Yes, the reason that it is lacking in detail retrieval is that it simply doesn't have the ability to resolve the detail that my EMM Labs XDS1 could, which is now significantly eclipsed by the detail retrieval of my current front end.
Look, nobody is telling you that you shouldn't stick with and enjoy your Wadia. Just don't delude yourself - it's simply outclassed by today's SOTA digital (note I didn't say all digital - almost all of these hyped low to mid-range sub$15k units aren't anywhere as good imo as everyone goes on about so I could definitely understand preference for the older generation Wadia - hell, I'd probably be one of those people).
Btw, if I were you, the last thing I would focus on is detail retrieval as that's pretty easy to objectively compare. If you had said you prefer the older Wadia's warm sound and subterranean tubby bass, you'd be on much more solid ground as that's a preference and is certainly understandable (I actually have a fondness for that romantic Wadia sound but the SOTA digital world has moved on).
Look, nobody is telling you that you shouldn't stick with and enjoy your Wadia. Just don't delude yourself - it's simply outclassed by today's SOTA digital (note I didn't say all digital - almost all of these hyped low to mid-range sub$15k units aren't anywhere as good imo as everyone goes on about so I could definitely understand preference for the older generation Wadia - hell, I'd probably be one of those people).
Btw, if I were you, the last thing I would focus on is detail retrieval as that's pretty easy to objectively compare. If you had said you prefer the older Wadia's warm sound and subterranean tubby bass, you'd be on much more solid ground as that's a preference and is certainly understandable (I actually have a fondness for that romantic Wadia sound but the SOTA digital world has moved on).