Wadia direct into amp, Sound a bit too lean??

Hi Stan,
The voltage setting for my Wadia is 0.5vrms, and I'm using Balanced outputs which doubles up to 1.0vrms (I think I found this info in Audio Asylum). I can only keep my volume level above 85 with this setting to get the maximum resolution from its digital based volume control. In other words, this setting is my only choice. Do you prefer Wadia with a preamp or without?

Jerry

Hi Jerry, At this point, I prefer the Wadia with a preamp; however, I'm still breaking in my amp, which was a demo. The Rowland 302 had 100 playing hours on it, but then sat at the dealers for 6 months without being used. I've put about 60-70 hours on it so far. I've heard that there's about 300 hours of breakin. What's your experience with the Jeff Rowland 302? Mine sounds better after several hours of play, but it still has a long way to go, considering what I've heard about the amp when it's broken in. Stan

Two things, I don't think Wadia doubles the voltage into balanced IC. Also it's possible to run with a RDP-1 even though it's not a transport and dac. Just use the digital out and in. Wadia is built for this purpose considering the clocklinked I/O

Hi, your system certainly seems challenging.
i think it has a lot to do with matching (a very difficult task, i believe). i have my Wadia 6 (ser no. 003) directly drive a couple of Forte amplifiers (bi-amped) from 1988-98 via balanced ICs and to my recollection, it is one of the best setups i ever had. i only introduced a pre-amp (Musical Fidelity X-P100) when i decided to go back to analogue.

Jerry, the W 6&9 combo is still, to my taste, the best digital front-end there is (even with the newer products around)... problem is, direct-driving amplifiers with a Wadia is not for everyone; it certainly is a trial method judged by your ears and musical taste.

i would not introduce any 'foreign matter' in-between my Wadia and my amp, certainly not ANY pre-amp... but you have to decide which is the 'weak link'... for me, i'd test the combo with AMPS!!... cables are nothing, just excuses for audiophiles to spend.

if you are building your system around the W 7&9, then test them with other amps; somebody mentioned a boulder, which could also be your ticket... i would be very cautious in using the combo to drive tube amps... i suppose i'm just chicken :-)

enjoy the hunt!
edgar

I hadbeen using my wadia 861 directly plugged into amplifier. I had adjusted the voltage output so on most recordings volume was set >90

I recently purchased a preamplifier and there is an overwhelming improvement in sound.

I'm not sure what the preamp does but it clearly not a volunme control. For me it resulted in improved balance, tonality, and the prolly the most 3d imaging adn resolution.

cant recommend to get a preamp enough. your wadia will sound like a different player