Elliot is correct: Wadax has shipped no Reference Transports as yet (you can probably expect deliveries to start toward the end of Q124). However, let's not forget that the Atlantis Reference Transport has been in production for many years. In this case, 'Reference' refers to the optional 3xAES/EBU interface for the Reference DAC. I've been using the Atlantis transport pretty much since its introduction and, in that time it displaced various (underrated) CEC models and Wadia pieces, while easily trumping anything else that's come my way. In part that has to be down to the proprietary interface - although that only became available with the arrival of the Ref DAC. But indications are that Wadax know what they are doing with the mechanical aspects of the transport, while their in-house interface engineering is also extremely good - as witness the AKASA optical interface used between the Ref Server and Ref DAC. If my understanding is correct, AKASA optical will also be offered on the new Reference Transport, which given the DNA, suggests that for those who own Ref DACs and want to spin optical disc, the Ref Transport will be the first (if not the last) port of call. As a high-res file-replay sceptic, I'm awaiting the unit's arrival with some impatience...
Maybe I misunderstood your various reviews of the Wadax reference dac and server combination but I got the strong impression from your comments that you are no longer a “high-res-replay-sceptic” and enjoying this combo tremendously. Therefore I suppose I should interpret your last sentence as follows: the Wadax reference (sa)cd transport might sound even better than the server.Elliot is correct: Wadax has shipped no Reference Transports as yet (you can probably expect deliveries to start toward the end of Q124). However, let's not forget that the Atlantis Reference Transport has been in production for many years. In this case, 'Reference' refers to the optional 3xAES/EBU interface for the Reference DAC. I've been using the Atlantis transport pretty much since its introduction and, in that time it displaced various (underrated) CEC models and Wadia pieces, while easily trumping anything else that's come my way. In part that has to be down to the proprietary interface - although that only became available with the arrival of the Ref DAC. But indications are that Wadax know what they are doing with the mechanical aspects of the transport, while their in-house interface engineering is also extremely good - as witness the AKASA optical interface used between the Ref Server and Ref DAC. If my understanding is correct, AKASA optical will also be offered on the new Reference Transport, which given the DNA, suggests that for those who own Ref DACs and want to spin optical disc, the Ref Transport will be the first (if not the last) port of call. As a high-res file-replay sceptic, I'm awaiting the unit's arrival with some impatience...
Didn't mention the OP this device?Anyone audition it or try it and decide against it? if so, what did you go with? Thx
By now there are quite a lot high resolution native files available in the dsd 256 and dxd format. In particular the dxd files sound awesome in my set up with the Wadax reference server / dac combo. Think of the native dxd recordings of brands such as for example Challenge Classics (in particular the great recordings by Bert van der Wolf), Reference Recordings (the Soundmirror team; generally I prefer the dxd format to the dsd 256 format), 2l (for example their dxd choir recordings sound exquisite), Trptk, etc. In my set up I prefer these native files to the (sa)cd’s (btw, I am playing with the Zanden 2000p cd-transport).The Reference Server is the first streaming solution that I actually listento for pleasure. It is also the first streaming (or file replay) solution that can - occasionally - surpass the performance of the equivalent optical disc. The Atlantis Transport remains generally superior to my ears and yes, I anticipate that the reference transport should sound better still.
The Reference Server is the first streaming solution that I actually listento for pleasure. It is also the first streaming (or file replay) solution that can - occasionally - surpass the performance of the equivalent optical disc. The Atlantis Transport remains generally superior to my ears and yes, I anticipate that the reference transport should sound better still.
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