Breaking the High-Dollar Statement DAC Price/Performance Barrier - Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC

[gleeds]

Hello,

I'm a bit late to this thread. I've been using a Rockna Wavedream Signature SE for a few years, first with Innuos and now with a Taiko Extreme, and really love the sound. Never had an issue with it and I hope Rockna continues to support it with software updates, especially if they can improve the sound even further.

But I wouldn't mind hearing the new Reference and hear what improvements it brings to the table. As I'm in Canada, it was easier when the distributor was here.

Arun

Hello Arun, I apologize for missing your earlier post. As the North American Distributor, we have an excellent partner in Canada who can arrange an in-home demo. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised by Nicolae's modern interpretation of the Wavedream performance when used with the Taiko server.

Mr. Ian Anderson of Northstar Audio. His contact info is listed below.

Ian@northstaraudio.ca
1 (519) 505-6668

 

[Zeins]

Recently I had a chance to listen to the Wadax studio player demoed at a friend’s place and compared to wavedream reference signature, the wadax studio player is on loan from the dealer and may not have been fully optimized for my friend’s system.

Both dacs had different sound signature and sounded great however for my listening preferences, I still preferred the Rockna wave dream reference.

Wadax: played music has lots of body and texture as compared to the Rockna wavedream signature.

Rockna wdrs: comparatively more open sound and agile in the way music is played.

Thanks the Rockna team for bringing this wonderful dac for my daily enjoyment.

 

[gleeds]

Recently I had a chance to listen to the Wadax studio player demoed at a friend’s place and compared to wavedream reference signature, the wadax studio player is on loan from the dealer and may not have been fully optimized for my friend’s system.

Both dacs had different sound signature and sounded great however for my listening preferences, I still preferred the Rockna wave dream reference.

Wadax: played music has lots of body and texture as compared to the Rockna wavedream signature.

Rockna wdrs: comparatively more open sound and agile in the way music is played.

Thanks the Rockna team for bringing this wonderful dac for my daily enjoyment.

Zeins, thank you for a fantastic endorsement and for an accurate description of the transparency and faithfulness Nicolae was striving for, TY. May I ask what server/streamer you are using and whether you're running it through the Wavedream Roon-ready streamer or another device?

 

[Zeins]

Hi Gleeds,

For my home setup, I’m using LUMIN U2 (roon ready) usb out to Rockna WDRS and silent angel Z1plus as a roon server.

For the setup which the Wadax studio player was tested and compared to Rockna dac, the ideon absolute server meta was used and lan out to Rockna wdrs and Wadax studio player.

Actually I also heard the Wadax server, the sound signature is consistent with the Dac.

Waiting for the Rockna updated version of the server before considering a change to my home setup. Because of the inconsistency in the looks of their new and old devices

 

[gleeds]

Hi Gleeds,

For my home setup, I’m using LUMIN U2 (roon ready) usb out to Rockna WDRS and silent angel Z1plus as a roon server.

For the setup which the Wadax studio player was tested and compared to Rockna dac, the ideon absolute server meta was used and lan out to Rockna wdrs and Wadax studio player.

Actually I also heard the Wadax server, the sound signature is consistent with the Dac.

TY Zeins. I have heard the Lumin U2 and WDRS. This and their new top-of-the-line box will be used with the WDRS at next week's New York Audio Show. Should be fun!

 

[Zeins]

TY Zeins. I have heard the Lumin U2 and WDRS. This and their new top-of-the-line box will be used with the WDRS at next week's New York Audio Show. Should be fun!

Hope that Rockna will share more details on their new top of the line box soon

 

[gleeds]

Hope that Rockna will share more details on their new top of the line box soon

Zeins, development is underway for several new products, among them a CD drive with a special link to the WDRS, a top-level server, and a new entry-level Rockna DAC. A big daddy brother to the WDRS is contemplated but not yet finalized, so likely not until 2027. We will be working with our partners for owners of the WDRS who want to upgrade to a next-level unit, should one desire to do so, once it becomes available.

 

[audio42]

Hello Arun, I apologize for missing your earlier post. As the North American Distributor, we have an excellent partner in Canada who can arrange an in-home demo. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised by Nicolae's modern interpretation of the Wavedream performance when used with the Taiko server.

Mr. Ian Anderson of Northstar Audio. His contact info is listed below.

Ian@northstaraudio.ca
1 (519) 505-6668

Great news and thank you for the update.

Arun

 

[gleeds]

Ready for tomorrow's opening day at the New York Audio Show (in NJ

The mighty Wavedream Reference Signature with Von Schweikert, Westminsterlab, Trafomatic 30a SE flagship preamplifier, and the relatively new Lumin X1 streamer.

 

[audio42]

Ready for tomorrow's opening day at the New York Audio Show (in NJ

The mighty Wavedream Reference Signature with Von Schweikert, Westminsterlab, Trafomatic 30a SE flagship preamplifier, and the relatively new Lumin X1 streamer.

View attachment 160186

Trafomatic, nice! Should sound sublime.

