What SPECIFICALLY is better or different about the Wadax Design? How do these design choices manifest in better sound?

[Ron Resnick]

Some of the speculative fog enveloping largely meaningless reports of invalid (non)comparisons of DACs in unfamiliar systems at audio shows will lift should pk_LA choose to post his report of a direct comparison in a familiar system, and allow me to do the same.

I feel strongly that suggestions of “bad” at this level of DAC are wildly irresponsible and inappropriate..

 

[andromedaaudio]

and the difference is inaudible... between Master Tape and Digital..

My expirience is that all formats sound different.
A Wadax doesnt sound exactly like mastertape and vice versa.
Each have their own strengths, / enjoyment possibilities .
Its all about what you like to listen too.
Audio is not a competion although a lot view it like that.

Plus i d say a lot of mastertapes / copies have pretty bad recording quality

 

[caesar]

...

Wadax is a different beast though.
Clarity / solidity a tapelike natural flow .

Afaik you cant even compare the others .
Its like comparing a bentley to a volkswagen golf.

Hi Andromeda,
What do you mean by a tapelike natural flow.

(Interestingly, when I listen to my digital, I am in the state of flow. I never think of of 'better" digital or vinyl or tape... even upon reflection after listening, I am never craving vinyl or tape, or dying to replace my digital.)

 

[caesar]

The fact that almost any thread on other brands of expensive DACs turns in a dCS Vivaldi thread is the real proof its significance and sound quality. Raveen Bawa, dCS sales director visited our distributor this week - it seems sales are booming after the Apex, although the global chip shortage is slowing deliveries and upgrades.

you must be a politician. nice spin!!!

 

[caesar]

Some of the speculative fog enveloping largely meaningless reports of invalid (non)comparisons of DACs in unfamiliar systems at audio shows will lift should pk_LA choose to post his report of a direct comparison in a familiar system, and allow me to do the same.

I feel strongly that suggestions of “bad” at this level of DAC are wildly irresponsible and inappropriate..

There is no bad at this level. Just "bad preferences"

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Some of the speculative fog enveloping largely meaningless reports of invalid (non)comparisons of DACs in unfamiliar systems at audio shows will lift should pk_LA choose to post his report of a direct comparison in a familiar system, and allow me to do the same.

I feel strongly that suggestions of “bad” at this level of DAC are wildly irresponsible and inappropriate..

Hi Ron,

A few comments.

> Sound quality is in the ear of the beholder and it is highly likely that if someone is for example a Lampi owner that they will scratch their head wondering what on earth the so called buzz is on a DCS dac. They aren’t wrong - it is their opinion.

> Forum members don’t carry any responsibility to the industry imho. They can and should report things unvarnished and unedited in any means they wish. That is the very nature of a forum.

> Any comparison of several dacs in the same system by even a large group of audiophiles means very little. There are countless commercial vested interests all over the place for instance sponsors of the forum. Unless this feedback comes from someone whose opinion I know very well indeed (and there are very few of those).

> There is no “responsible” reviewing in hifi. Reporting objective data on things is responsible but any qualitative opinion is simply that. Magazine articles are not my definition of “responsible” nor are any forum opinions. I treat them as data points.

No fog will lift other than for you alone if you do said comparison in your own system.

Best.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Hi Andromeda,
What do you mean by a tapelike natural flow.

(Interestingly, when I listen to my digital, I am in the state of flow. I never think of of 'better" digital or vinyl or tape... even upon reflection after listening, I am never craving vinyl or tape, or dying to replace my digital.)

Great that u are happy as to what you are listening too.
With natural flow i mean you instantly realize its free of the typical digital glare / hardness in the sound .
Its open/ natural it sounds much more like music and invites you to listen longer ..
At least in my case, i never thought digital could reach such a level to be honest.

If my investments go as i think they will , i may even buy a combo in a couple years time ,.....all black please

 

[caesar]

Gentlemen,
I heard the new dcs with Avantgarde at Axpona. The sound - and to be clear it was mostly the attack element of the musical envelope that impressed me, as it was outstanding, and I loved the sound overall. Now was it dCS? Or how much better would have been without the dCS? Or how much of it was the Avantgarde system? Was curios to put in a dvd player from 1999, but I think the blonde german guy would have gotten very upset...

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Gentlemen,
I heard the new dcs with Avantgarde at Axpona. The sound - and to be clear it was mostly the attack element of the musical envelope that impressed me, as it was outstanding, and I loved the sound overall. Now was it dCS? Or how much better would have been without the dCS? Or how much of it was the Avantgarde system? Was curios to put in a dvd player from 1999, but I think the blonde german guy would have gotten very upset...

Hey,

The attack element you liked had zero to do with DCS and 100% to do with the AG Horn. An Oppo will have the same “attack” element with AG.

 

[microstrip]

(...) And just to be sure: I am not saying that the DCS digital gear in general and the Vivaldi stack in particular are ‘bad’ sounding or something like that. I can understand that certain (or even a large number of) audiophiles like (and hopefully love) their DCS products. However, DCS does- as I have stated before - represent imo a different approach to (digital) music reproduction in comparison to the Wadax brand in general and the Wadax reference components in particular, while to my ears the Wadax gear approaches unamplified live music much closer.

