Quote:
Originally Posted by Rico67 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
It sounds like wadia become an integrator...
B&O have more style...
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In a sense Wadia has always been an "integrator", they didn't build their own CD transport, just OEM'd it. But the results are fantastic, Wadia >> B&O any day (I have CDPs from each of them and have done a direct A/B of Line Out from each, to the same amp for a valid comparison).
Clearly you stack the iTransport on top of the DAC, the rubber spike feet of the iTransport fitting perfectly into the holes on the top of the DAC corner pieces (the iTransport has the same holes, strange, since obviously it has to be on the top).
If the HP amp were a third box the stack would be too much, so they put an amp inside as an option -- the Benchmark DAC-1 (competition) has one of course. To A/B the Benchmark's HP out vs a RSA amp, I used my Predator.
So, CDP S/PDIF --> Benchmark --> RCA out --> Converter Cable --> Predator vs directly listening to Benchmark. I used AT AD2K's and Doors "People are Strange". I heard no difference. To be sure I had not gone deaf, I then tried my Beta 22 and indeed heard sharper transients and better overall dynamics and range, pretty obvious. But the Predator is equal, or slightly better perhaps, than HP out of Benchmark. (I know there are modders who improve HP out on Benchmark but mine is stock).
So let's not count this embedded HP amp out yet. Wadia is known for digital audio engineering, straight up amplification may not be a design strength, who knows. I applaud what they did!
BTW -- I know no one will believe me, but listen someday if you can -- the beyerdynamic HeadZone with the surround-sound and headtracking stuff turned totally off becomes an amazing compact one-box slick looking DAC + HP AMP combo with fantastic SQ. I let others listen at the NJ meet and people agreed. I didn't try it in this A/B experiment, but when I am less lazy I will.
Having said all this, for my office desktop system I now use the iTransport into a moodlab DAC then into a Head-Direct EF-1. If I replace the moodlab DAC with the Wadia DAC (which I will, just to stack them, and because the Wadia DAC in my Waida CDP is so damn good), I will not get the RSA HP amp option, even though I like the Predator, because nothing will beat the EF-1 in this size category. Even more so after I do the HiFlight (fanastic Head-Fi'er!) mod to it, which I am about to do. The tube glow starts conversation at the office flowing, allowing me to win more converts to the high end.