Well Wadia know?

[tony]

{Mod Edit} I've split these posts from the "Build a dedicated Audio PC" thread, cos they don't really belong there -- Diapason

Very nice pics Fran glad you got the issue sorted. Had a evening tonight with Simon and his juggernaut sized wadia 860 or 1 I forget Simon can correct me on the model. Pearse brought along his zuma. The excercise was to sort poor Simon out and push him over the line into computer audio. The surprising result is the wadia might be big and cumbersome looking but delivers a really nice sound and was regarded by all as the winner on the night. I was using the ciunas. For me it was the first time hearing what was originally a very expensive cd player and have to say I was hugely impressed. Maybe CDP's are not quiet dead yet. Regardless for me the convenience/cost of this level of computer audio and the relentless improvements that are occurring means I will be sticking on this route. The ciunas with an audiopc/streaming is delivering a good enough sound for me to live with. It would have been very interesting to compare the meitner dac with the wadia but I haven't bought one yet!

As a footnote hires material to my mind closed the gap noticeably. As per usual conversation curtailed any further listening but was a revealing night and comforting for the guy, sorry guys with the wadia's(Steve friend of Simons popped along also).

[jkeny]

Sorry, I missed this Tony, Simon. Would have liked to hear this Wadia, maybe some other time? In what areas did you hear the biggest differences?

[tony]

Sorry, I missed this Tony, Simon. Would have liked to hear this Wadia, maybe some other time? In what areas did you hear the biggest differences?

Should probably take this to another thread. Simon/Pearse will probably give a more detailed comparison but for me the wadia had a more full bodied warm and musical sound. Startling opposite to the reports Simon gives when played in his system. The zuma/laptop/ciunas in US (150-200 Pearse can confirm) sounded airy in the highs but lacked the meatiness and gorgeous mid range of the wadia.

This wasn't a scientific cable matching/level matching comparision it was just plug it in and play. Hires more tweaking of the computer audio may have closed the gap(can't say for definite). Simply fact is this is an expensive CDP. I have never heard one at home in this range and wouldn't be buying one at that price level. It is very very heavy so there is a lot of something in there Pearse suspected heavy power supplies. The ciunas is a matchbox and the wadia is a blanket box by comparison.

Again for me I am being exposed to components that I have not been in the position to buy or been allowed to buy! It is really nice to hear them in my own system as you get to appreciate what they are about. Listening to them in a hifi shop is not the same.

To be very fair here the ciunas is being compared to something that is priced at around the meitner level new. While it would be nice for me if the ciunas danced all over the wadia. That might be a bit upsetting for Simon! I can get over it as the damage to my pocket is considerably less and I will continue to enjoy the high level of sound the ciunas with an audio pc brings.

We had a brief discussion at the end and I have had it before with others you can keep going spending more, chopping and changing. For me anyway what I am getting from the components assembled is a good enough sound to keep me happy and my empty wallet in my pocket.

[Diapason]

Thanks Tony for the uber-speedy report. The exhaust from my car couldn't have dissipated from your driveway by the time you wrote that!

The Wadia in question is a 581SE, and I think I did something to my shoulder when taking it back out of the boot, so yes, a juggernaut is right. It was a most entertaining and enlightening evening, so thank you very much for hosting. I think it's safe to say that we were all a bit surprised by the Wadia's *style* of presentation, and if I ever had any thoughts that the occasional leanness in my system is down to the player, I can throw those thoughts out now.

Sorry, I missed this Tony, Simon. Would have liked to hear this Wadia, maybe some other time? In what areas did you hear the biggest differences?

Hi John, when my amps are re-valved and working properly again, I think we may have to have a little session in my place, although somebody is going to need to bring along a pre. Although if you'd been there last night and we had another person to chat with, we might not have listened to anything at all.The conversation was flowing...

Edit: Tried to post, once again Tony got there before me!! :)
Perhaps Tony or Pearse would like to say more about the differences they heard, but for me the Wadia brought more texture to the mid range, more layering, and sometimes offered more body. The Ciunas, on the other hand, showed a bit more air and sparkle (the Wadia sounded darker), but maybe wasn't quite as smooth. Usual caveats apply of course: I don't know this system so well, it could very well be that in another system you'd get completely different results, etc.

Interestingly, the high res rip of Brubeck's obligatory Take Five sounded awesome through the Ciunas, and the regular CD was definitely inferior through the Wadia. I'd never really been sure about the whole hi-res thing, but this was very compelling. Of course, it would be interesting to hear how the SACD might sound in the Wadia, but for the time being I'm a bit shocked by the difference. It was like a different mix!

[tony]

Sorry Simon for jumping in while you were starting the car but needed to get it off so I could head to bed.
Thanks for bringing over the wadia great to hear something of that level. Hope the back is ok. Nothing to add on what you have said except when I checked out the reviews of the wadia I think if John had the development budget and the quality of parts in that CDP I shudder to think what would transpire. Of course the price of the unit would be changed accordingly. Hats off to John in that one needs to go to seriously high spend levels before the ciunas starts to falter. In all seriousness it is not fair to be comparing it against that price level but it shows how close it is coming to that level.

[Fran]

A pre can be arranged for the price of admission to the event!

[tony]

A pre can be arranged for the price of admission to the event!

Next stop for that tour is either Simons or Steves I suspect. I have already offered to bring the popcorn.

Btw Steve has a pair of Jadis JA80's. What is it with these Dunleary lads and their mono's?

[Diapason]

A pre can be arranged for the price of admission to the event!

Done!

Btw Steve has a pair of Jadis JA80's. What is it with these Dunleary lads and their mono's?

He may have monos (and very fine monos at that), but Steve is more of a Templeogue/Knocklyon man. Still, we won't hold that against him, he can join with the cool kids.

[tony]

Even better I will be able to cycle to that event.

[Sligolad]

Posted my thoughts on last night over on the PC thread before I discovered this thread but agree with all above, and it was a very interesting and enjoyable night.
Thanks again Tony.