 

[gleeds]

Ready for tomorrow's opening day at the New York Audio Show (in NJ

The mighty Wavedream Reference Signature with Von Schweikert, Westminsterlab, Trafomatic 30a SE flagship preamplifier, and the relatively new Lumin X1 streamer.

View attachment 160186

TY. Very nice blend of SE tone, the speed, dynamics, control and bass texture that are hallmarks of the WestminsterLab sound signature.

 

[thomask]

I had listened to Rockna, Wadax Studio and Lamp Genya during Torontoaudiofest 2025 last weekend.

All of them sounds nice.

Since I could not do side by side comparison, I can not say which is better for me.

But my initial impression is that I can be happy with any of three excellent Dacs.

 

[gleeds]

I had listened to Rockna, Wadax Studio and Lamp Genya during Torontoaudiofest 2025 last weekend.

All of them sounds nice.

Since I could not do side by side comparison, I can not say which is better for me.

But my initial impression is that I can be happy with any of three excellent Dacs.

Tomask. When you're ready, our Toronto-based partner, Northstar Audio, would be happy to arrange an in-home demo. I know all these excellent DACs well. Three different flavors, so my sense is it will come down to system overall system synergy and personal taste. PM anytime.

 

[thomask]

Tomask. When you're ready, our Toronto-based partner, Northstar Audio, would be happy to arrange an in-home demo. I know all these excellent DACs well. Three different flavors, so my sense is it will come down to system overall system synergy and personal taste. PM anytime.

Thanks for your kind offer.

But I live near Seattle.

I had been to Toronto to see my 2 months old grandchild.

 

[Ianderson]

I had listened to Rockna, Wadax Studio and Lamp Genya during Torontoaudiofest 2025 last weekend.

All of them sounds nice.

Since I could not do side by side comparison, I can not say which is better for me.

But my initial impression is that I can be happy with any of three excellent Dacs.

Thomas, it terrific to meet you here on WB. I suspect we also met at our Toronto Audiofest room a few weekends ago. My partner Matt and I brought a mashup of pieces from our collective inventory. We are both based in Kitchener an hour out of Toronto, might you be nearby? You have an open invitation to come down and compare 1st hand the Rockna, Playback Dream MPD8, Aqua Formula and Cinnamon (from Portugal) on the same system. We could also arrange getting the Rockna to your place to confirm if the synergy works with your kit.

Feel free to back channel me here, or contact me through my website https://northstaraudio.ca.

We’re happy to assist any way we can.

Cheers,
Ian Anderson

 

[thomask]

Thomas, it terrific to meet you here on WB. I suspect we also met at our Toronto Audiofest room a few weekends ago. My partner Matt and I brought a mashup of pieces from our collective inventory. We are both based in Kitchener an hour out of Toronto, might you be nearby? You have an open invitation to come down and compare 1st hand the Rockna, Playback Dream MPD8, Aqua Formula and Cinnamon (from Portugal) on the same system. We could also arrange getting the Rockna to your place to confirm if the synergy works with your kit.

Feel free to back channel me here, or contact me through my website https://northstaraudio.ca.

We’re happy to assist any way we can.

Cheers,
Ian Anderson

Thanks for your kind offer.

I enjoyed your room.

But I live near Seattle.

I had been to Toronto to see my 2 months old grandchild.

 

[Ianderson]

Hello,

I'm a bit late to this thread. I've been using a Rockna Wavedream Signature SE for a few years, first with Innuos and now with a Taiko Extreme, and really love the sound. Never had an issue with it and I hope Rockna continues to support it with software updates, especially if they can improve the sound even further.

But I wouldn't mind hearing the new Reference and hear what improvements it brings to the table. As I'm in Canada, it was easier when the distributor was here.

Arun

Arun,

Getting you a demo would be my pleasure. I see Gary provided my contact info. Feel free to reach out via our website - https://northstaraudio.ca and let’s see if we can make a demo happen. Where are you located?

Best Regards,
Ian Anderson

 

[Ianderson]

Thanks for your kind offer.

I enjoyed your room.

But I live near Seattle.

I had been to Toronto to see my 2 months old grandchild.

Thomas,

Congratulations on your new grandchild - exciting times! If you’re ever back this way we would love to host a listening session and role some tape for you.

Ian

 

[audio42]

Arun,

Getting you a demo would be my pleasure. I see Gary provided my contact info. Feel free to reach out via our website - https://northstaraudio.ca and let’s see if we can make a demo happen. Where are you located?

Best Regards,
Ian Anderson

Hello Ian,

Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I Iive in in Brampton. I will reach out when I have some time for serious listening comparisons. Unfortunately work is crazy these days and I'm putting in long hours.

Arun

 

[gleeds]

Thanks for your kind offer.

But I live near Seattle.

I had been to Toronto to see my 2 months old grandchild.

After a 37-year wait, our daughter will give birth to our first grandchild. We can't wait. I am based in California and always have several WDRS on hand for in-home evaluations. We believe this is the right way to express our confidence in what we offer and give potential customers the chance to be certain that an expensive product will provide long-term satisfaction and fit well with their sonic preferences and system. A DAC is a foundational piece of kit, so ensuring it can anchor a system is, IMO, as crucial as being sure about a new set of speakers. Reach out anytime