Ferrum WANDLA - Impressions Thread

[George Hincapie]

It does not work with DSD no, doing any DSP to DSD requires conversion back to PCM.
The tube mode should work with DSD though

Do try running Sinc-M/Sinc-L via PCM (TDPF dither, 32 bit) though into the Wandla, that's my personal fav

Have you created a tutorial for setting up HQP from scratch? If not, would you be willing to?

 

[GoldenSound]

Have you created a tutorial for setting up HQP from scratch? If not, would you be willing to?

I have text instructions pinned in the #dacs-and-digital channel in my discord

https://discord.gg/hifi

 

[Matro5]

If you like your Wandla already then I would go for GSE upgrade.

To me I had to get Hypsos. With stock PSU the Wandla is too aggressive for my tastes, I get ear fatigue quickly. Hypsos makes the sound more organic and natural. Maybe it's not a benefit if you listen to hard music like Rock, Metal, etc.

This is really helpful -thank you. I don't find the stock Wandla fatiguing, but then I'm using a tube integrated so maybe that helps things.

I am 99% pretty I'll snag the Hypsos eventually just as a way to wring every last bit of performance out of the Wandla as I really like its fom factor, upgradeability, and, of course, the sound quality. In my office space is at a premium bc I don't have a proper hifi rack so I have size-constraints that make the Wandla a perfect solution. Really happy so far.

 

[johnnym]

Do try running Sinc-M/Sinc-L via PCM (TDPF dither, 32 bit) though into the Wandla, that's my personal fav

I didn’t think you usually went beyond 24-bit? I’ll have to try this.

 

[GoldenSound]

I didn’t think you usually went beyond 24-bit? I’ll have to try this.

Usually no, but the features like the impact+ are done with 64 bit precision in the Wandla and the ess modulator accepts 32 bit input so for this DAC it is worth inputting 32 bit

 

[krude]

Got it. Thanks for the insight.

I see you have the Audio Note E Spe He - those are on the short list alongside the Devore 096 / Thirty for the next system. I'd probably bring the Wandla to the party in that setup.

I wonder if it is possible to test the GSE firmware before purchase? @GoldenSound would know I am guessing.

Back to the music....

Great speakers, Wandla is a great foundation for these. Hypsos is a must with these at least for me. It adds a lot of stage depth and improves the timbre significantly.

 

[TheR0v3r]

Understand this idea but becoming less and less comfortable in using pricing to describe performance:

it plays in 5k maybe even 10k class of DACs.

At this point, and given the quality of the Wandla GSE, it would probably make more sense to discuss and compare individual DAC’s. IMHO.

 

[CompetentAccident]

I have text instructions pinned in the #dacs-and-digital channel in my discord

https://discord.gg/hifi

Thanks @GoldenSound but if it's this "HQPlayer Easy-Start settings" pinned link then it 404s for me, not sure if that's the case for others:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/106xSVmY-4ct2IZMJX4jY81vZlkaNitU0?usp=sharing

Do you use Wanda's own HQPlayer-produced filters in addition when feeding it with the HQPlayer settings you mentioned above? Or is it a case of one or the other?

 

[slsmaster]

Thanks @GoldenSound but if it's this "HQPlayer Easy-Start settings" pinned link then it 404s for me, not sure if that's the case for others:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/106xSVmY-4ct2IZMJX4jY81vZlkaNitU0?usp=sharing

Do you use Wanda's own HQPlayer-produced filters in addition when feeding it with the HQPlayer settings you mentioned above? Or is it a case of one or the other?

You should definitly run Wandal with usampling or DSD256 to skip MOST of its internal filtering when using HQPlayer on your pc.

See:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hqp...s-rolling-thread.968141/page-96#post-18151656

 

[JimRicketts]

Usually no, but the features like the impact+ are done with 64 bit precision in the Wandla and the ess modulator accepts 32 bit input so for this DAC it is worth inputting 32 bit

For Wandla owners with v3.0 motherboard, are there upgrade (firmware) paths available?

 

[slsmaster]

For Wandla owners with v3.0 motherboard, are there upgrade (firmware) paths available?

AFAIK, it will be upgradable.

But the feature to switch between Red Book and Pro spec will be done via attenuation of the signal and not by a voltage divider, as it lacks the HW to do so.

 

[George Hincapie]

Will Wandla GSE be at CJ London?

 

[GoldenSound]

You should definitly run Wandal with usampling or DSD256 to skip MOST of its internal filtering when using HQPlayer on your pc.

See:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hqp...s-rolling-thread.968141/page-96#post-18151656

As stated in that post when feeding it 705.6/768khz pcm the internal filter is bypassed anyway.

Both max rate pcm and dsd just get fed straight to the modulator.

But also some of the GSE features like spatial enhancement won't work with dsd input.

 

[GoldenSound]

Will Wandla GSE be at CJ London?

Yep! Hifonix will have it on demo

 

[George Hincapie]

Yep! Hifonix will have it on demo

Will you be there to make sure they set it up properly? I listened to the stack last year and was disappointed. I really want to experience the magic...