Wadax Munich 2022

[microstrip]

Christoph, you - as well as a few other WBF members - are constantly quite/very negative about everything that concerns Wadax: the looks of the reference server and dac are awful, the components are sounding horrible, all the reference units are outrageously priced, their customer service is bad, questions / insinuations regarding their factory in Madrid, etc (and to be absolutely clear: the last two aspects were not brought up by you). I suppose that new audio products / components that (i) receive enormous praise by three professional reviewers in different parts of the world, (ii) therefore pose a ‘threat’ to existing audio manufacturers of digital components and (iii) cost a lot of money, typicavlly draw negative comments. And that is fine (with me) as long as no false accusations or fake comments are being fabricated: after all we are very lucky to be (still) living in a free world (I refer to what is currently happening in Oekraïne) so everybody is entitled to his/her own (audio) opinion and free to express their views. That said, revealing the rrp of Wadax new products - their reference PSU and DC cables - on WBF undoubtedly will lead to additional negative comments (by the same members) and I see no reason why I should ‘contribute’ to such comments.

Audiocrack,

As soon as a very expensive high-end product with ambitions of being considered one of the best is introduced in a public forum the Pandora box is opened. IMHO the only answer to all kind of objections is a total transparency - victimization will just attract and fuel more criticism.
Pretending that our members are conspirators creating fake arguments against a brand will not help. Although WADAX is not exactly a new brand they have been idling for long - it is natural that people ask a lot of questions and write their opinions.

Again IMHO, hyperbolic reviewer opinions are interesting and I surely read them, but are not a proof of anything.

 

[Audiocrack]

Audiocrack,

As soon as a very expensive high-end product with ambitions of being considered one of the best is introduced in a public forum the Pandora box is opened. IMHO the only answer to all kind of objections is a total transparency - victimization will just attract and fuel more criticism.
Pretending that our members are conspirators creating fake arguments against a brand will not help. Although WADAX is not exactly a new brand they have been idling for long - it is natural that people ask a lot of questions and write their opinions.

Again IMHO, hyperbolic reviewer opinions are interesting and I surely read them, but are not a proof of anything.

Microstrip, nobody is claiming that “our members (in general) are conspirators creating fake arguments”. But please have a(nother) look at the Wadax reference dac thread and you will find that at least one of our (former?) members made fake statements in relation to Wadax.

Furthermore, if you read my reactions carefully I was not saying / claiming at all that Christoph was such a person (see my explicit carve out in my first reaction towards him). But of course there was no need for his insinuation towards me in his latest reaction in this thread.

As mentioned earlier in this thread, of course I am totally fine if one or more of our members does / do not appreciate this or that audio component, including Wadax. Although I disagree with Marty I noticed with great interest his Wadax experiences because WBF is all about sharing audio news and audio experiences.

And we agree that - per definition - subjective reviews are no (scientific) proof. That said, converging audio reviews regarding one audio component from experienced reviewers of three different audio magazines are not a common phenomenon and therefore (very) interesting (to me anyway). It sparked my interest in the Wadax reference dac and I am still very glad these reviews did do just that.

 

[howiebrou]

Really? Sorry to hear that…

I really don't have an issue with it at all, just being honest. It sounds good to my ears but I never feel like I'm at the Barbican or Covent Garden when I'm listening.

 

[Audiocrack]

I really don't have an issue with it at all, just being honest. It sounds good to my ears but I never feel like I'm at the Barbican or Covent Garden when I'm listening.

Totally agree with you. The brain can ‘serve’ us to a certain extent cq do a lot of ‘good audio things’ for us audiophiles but not one of the really tremendous sounding audio systems - and I have experienced quite a few of them - ever gave me the impression of being in a great music hall like ‘het Concertgebouw’ in Amsterdam. I am not saying that I am not enjoying myself tremendously as an audiophile because I do. But the scale and dynamics of an orchestra in a concerthall just cannot be duplicated imo at home in a (much smaller) listening room, no matter how good the audio system might be.

 

[Rhapsody]

You don't have to be in a music hall. Just pick up ANY tuned acoustic guitar and strum one time across the six strings. Or better yet do it on a standing harp.

There is not a system on this planet that replicates PRECISELY what you hear.

Live music and music played back on audio systems are two different experiences. Both are very enjoyable experiences, why bother arguing about it, just enjoy both of them and enjoy the musical experiences they both deliver in their own manner. imho.

 

[morricab]

Totally agree with you. The brain can ‘serve’ us to a certain extent cq do a lot of ‘good audio things’ for us audiophiles but not one of the really tremendous sounding audio systems - and I have experienced quite a few of them - ever gave me the impression of being in a great music hall like ‘het Concertgebouw’ in Amsterdam. I am not saying that I am not enjoying myself tremendously as an audiophile because I do. But the scale and dynamics of an orchestra in a concerthall just cannot be duplicated imo at home in a (much smaller) listening room, no matter how good the audio system might be.

There are a lot of other scales to consider than a full orchestra in a big hall. I think it is pretty obvious that there hasn’t yet been a system to capture that scale accurately (although there are a few that give a reasonable attempt…most crap out). I have heard systems that could do very convincing small ensembles and/or solo instruments. Not just good…lifelike. Is the illusion complete? Of course not but there is a verisimilitude that one can relate to real live music.

