far I can push the performance with accessories and full break in but so far I believe this is another benchmark product that should create a stir in our community.
First I think this is not really a comparison since the studio player is not supposed not be a ref competitor.
I say this because it isn’t!
This is not a bad thing it’s just reality and it’s not fair to expect it to be with Wadax or any other company. An entry level speaker from Wilson or Magico are not competing with their reference level products .
Ok so then what is a Studio Player and how should one approach it IMO
On a value scale it’s off the chart it broke the chart .
I prefer Qobuz to Tidal , I really like Roon both of which are in progress and should happen in the near future and I have not yet played files however I am truly happy with what I heard yesterday both by streaming and playing red book CDs.
I don’t know yet how far I can push the performance with accessories and full break in but so far I believe this is another benchmark product that should create a stir in our community.
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