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Wadia 861 or Aero Capitole MK1?

After much researching and headaches it has finally came down to the last 2 finalist which are the Wadia 861 and the Aero Capitole MKI. Neither one of these CD-Player will be driving a Jeff Rowland model 10 direct without a Preamp. So if anyone could give me a couple more inputs, I'll be done and settled, happily listening to music till the next upgrade bug bites again.
aron
avnut
153 posts
 
Finally, an honest and educated assesment of the virtues and differences between the Wadia 861 and the AA Capitole.

Thank you RAL. Thank you.
listener
36 posts
 
RAL,

You hit it on the mark on the balance point (SS amp & AA). I had always been an SS amp guy. The AA MK I did the right things in my system. Took some of the edge off the SS amp mids and highs, yet still has some good bass slam. The very reason I chose the Capitole over the Wadia. Plus, the Wadia just didn't engage me the way the AA did. Also, I thought it lacked the low freq. extension, at least in my system (Plinius SA-250 or Krell FPB600).

Can't wait to see if the MK II will improve on that.
omega_tec
7 posts
 
It comes down to your sonic tastes and priorities. I have both the W861 and the Audio Aero 24/192 Capitole MkI.

The Wadia players, in general, have a slightly dark character to them (might be because of the digimaster high frequency roll off). They are beautifully made and are very attractive looking. The sound is very detailed and the soundstage is very large. Dynamically they are in the top segments of CD players. Downsides (for me) are that I still notice a very very slight electronic haze to the sound. The digital volume control also has some limitations. Overall the the W861 is a super CD player.

The Audio Aero Capitole 24/192 MkI is also a wonderful machine. The Capitole uses a fantastic sound shaping and upsampling chip custom made by Anagram for Audio Aero. This chip helps extract additional musical information from normal Red book CDs. Sonically the Capitole just sounds more organic and liquid than any CD player I have yet heard. Tonally I would say it is quite neutral, leaning just very slightly towards a warmer presentation. The Capitole also has an excellent variable analogue output which gives you the option of not using a preamp. Downsides (for me) build quality is more than adequate, but still not in the league of the Wadia. The Cds and the magnetic puck can fall deep inside the Capitole. The only way to retrieve them is to take the cover off the chasis. Overall the Capitole is very very good and livens up the music in a very special way.

Hope this helps
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