 

[spiritofmusic]

You don't have to be in a music hall. Just pick up ANY tuned acoustic guitar and strum one time across the six strings. Or better yet do it on a standing harp.

There is not a system on this planet that replicates PRECISELY what you hear.

Live music and music played back on audio systems are two different experiences. Both are very enjoyable experiences, why bother arguing about it, just enjoy both of them and enjoy the musical experiences they both deliver in their own manner. imho.

Because Bob, there is an increasing narrative on this forum that states the only worthwhile comparison to make is to live unamplified.
For many here, it's not enough just to enjoy both as seperate experiences.
That just about holds for classical and jazz and folk and singer songwriter. But not much else.

 

[Rhapsody]

Because Bob, there is an increasing narrative that states the only worthwhile comparison to make is to live unamplified.
For many here, it's not enough just to enjoy both as seperate experiences.

So one system gets to X % and another a few more or a lot more %, still "probably" never going to get there.

And the beat goes on....

Edit- The narrative of judging audio systems of how close it gets or replicates live acoustic performances is fine for the 20 or X number of intellects on WBF, but there another couple hundred thousand audio system listeners that just use their audio systems or headphones to enjoy music.

More power and enjoyment to both camps.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I believe you just summed up this forum lol.

 

[bonzo75]

I believe you just summed up this forum lol.

You aren't with us 20

 

[andromedaaudio]

We have an " elite forum section " with systems that resemble live performances or get very close to it .

Below that is the dumb money who just buy what they like .

The elite 20 has a lot to defend off course (is in constant battle to stay on " top " lol ) , the rest couldnt give a ...

 

[Rhapsody]

You aren't with us 20

Nope I’m not. I just like to listen to audio systems to listen to music that I like.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Sorry, what/who is the "20"?
Is this some sexy, secretive organisation bent on world domination. Or a bunch of dusty audiophiles wittering on about the meaning of their "journeys"?

 

[andromedaaudio]

secretive organisation bent on world domination.

Forum domination , after that all bets are off

 

[morricab]

We have an " elite forum section " with systems that resemble live performances or get very close to it .

Below that is the dumb money who just buy what they like .

The elite 20 has a lot to defend off course (is in constant battle to stay on " top " lol ) , the rest couldnt give a ...

There is nothing to defend…you either accept live, unamplified music as the only sonic reference or you go full subjectivism and what “sounds good to me” is right for each individual. If you go that route there is no real reason to have audio debates of any kind. Plus, when unmoored to real live music your whim of what sounds “good” and “right” can change frequently, which sure helps the industry!

 

[Stereophonic]

A Show is just a storefront.
Just an experience to get a funny time to see last brand launches which are showed only with business interest, no for best audio experience.
Every brand looks for a partner to pay the Show cost…
These are reasons i never go to Shows.
It is very funny to see how everybody is going up in fashion to the “ last big thing”.
Wadax Ref. Line.
I didn’t get a conclusion of any system.
I don’t like Transparent cables and Audio Research so the improvement of Wadax Ref. isn’t useful to me.
I don’t like Göbel cables, they are slow and bad energy balanced so same conclusion.
Karma are fatiguing to me and Fono Acustica cables are very diffuse, same conclusion.
The better is your system, more sensible.
A lot of variables are involved.
Just an example:
Same recording in same system perfectly calibrated after years of research with only one change. DC cable from LPS to router.

The song touches my soul very much today. #audioexotics #wadax #ayakahirahara | By ????Audio Exotics | Facebook

The song touches my soul very much today. #audioexotics #wadax #ayakahirahara

fb.watch

This is the same video I posted on April 2nd. The only change is a DC cord connecting to the linear power supply of a modem, which in turn connects to... | By ????Audio Exotics | Facebook

This is the same video I posted on April 2nd. The only change is a DC cord connecting to the linear power supply of a modem, which in turn connects to...

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I’ll receive mine next week.
After 4 years i’m still working to get best sound of my Atlantis Dac and Server so i laught when somebody can get a conclusion in a few minutes.

 

[andromedaaudio]

you either accept live, unamplified music as the only

...... religion or you re doomed to burn in audio hell for the rest of your audio life lol .
Doesnt it all sound a bit fundamentalistic to you morricab ?

And if i like electronic music morricab , how does the " elite 20 " deal with that lol ?

 

[bonzo75]

Nope I’m not. I just like to listen to audio systems to listen to music that I like.

I was referring to Marc.,

 

[morricab]

...... religion or you re doomed to burn in audio hell for the rest of your audio life lol .
Doesnt it all sound a bit fundamentalistic to you morricab ?

And if i like electronic music morricab , how does the " elite 20 " deal with that lol ?

Not at all. Real live music exists…try going to hear it sometime…religion is based on faith in something existing that you cannot sense and have no means of logically evaluating. I talk about objective vs. Subjective but objective in the sense of measurements only. I mean using the ear/brain as the measurement tool to evaluate realism in reproduction. You need an anchor of some kind to do this…luckily there is one.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I was referring to Marc.,

Ah, thanks for the kind thoughts.