Wadax Studio Player Review

[microstrip]

(...) certainly Charles has subs.

My mistake, I was thinking about another XVX system in WBF that does not have them. Thanks for correcting it.

 

[microstrip]

That’s not possible unless he was suffering from a condition he no longer has or he purchased hearing aids. Human hearing does not improve after age 40. It diminishes slowly over time.

Well, the answer depends on what we are addressing by "hearing" - the physical aspect or the perception of stereo sound reproduction. Listening to stereo needs training to recreate the illusion - we can always say we are now better listeners.

 

[JiminGa]

possible Charles is referring to 'listening better' as opposed to 'hearing better'. just a guess on my part that makes sense.

there is a learning factor and development factor to the art of listening. matters of recognition and understanding. some of which is related to getting an ear for particular types of music appreciation.....which is a process that mostly does improve with age (to a point). and even our system development can be helpful to open doors to better listening by allowing more types of music to work correctly and sound natural. even finding proper SPL's for extended sessions plays a part.

just seems like how it has gone for me. i have more understanding in my listening now at 73 years old, than ever. but were my ears better at hearing at 43 years old in 1994 when i got serious about hifi? i suppose but hearing is just a tool. what do you do with it?

Sure if that's what he meant.

 

[Charles S]

Fellas, I admit I got a little exuberant over my hearing, but honestly, I have perfect vision. My Ophthalmologist is a good friend. I was chief of the ER 20 years ago when he began his practice. He's probably 20 years younger than me. I have a complete eye exam every January, because vision is absolutely critical. My eyes are normal, just like a 20 year old's. I don't even have baby cataracts and have never needed a refraction. He says he hopes his eyes are as good as mine when he gets my age. The eye is a window into the body. To have 100% normal eyes (normal nerve, vessels, macula, retina, lens, anterior chamber, pressures, and tear mechanism) at my age is beyond incredible. I have never had my hearing tested because I have no trouble with it. Subjectively, I hear the way I always have. I think my hearing is as good as my vision. At 76 I have a much much younger body so this has completely changed my retirement planning. I'm figuring 110 years, not 90. I may not make it, but I fear running out of money tremendously. I have normal lungs on CT scan, zero emphysema and can swim over 100 feet under water easily. Everyone my age should have some loss of lung tissue. I treadmilled 48 miles this week and have done this for decades, so yes, I guess I got over exuberant about my hearing because I have never had it tested and have noticed no change in my hearing. When my hearing goes, I will sell my system. I'm sure my hearing has deteriorated, but I'm not aware of it.

I do use 4.0 Rx 5 dollar Amazon glasses for readers and 2.0 Rx for distance and have 20/20 OU with them, but many young people need this kind of correction. Forming a pinhole with my thumb and index finger, I can read fine print and can see at distance just fine. When i go in for my yearly physical, the nurse asks me if I have had any falls. I say I average about one hard fall per month. She gets a concerned look until i explain that I skate 3 times a week for about 6-8 hours.

 

[Charles S]

Hi Charles,

I genuinely enjoy reading your posts which exude passion, conviction and also a pragmatism and candidness which is refreshing

Regarding your XVX/Wilson Crossover, do you cut off your XVX and bring in the Thor underneath, or do you run the XVX full range and then utilize the Wilson Crossover to fine tune only the Thor? Most owners of big Wilsons I know tend to run full range and blend in the sub. I do as well...but I also am contemplating going with substantially more subwoofer air dispersion capability...and then actually seeing what happens if we relieve the XLF of sub 45hz or sub 35hz duty.

thanks for any insight into your own system...but also any insight into relieving the mains of low-end duty to give them even more enhanced mid-bass capacity.

Thanks so much. I have owned a Maxx3, Alexx, and now an XVX. Although one would think that using HP/LP would be superior to full range, i have repeatedly tried this route and each time running full range has been noticeably superior. Wilson recommends running full range. The good thing about big Wilsons is that they are extremely resistant to overload in the bass range, so no need to be concerned over this running full range. It's not an issue.

 

[LL21]

Thanks so much. I have owned a Maxx3, Alexx, and now an XVX. Although one would think that using HP/LP would be superior to full range, i have repeatedly tried this route and each time running full range has been noticeably superior. Wilson recommends running full range. The good thing about big Wilsons is that they are extremely resistant to overload in the bass range, so no need to be concerned over this running full range. It's not an issue.

Thank you. Very good to know. How high up do you run the Thor? I read often owners go to 38hz.

