What SPECIFICALLY is better or different about the Wadax Design? How do these design choices manifest in better sound?
- Thread starter caesar
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You have to stop reading about digital fiddling, as I did. Currently most WBF digital fans are people trying to experiment in digital, following the latest trends - a time consuming affair needing a lot of dedication and interest. If you get an Extreme server and a decent DAC , the support from the Taiko people is not different from what you get from David - these people also enter your house, but remotely from the Netherlands! Do you think Steve looses his time thinking about digital matters?
I understand that Mike. I was just explaining my own position not commenting on anyone else’s choices. Digital is constantly advancing which is good. Better that than not improving.
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Some opinions and thoughts as I read this thread...
I find it somewhat odd when people talk about a dac sounding "...exactly like tape..," or ",...very close to vinyl..." We talk about dacs as all sounding very different and compare them to the singular sound of a turntable or reel-to-reel as though those have all unified to a single sonic signature. I am certainly no expert but I'll venture to say that different TTs sound different. I'll even go out on a limb and say that different arms and cartridges sound different!
I have heard the Wadax compared to the dCS Vivaldi Apex. They absolutely do not sound the same. And , that is not just 'my ears' that is just a declaration of fact. To my ears they are both excellent sounding. I suspect that someone who thinks the Wadax "...sounds digital..." would not find any dac able to clear that hurdle.
I find it somewhat odd when people talk about a dac sounding "...exactly like tape..," or ",...very close to vinyl..." We talk about dacs as all sounding very different and compare them to the singular sound of a turntable or reel-to-reel as though those have all unified to a single sonic signature. I am certainly no expert but I'll venture to say that different TTs sound different. I'll even go out on a limb and say that different arms and cartridges sound different!
I have heard the Wadax compared to the dCS Vivaldi Apex. They absolutely do not sound the same. And , that is not just 'my ears' that is just a declaration of fact. To my ears they are both excellent sounding. I suspect that someone who thinks the Wadax "...sounds digital..." would not find any dac able to clear that hurdle.
Mike, why don’t YOU get YOUR facts straight? Why don’t you hunt down down some old issues and check ?
The Berkeley reference dac was promoted as the “best dac extant” in the magazine until wadax came out, despite the fact that valin reviewed the Msb and soulution
No one should feel bad about having a DAC or server that is not lauded over. Or is the talk of the town. If you enjoy what musical experience it brings to you, IMO, thats all that matters. Get what pleases you. Not what you think will impress strangers.
Hi Kingrex,
In a perfect world, sure. But we are living in a human world.
High end audio is highly subjective and ambiguous. And when people are confused they look to see what other people are doing. They also look to experts such as reviewers, dealers (who may have been in business 40+ years), and guys on the internet - both in forums and guys doing videos. Also, scarcity is an important factor also... Because of all of these factors in combination is reason wilson and dcs are so popular.
but it takes a long time to get around and hear many things, and get confidence... and many people , unfortunately , never figure it out...their systems suck ...
As for me, I enjoy my zu system driven by a SET integrated more than I would enjoy fremer's wilson system with dcs and whatever $100K+ turntables he's got in his stable. I wouldn't be in the hobby if all it offered was the wilson dcs sound.
please see my reply to Kingrex why magazine authority figures were brought up by people with a financial interest in this dac.Unfortunately he is not the unique member doing it in this thread ...
and furthermore, why are you separating magazine authorities from internet authorities?
it's not the way it works. there is no Absolute Sound magazine consensus. never was. that's your construct. or maybe Berkeley's media message....i'm sure they continued to quote the review in Absolute Sound print ads as long as they pay for the privilege.
the Ideon Epsilon dac review came a few months back by Harley. he never even mentions the Wadax in his review. the dac reviews are not ranked. it's not like Wadax is anointed top dog by Absolute Sound. only what the review itself says.....or does not say. at that particular point.
btw; i certainly have all the Absolute Sound issues since 2016.
