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Linn vs. Wadia

I was just checking out the specs on the Linn Ikemi and Wadia 830. The head-to-head comparison of the specs are quite interesting... MSRP Price: Ikemi $3500, Wadia $3250-$4000 depending on options Transport: Ikemi - proprietary design from the $20k Sondek CD12 (regarded as best CD player in the world). Hundreds of thousands went into R&D. Constructed from machined aluminum. Value of transport alone is around $2k since the Ikemi transport doubles the price of the Genki, which is essentially the same player (chassis, DAC and power supply). Wadia - dipped into the Pioneer parts bin and modified(?) the transport that originally went into sub $1k mass-market Pioneer machines. Value of transport around $200? DAC/Digital filter: Ikemi - less sophisticated variation of the Sondek, but still a proprietary 24k delta sigma design that decodes HDCD beautifully. Wadia - no HDCD decoding, because you get Digimaster (whoopie), DAC is from the same parts bin as everyone else. Chassis: Linn - same dated but functional box as their lesser models. Wadia - not much better until you move up to the 850/860. Preamp: Linn - have to use preamp or integrated, like you are supposed to in hi-end. Wadia - digitally shreds the sound up like the volume control on my personal computer. Sound: I have not heard either so I won't comment. Guess which player I'm expecting to give better sound? :) Where's the beef? I'm rather appalled that a "leader" in digital audio technology like Wadia hasn't in their over 10 year history even bothered to develop a transport that pushes the state of the art. So where are all the R&D bucks supposed to be going? I always thought that Wadia was like a pure bred Ferrari, but now I find that this "Ferrari" has a Honda engine and a Ford transmission!
hifinut604

Showing 2 responses by kevinmills39af

kevinmills39af
2 posts
 
Can anyone with a Wadia 301 check if thier platter wobbles at all. Mine does(the bearing seems slack)and may be the cause of the early failure of the servo module as it tries to track a wobbling CD on the platter.

Thanks

Kev.
kevinmills39af
2 posts
 
Although I had a Linn Karik III for 4 years and have had a Wadia 301 for the last 9 months, I don't pretend to offer a definative comparison.
I have to concede to HiFinut604's point in that the Wadia is clearly a collection from other manufacturer's parts bins (and some fairly budget bins at that). While I'm sure Linn share similarities with other manufacturer's they clearly include much of their own design.
The transport/drawer unit of the Linn IMO is far better engineered than the Pioneer unit in the Wadia.
As for the sound, I had wondered if I'd made the right choice when I first used the Wadia. However, when I tried the Linn 8 months later when I was getting ready to sell it, I was surprised at how much better the Wadia was. It was also apparent the transport on the Linn was far slicker and more robust than the Pioneer unit.
A month after selling the Linn, I am now without a player as the Transport mech. has developed a fault (did I mention it was a pioneer?)and has been returned to the importer. This incident has undermined my confidence in Wadia especially as they only offer a 12 month warranty on the mechanicals and electronics (what's left?). When asked how long the repair would take, the dealer said he had no idea as he had never had to return one before.....A bit of a double edged sword!
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