Legacy Wavelet as Preamp/DAC/DSP vs just DSP

I hope this thread generates many replies.  I presently use  a DEQX HDP-3 DSP as a preamp, crossover, speaker correction, room correction, time correction, etc. component for my triamplified fully horn loaded system.  I would like to learn more about the Wavelet to see if it might be an upgrade for the DEQX.

Simple; try all possible permutations.  Almost assured to achieve not only superior, but vastly superior sound. Read my review of Whisper DSW and of V Speaker systems at Dagogo.com for more input.

The gentleman inquiring about DEQX may also appreciate. 

Thanks, @douglas_schroeder - I surely plan to do so later next week as the speakers come in, but also just curious what others’ journeys have been so I can compare notes. I’ll definitely give your posts a read!

One thing that I want to avoid is multiple DAC's in series, and this device does just that.  You could use a separate DAC, but that analog signal will be re-digitized (Analog-to-Digital conversion) and re-DAC'd.

By using it as the DAC, you keep your signal in the digital domain until the outputs.

So, my advice to you is to listen to the whole proposition.  Do you love the Legacay / Wavelet speaker ? Is it enthralling and going to give you a far superior experience than you've had, or no?  If yes, I'd forego another DAC.

Of course, nothing is stopping you from keeping your PS Audio, but the real judge will be your own ears.

@erik_squires - I was thinking the same thing regarding the double conversion. I wish there was a way to use the Wavelet just as the processor going digital out to the DirectStream DAC but don’t think that’s really an option since I need the outputs of the Wavelet to go to the amplifiers built into the Aeris.

Would you say the same for using a separate preamp? I’ll be testing around all combinations as the combo arrives later this week. FWIW, I loved the Aeris when I heard them in person, but granted that was not with my equipment and not in my listening room.

You can ask Audio Classics, they are a huge Legacy dealer and I believe they have them set up on the main floor for listening.  They would know for sure.  They are still answering email at this time. 

Honestly I'd just pick one or the other.  Keep your PS Audio and current set up or decide the upgrade is worth doing and sell the DAC. Every change requires some sacrifice. :)

I have the legacy Valors and the Wavelet - the wavelet replaced a very expensive $20k plus preamp and DAC - I was VERY hesitant to even try the wavelet alone...but I blew a fuse in my DAC and thought - ok, what have I got to lose...and ended going with the wavelet as preamp and DAC after extensive listening...

An audiophile friend who thought my DAC and preamp was one of the most analog sounding setups couldn't believe it. He came over for a listen and was very surprised. So was I, but to have really good sound and make a couple of bucks, what the heck...

The preamp did have an amazing phone stage - but I am now full hi rez and its tough to beat...analog is fun though and every now and then miss a spin...

One note - the Valor's are extremely revealing - and it took a while to dial in the system even with the adjustable wavelet. the wavelet helped immensly during this process, but cords, cables, the room, tweaking, etc. everything matters....I have the system dialed in really well right now. very happy - 

Feel free to reach out PM 

I did go with an outboard power supply for the wavelet, which seemed to help. 

@wisper thanks for posting your experience it was helpful to Read when I was evaluating the Wavelet.

I’ve been silent on this thread for a while, but I wanted to let my impressions settle in for a while. I did receive the Aeris and Wavelet, and i spent a lot of time configuring them. That said, regardless of what I did, I could always hear the DSP in the chain. Maybe it’s just that I like a slightly colored sound with 2nd order harmonics, especially as I’m using 50W SET amps to power the mids and highs of the speaker. Whatever I did through the Bohmer room correction, it would just take away the decay and depth, and it would feel a bit too clinical for me. I tried for days, but I couldn’t get a holographic AND full/organic sound with the Wavelet.

Not sure how it came to be this way, but instead I went back to my PS Audio DirectStream DAC going into a ModWright LS-36.5 DM to my 50W Cary mono blocks into the speakers while going balanced pre out right into the speaker’s internal amps and the gain matching is coincidentally incredible, the sound is organic, resolving, and holographic. It was meant to be. I tried other spare amps ranging from 30-140wpc and it seems like 50wpc up top is the perfect match for the 500wpc powering the woofers - otherwise one section was always louder than the other. I decided to sell the Wavelet as a result and I haven’t looked back since. I know it sounds nuts, but I swear it sounds incredible, and I don’t intend to upgrade or sell these speakers, probably ever.

In full disclosure, I do also have a well-treated room - had I not had any of the room treatment, I’m sure the Wavelet would do wonders addressing reflections as well.

On another note... What did you do with your pair of Focus SE?

I'm currently looking for a used pair .

I did go with an outboard power supply for the wavelet, which seemed to help."

Curious about this. I have a Wavelet now with my Aeris. But I am boxing it up this weekend as part of moving up to the Valor. I assume you mean you replaced the Wavelet’s already-outboard in-line switching PSU with a linear supply? Which one, and where did you source your cable? I’ve been thinking about trying this with a spare Keces I have and a cable I have yet to locate. Any advice appreciated.