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Totally agree that the DCS Vivaldi and Wadax reference “absolutely do not sound the same.” In other words: they sound rather (to my ears: very) different. Although typically there is (often) more than one way to skin a cat, your conclusion that “To my ears they are both excellent sounding” is intriguing. Does your conclusion imply that you miss (certain?) aspects of the Wadax Reference digital music presentation when you listen to the Vivaldi and vice versa?Some opinions and thoughts as I read this thread...
I find it somewhat odd when people talk about a dac sounding "...exactly like tape..," or ",...very close to vinyl..." We talk about dacs as all sounding very different and compare them to the singular sound of a turntable or reel-to-reel as though those have all unified to a single sonic signature. I am certainly no expert but I'll venture to say that different TTs sound different. I'll even go out on a limb and say that different arms and cartridges sound different!
I have heard the Wadax compared to the dCS Vivaldi Apex. They absolutely do not sound the same. And , that is not just 'my ears' that is just a declaration of fact. To my ears they are both excellent sounding. I suspect that someone who thinks the Wadax "...sounds digital..." would not find any dac able to clear that hurdle.
for you it's not better that digital is advancing. it pushes you away.....based on your stated logic here.
you choose to ignore digital due to the SOTA goalposts seemingly always moving, while acknowledging/agreeing that's (digital i mean)) where the new music is.
so which is it?
is digital constantly improving GOOD or BAD?
btw; everyone has their own reasons for what they do; and you might be having so much fun with vinyl that you can't be bothered by digital. no problem if that is the case. but you seem to be saying two conflicting things.
and no one has to keep improving their digital to fully enjoy new music with digital. if THAT is important ENOUGH. the bother of chasing digital improvements is just an excuse. i could be happy with my Lampi GG or even my Playback Designs MPS-5 (neither sucked) to have full access to all the streaming options. i choose to chase the best, but that is just my approach. it's worth it to me. and there is fun in the chase.
but i would not ignore the new music. or all the older digital either. and give up the streaming music experience.
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Digital improving is a good thing Mike. For everyone who enjoys digital and for people who listen to it at other people’s houses. My friends benefit when they buy something they prefer because it sounds better and I benefit when I visit them.
One of my friends has both formats. We both seem to prefer his vinyl to his streaming so that’s primarily what we listen to when getting together. Perhaps someday that will change.
Caesar, your reading to far into what I said.
Mike, you hit the nail on the head as to my comment. If.you find something you like, enjoy it. You don't need to get caught up in upgrade itus.
And.yes, you probably will still prefer your vinyl. Vinyl is a great media. Many times I hear it on digital and buy the vinyl. I'm probably 50/50 on whether the vinyl is better.
Mike, you hit the nail on the head as to my comment. If.you find something you like, enjoy it. You don't need to get caught up in upgrade itus.
And.yes, you probably will still prefer your vinyl. Vinyl is a great media. Many times I hear it on digital and buy the vinyl. I'm probably 50/50 on whether the vinyl is better.
The Wadax is incredibly linear and smooth without any discernible loss of detail (to my ears). It also has great cohesion of various instruments without ever sounding muddled. That's not to say the Vivaldi Apex is not these things - I just felt the Wadax did them moreso to the enjoyment of this listener.
Thanks. I believe you also compared the Wadax reference dac to the Lampizator Horizon dac in your own audio system. Are you willing to inform us how this comparison turned out cq share your listening experiences in that regard with us?
I plan to write-up my thoughts on all the dacs I auditioned sometime this week. That said, each dac was auditioned and compared to a Vivaldi Apex. As such, I never heard the Wadax directly A|B'd to the Horizon.
If guys were honest about the trade-offs and downsides of gear, instead of hyping things up and misleading people, I would be nicer also.Guys always get upset when someone doesn't share their taste.
No CH Precision with box speakers doesn't really sound like real music, even if you add wadax to it. But guys can pretend that it does.
Two sentences that specifically show exactly what you do every single time.
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