Yes, a very large number of audiophiles seem to like or prefer it the sound of dCS. They have explained why with grounding, substantiation and detail in many reviews and comments along many years, including in WBF. IMHO this is much more significant than the WBF frequent verbiage of "approaching unamplified live music much closer"or creating goosehumps. Yes, I know HP used these terms, but usually followed by a few pages documenting it.

I can't exclude some day owning a Wadax Reference. It took me several years of analysis, reflection and listening before I committed to the Vivaldi stack - surely reading from a few WBF members influenced it. It would be great if the Wadax threads had more real and factual information and not just speculation and praise. Surely YMMH, IMMV.

 

[microstrip]

you must be a politician. nice spin!!!

No, just reporting a fact. Politicians prefer speculating ...

 

[andromedaaudio]

Micro have you heard the set up in portugal with wadax the gryphon apex on rockport lyra?.
I think it was ultima audio

 

[bonzo75]

Hey,

The attack element you liked had zero to do with DCS and 100% to do with the AG Horn. An Oppo will have the same “attack” element with AG.

I have heard sufficient attack on the trios with the exasound dac and esoteric K01, and the esoteric K01 into the audio note dac, and compared oppo to the vivaldi in another system (raidho) with minimal loss

 

[caesar]

No, just reporting a fact. Politicians prefer speculating ...

Sure, but you are speculating also that everyone who purchased a dCS has gone through a rigorous evaluation process and comparisons of many other elite DACs in their own system instead of trusting their dealer, wilson owners, the scum bag audio journalists, and guys on the internet.

 

[microstrip]

Sure, but you are speculating also that everyone who purchased a dCS has gone through a rigorous evaluation process and comparisons of many other elite DACs in their own system instead of trusting their dealer, wilson owners, the scum bag audio journalists, and guys on the internet.

I did not tell so, but as usually you prefer manipulating words to be able include your poisonous speech ... And fortunately for most of us being an audiophile is not a crusade, just an hobby.

Being a non english writer I can't appreciate in full depth your insults to audio people. But I have the feeling that referring to audio journalists and guys on the internet as "scum bag" does not help WBF success.

 

[microstrip]

Micro have you heard the set up in portugal with wadax the gryphon apex on rockport lyra?.
I think it was ultima audio

No. I have been there several times , but unfortunately this Wadax demo - more than two years ago - was a single occasion. But I will not miss next time.

 

[caesar]

I did not tell so, but as usually you prefer manipulating words to be able include your poisonous speech ... And fortunately for most of us being an audiophile is not a crusade, just an hobby.

Being a non english writer I can't appreciate in full depth your insults to audio people. But I have the feeling that referring to audio journalists and guys on the internet as "scum bag" does not help WBF success.

Not manipulating anything. Just a basic question.

as to “audio journalists “ , remember, just before wadax , Berkeley reference dac was proclaimed to be “the best dac extant“. what a disgusting lie!!! Why would an “expert“ want to mislead a fellow human being this way? Why have someone waste their time and possibly money? Why not be a trusted advisor instead?

surely not great for their reputation or the future of their hobby. They reap what they sow

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Not manipulating anything. Just a basic question.

as to “audio journalists “ , remember, just before wadax , Berkeley reference dac was proclaimed to be “the best dac extant“. what a disgusting lie!!! Why would an “expert“ want to mislead a fellow human being this way? Why have someone waste their time and possibly money? Why not be a trusted advisor instead?

just before wadax????

get your rant facts somewhat straight.

the Harley/Berkeley review was 2016. there had not been a review on the MSB Select II and many had not heard it, dCS Vivaldi was the quasi standard at that time. since that time you have other 'uber' dacs coming on the scene at the higher levels. Wadax Reference dac did not debut until 2019, and not much attention till 2020. the Server came out in late 2020.

lots of dac activity and attention between the Berkeley and Wadax.

surely not great for their reputation or the future of their hobby. They reap what they sow

reviews are no more or less than they are. you are the one promoting their significance.

 

[PeterA]

just before wadax????

get your rant facts somewhat straight.

the Harley/Berkeley review was 2016. there had not been a review on the MSB Select II and many had not heard it, dCS Vivaldi was the quasi standard at that time. since that time you have other 'uber' dacs coming on the scene at the higher levels. Wadax Reference dac did not debut until 2019, and not much attention till 2020. the Server came out in late 2020.

lots of dac activity and attention between the Berkeley and Wadax.

reviews are no more or less than they are. you are the one promoting their significance.

One reason I hesitate to pursue digital is precisely the constant rate of evolution and change in the format and what is considered better at any time. I just had trouble keeping up during those years always reading about something new. And it continues today.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

One reason I hesitate to pursue digital is precisely the constant rate of evolution and change in the format and what is considered better at any time. I just had trouble keeping up during those years always reading about something new. And it continues today.

if you want great sound, but access to new music, it's what you do.

no wrong part of the hobby or even music interests. but my 2-3 hours a day of digital listening is essential to me.