FWIW, for anyone else interested in going with an outboard linear PSU for the Wavelet, here are some options I have found:

1. Keces P8 PSU plus custom umbilical made by Ghent Audio. Ghent makes excellent cables, and he is fabbing one for me with a 2.5mm tip on one end for the Keces, and a 5-pin Neutrik XLR on the other for the Wavelet. We’ll see how that works; I like Keces, and have good success with them powering a number of devices.

2. Plixir Power Elite BDC, with custom umbilical cord. James Soh there is very helpful. I’ve been looking forward to trying a Plixir product, and while it’s not the balanced power supply I thought I would first try, this is a good start. Their products have received some very nice reviews. James features several use-case-specific versions of the BDC on his website, and I have suggested he list one for the Wavelet as well. Given our hobby’s obsession with improving every last detail of a system, I would not be surprised to find other Wavelet owners interested. And being able to source this option from one vendor, as opposed to two, might be advantageous.

3. HDPlex 300W PSU plus a custom umbilical made by Revelation Audio Labs. This is the combo in zephyr24069’s system. Brad Vojtech of Revelation is superb to work with. Some—though probably no one here—might find his cable is a tad pricey at $349 for 1.5m. Unfortunately, I have never been able to purchase an HDPlex PSU, though I have tried at least 5 times over the past couple of years. They have always been out of stock, and when they have become available, I have already found other solutions.
Anyway, I hope this helps.

@meambler sorry for the late reply, but I sold my Focus SE to be able to acquire my Aeris. Good luck on getting one. It is a great speaker.

Hey, dies_irae, your post re outboard PSU is exactly what i needed for my new Aeris/Wavelet setup.  I’m gonna try to track down the HDPlex 300 plus the Revelation cable.  I’ll let you know if I have success.  Thanks for posting.

@mitchel 

Congrads on your new system… some fyi stuff to read… 

 

Steve

thanks, steve.  really interesting stuff.  don’t know the reviewer, but he has certainly surfaced some good options.  my biggest concern is really availability (ala HDPlex) and having somebody reliable provide a simple umbilical solution.  will be talking to the Plixir folks, who might be a good one-stop option.  will let you know where I end up.

 

Hey mitchel, any updates on what you've found.

I've been in touch with Legacy re power supplies and they report one of their Wavelet owners is using this:

https://ferrum.audio/hypsos/

I ordered the Aeris along with the Wavelet a few weeks ago. My greatest concern over the purchase of these speakers is the compromise I may have to deal with my DAC. 

My integrated does not have any preouts. My DAC, as I understand, will have to input into the Wavelet and possibly get another digital to analog conversion. The DAC is the Allnic D10000 and is the cornerstone of my system.

Bill Duddleson offered to build me a 'box' that will use the speaker outputs and convert them to XLR inputs bypassing the Wavelet saving the purity of the DAC to the mids and tweets. 

I'm sure there's something I'm missing here thus the post is aimed at the experts here.

Checking in on this thread to see how folks' experience is. I continue to prefer my system with the Wavelet II and the Vivaldi stack, together, even though that involves an extra ADA round trip. When I run the Wavelet as my DAC, the system is still excellent, but seems a bit less organic. Yeah, I know, audiophile buzzword. but it's the best I've got.

Bill Duddleson offered to build me a 'box' that will use the speaker outputs and convert them to XLR inputs bypassing the Wavelet saving the purity of the DAC to the mids and tweets. 

I'm not clear on what this means. Bill's a super-smart guy, so maybe this is obvious to him, but wouldn't this mean bypassing room correction in the Wavelet as well? I would love a way for my Vivaldi DAC to "replace" the DAC segment of the Bohmer, if everything could stay in a single digital domain, but I doubt that's a real possibility. My Valors require the preamp/crossover function of the Wavelet for now [short of a custom xover], so I can't get away from the Wavelet entirely [and don't really want to anyway].

Another reason I would love to have this option, is that I want to try some Trinnov gear ahead of the Vivaldi to see how that compares to the Bohmer.

Interesting thread since I am also a recent owner of the Wavelet II for my Focus XD speakers. Running the VAC Renaissance 70/70 amp on top. I found that if you send Ed at Legacy an email with your wavelet Serial number they can look up your sweeps and give you assistance on getting it right. It took me several tries but we got it sounding really good. I have now acquired a HDPlex LPS and waiting for the Ghent Audio DC umbilical cord to arrive to power the wavelet II. It take 2-3 weeks to get.

I've been in touch with Legacy re power supplies and they report one of their Wavelet owners is using this:

https://ferrum.audio/hypsos/

Interesting. Ferrum does not list the Wavelet or any iteration of a Legacy or Bohmer  product on their compatibility list. I've written them to see if perhaps they do offer an umbilical compatible with the Wavelet. I remain very happy with the Plixir LPS I have, but, well, obsession.