 

[Charles S]

LL21, I run my Thor LP at 30 Hz. Did you know that Dave Wilson designed the Thor especially for the XLF? Wilson has a refurbishing program so I'm sure Thor's are available. I use a horizontal lie, in plane, and equidistant between my XVX. Works wonderfully. The Thor has enormous output and was meant to be used with the XLF in what he referred to as the "music position" as shown on the Wilson website or my pic. It has a sensitivity of 93 dB and is almost impossible to overload. My MC2.1KW has enormous output but clips before the Thor.

 

[LL21]

LL21, I run my Thor LP at 30 Hz. Did you know that Dave Wilson designed the Thor especially for the XLF? Wilson has a refurbishing program so I'm sure Thor's are available. I use a horizontal lie, in plane, and equidistant between my XVX. Works wonderfully. The Thor has enormous output and was meant to be used with the XLF in what he referred to as the "music position" as shown on the Wilson website or my pic. It has a sensitivity of 93 dB and is almost impossible to overload. My MC2.1KW has enormous output but clips before the Thor.

Thank you! That is super-helpful. Yes, our XLFs are from that manufacturer's refurbishment program...our color, full 5-year warranty and a small fraction of the original price...plus full return/credit of the original price of the X1s bought 10 years prior...now that is pretty good service!

So if we choose to go Thor, that is likely the way we go. Stay tuned! And meanwhile, enjoy your incredible system. I have heard your XVXs with our electronics so have some initial idea of how great your sound must be.

 

[Charles S]

LL21, attached are some pics as I promised. But it's basically the music position for an XLF or XVX as on the Wilson website. The above is what makes Wilson such a great value. I was going to buy an XLF and actually irritated my dealer when I didn't. I'm quite happy with my XVX but honestly, the reason I didn't was because the XLF was a bit too wide to easily accommodate a Thor between them. Strangely it's the width of my room, not the height, even though my room is an A-Frame that causes the XVX to be the better speaker for my particular situation and that's why I bought it, over the XLF. The super tweeter makes a huge difference and also, I really don't think there's that much difference in the tweeters between the XLF and XVX. So, you have a great speaker. It's a lifetime speaker, a keeper.

I'd like to say final thoughts concerning the Wadax Studio Player. Although and I would, if possible, audition it, I think it's quite unique, and what I would go with, if I didn't already have my McIntosh. It is so flexible and upgradable it's incredible. It's a wonderful all in one streamer, preamp, and DAC. But you can add a clock later on, also a pre, and so on. You need only the minimum number of wires and based on my new streaming system, I see no need to every buy a transport. Honestly, my streaming system sounds better than my CD's and SACD's and they are all present on Qobuz. Again, you can add a transport later on. So, although 40K seems quite expensive, I think it's a rare bargain, and I would buy one immediately, if were in the market, after an audition.

 

[matthias]

Honestly, my streaming system sounds better than my CD's and SACD's and they are all present on Qobuz.

What do you use for streaming from Qobuz?
Thanks

 

[Charles S]

Here's my Signature

Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest

Amps: McIntosh: MC3500MKII (2); MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW Anniversary
Preamp: C-12000 Anniversary
Sources: MCD12000 Anniversary; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; Lenovo Yoga laptop
Speakers: Wilson Chronosonic XVX
Sub-Woofer: Wilson Thor’s Hammer; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables Main System AQ: WEL Signature speaker cables; 24’ balanced IC; balanced 1-meter Dragon IC ; WEL Signature digital, Coffee digital coaxial cables; Diamond optical (2); Diamond USB; Dragon (5 HC, 3 source cords); Thunder & Monsoon power cords
Cables Subwoofer System AQ: Redwood speaker cable; Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC to ActivXO; Hurricane HC; Firebird HC; Firebird Source; Dragon HC, power cords
Power Conditioners: AQ Niagara 7000; Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines.
Streaming System: Hi Fi Rose 130RS Network Transport; Samsung internal SSD; Audioquest Wel Signature digital balanced 1-meter IC; Audioquest Diamond 1.5-meter USB cable; Audioquest Dragon 2-meter source power cord; HDMI cable 24’ for music videos
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD)
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes

There's another thread on WBF concerning recommendations for a streamer. I made my recommendation and I was not at all surprised that no one paid mine any attention. I wanted something that would complement my system and use the MCD12000 for the DAC. I really listen to a lot music because I'm totally retired. My main goal in life is to have fun. I know there are better streaming systems than mine, but again, the Rose 130RS really does seem to complement my Mcintosh perfectly. My sound is much improved over the JRivers McIntosh computer audio using USB from the Lenovo laptop to the USB port of my MCD12000. I seem to slightly prefer the AES input over the USB port of the 12000. The sound is noticeably fuller, richer, warmer, without any loss of resolution or clarity, over the JRivers playback. I like it a lot. There's no fatigue. I haven't played a CD or SACD since its installation. I'm very glad I bit the bullet and bought the Wel Signature AES digital IC. I have a couple of downloads from HD Tracks on my Samsung SSD that won't play on AES but will play on USB and sounds great. It's just nice, if you have the money, to have both USB and AES capability, and to use a network transport with an excellent clock and power supply, going to your chosen DAC, but the AES at 5,400 dollars was more expensive than the Rose RS130 at 5195,. The AQ Dragon power cord 2-meter was 7,900. This is the high-end you know

 

[andromedaaudio]

Charles whats up with the Coffee digital coax cables ?
Your not gonna tell me your coffee machine is digital are you lol?

 

[Charles S]

Charles whats up with the Coffee digital coax cables ?
Your not gonna tell me your coffee machine is digital are you lol?

Well, AQ has so many names for their cables I thought maybe I'd made an embarrassing mistake, but indeed I pulled the cable and it is a Coffee Digital Coaxial Cable. It is not listed on the AQ website so it may be discontinued. I don't know much about it because my dealer gave it to me as a gift. It connects my MVP851 DVD Player that has to be 25 years old to my MCD12000. In reading about it on the internet, it is 10% silver and apparently a very fine digital coaxial cable, I only have one. The other digital coaxial cable is a Wel Signature that connects my MVP881 BR Player to the MCD12000. You had me going for a minute.

 

[Stereophonic]

LL21, attached are some pics as I promised. But it's basically the music position for an XLF or XVX as on the Wilson website. The above is what makes Wilson such a great value. I was going to buy an XLF and actually irritated my dealer when I didn't. I'm quite happy with my XVX but honestly, the reason I didn't was because the XLF was a bit too wide to easily accommodate a Thor between them. Strangely it's the width of my room, not the height, even though my room is an A-Frame that causes the XVX to be the better speaker for my particular situation and that's why I bought it, over the XLF. The super tweeter makes a huge difference and also, I really don't think there's that much difference in the tweeters between the XLF and XVX. So, you have a great speaker. It's a lifetime speaker, a keeper.

I think amps are compromised with high distortion by bass speaker and sub driver's pressure.
Not best position in my opinion.

 

[microstrip]

LL21, I run my Thor LP at 30 Hz. Did you know that Dave Wilson designed the Thor especially for the XLF? Wilson has a refurbishing program so I'm sure Thor's are available. I use a horizontal lie, in plane, and equidistant between my XVX. Works wonderfully. The Thor has enormous output and was meant to be used with the XLF in what he referred to as the "music position" as shown on the Wilson website or my pic. It has a sensitivity of 93 dB and is almost impossible to overload. My MC2.1KW has enormous output but clips before the Thor.

Does the Thor have independent connections to each speaker?

 

[Charles S]

I think amps are compromised with high distortion by bass speaker and sub driver's pressure.
Not best position in my opinion.

I agree 100% but I really have no choice. I you look at the position of most amps in a system like mine relative to the huge subs, the subs are usually in the corners and the amps are between and in front of the subs. Look at the setup of the WAMM's at Munich. The problem is much less of a concern with my solid state amps than with my 3500's. With them I use a glove and check the tubes for snugness almost every time I play the system. The heat expands the sockets and they tubes are extremely secure with only minimal vibration to the amp, but ideally the amps should be out of the sub sound field. I use Wilson Heavy Pedestals, four of them per amp to reduce vibration as much as possible. My amps are on heavy granite slabs. When I place my hand on the 3500's with extremely heavy floor shaking bass there is almost zero noticeable vibration. The Pedestals are extremely effective. Tubes are like connections to speakers. They can work their way loose and should be checked often. I check mine essentially every time I play but have noticed no problem. But as soon as you quit checking speaker connections or your output tubes, that's when the problem arises. Complacency is a killer.

 

[Charles S]

Does the Thor have independent connections to each speaker?

The Thor has no connection to the XVX. It is an entirely independent system run summed mono using the Wilson ActivXO electronic crossover as recommended by Wilson. Because of its central location, LP only at 30Hz, no HP, I do not have bass localization. The phase is set at zero because the Thor is essentially in the plane of the XVX. It's a nice reasonable setup but not ideal. I could put dual Subsonics in my corners, but this would not solve the problem of the amps being in front of the subwoofers. I think that a system like Mike L's is ideal. He has his huge subs in front of his amps, if I remember correctly and with excellent racks for vibration control of all gear. This can improve your sound very significantly. I've done the best I can with the funds i have.