Wadia with or without a preamp ?

Keep in mind that "bits are bits" and a digital volume control as used on the wadia players strips bits to digitally attenuate volume. This is why the players have the sensitivity switches inside and why wadia recommends setting them so you run the higher end of the volume control for normal listening. Regardless of any marketing hype and hoodoo, stripping bits = loss of fidelity.

My friend who had an 830, and all who listened agreed that his system was better served when the BAT VK50SE preamp was introduced between the 830 and his amp.

Paul

I had an 830 that I tried direct with a number of amps, Classe, Krell, Plinius, Music Reference and Sim Audio. I never liked it direct. It was always better with a linestage, not even close.

yes Wadias with Vandys and direct into tube amps- THE BEST!

I recently bought a Wadia 270/27ix to "upgrade" from my Sonic Frontiers T3/P3 run through a BAT VK-50SE. Having a baby in the house meant huge variations on the volume at which I listen, depending whether the baby was in the room or in another part of the house. At low volumes, the Wadia was terrible sounding so I sold the Wadia stuff and now realize how happy I am with my SF front end. If you always listen at the same level, a properly adjusted Wadia sounds unbeliveble direct. If you turn it down for conversation or other reasons, better have a preamp in there. However, that said, Wadia does upsample so that bits are not lost if you are not playing full tilt. This only becomes an issue when you have VERY discrepant listneing levels.

I run a Wadia 860x direct to tube amps with Dunlavy speakers. I have not really tried a preamp much with the Wadia. I did try an Adacom GFP 750, and I liked it better with the Wadia direct. In my system the Wadia is far from bright, I would even say that it leans toward the laid back side of things. I don't really notice that the volume setting affects audio quality either. I don't usually ever play with it less than 50. If you have a preamp try it before you sell it. It seems like the guys who think that Wadia direct is bad either have solid state amps and a tube preamp or a big dollar preamp.