From Wadia to ???
I am set when i comes to all but front end ( I use Barefoot sound MM27 and Sound anchors). I just let go of the expensive hifi market stuff. All i need is a dac/pre. However, i have been wondering of Nad M12, AA DDP1 and now Exogal Comet Plus. AA seems to have a analog pre which can be a benefit. A dealer told me AA is better than Nad (mostly due to the designer behind AA i guess). I really would like to hook it up at home. |
jafant, i can’t really say more than what i would do. Personally i would look at Wadia di322 or 320. Could i afford i would go for di322 over any other machine. I have not heard any of them, but i liked 381. So my curiousity is very high talking di322. If you use active speakers you don’t miss a pre-amp using Wadia. Primary like the body of Wadia (Algorithm A) and the sound field is more intact and centered, than speaker A and B. You have a very strong body in the low midrange and a firm bass with punch. I would say Wadia has a sound that is leaving little lacking (if anything). My unit was bought by a guy obsessed with ARC. Actually he was so obsessed with ARC first time he was here, i had to tell him he better go home and buy ARC. Somehow he got around and came back. As far as i know, he was pleased landing the 381. IMO, many people focus too much on tech and dacs used. I would say the analog section in conjunction with the tech is where the magic happens,.. or simply don’t. Some machines simply leave me unimpressed with the music. The best these days, is going with a true active speaker and a minimalistic front end. Optimize this, position and acoustics and i think you place your money at the best horses. |
@rird Your Wadai that you like the sound of has Multibit conversion. With the 4 x PCM1704 dac chips. WADIA 381i 4 x PCM1704-K + 2 x DSP56004FJ50 StreamUnlimited I suggest you look for a dac that uses the same or similar Multibit conversion technology. Here is a list go through it and find something that uses PCM1704 dacs then go on line and see if it does usb. Mostly only hiend dacs only use the PCM1704 today http://vasiltech.narod.ru/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm Here are 4 from the A's
AQUA ACOUSTIC LA SCALA 4 x PCM1704-K It's a DAC AQUA ACOUSTIC LA SCALA MKII 4 x PCM1704-K + XMOS USB It's a DAC AQUA ACOUSTIC LA VOCE TDA1541-R1 / AD1865N-K / 2 x PCM1704 It's a DAC AQUA ACOUSTIC LA VOCE S2 TDA1541-R1 / AD1865N-K / 2 x PCM1704 It's a DAC Cheers George |
