Wadia CD players direct to power amps opinions

Here is how Wadia's website explains the use of "DIRECT CONNECT"-

{Direct-Connect™ Technology

The Wadia 3 series and 5 series players feature the latest iteration of Wadia's Direct-Connect Technology. With Direct-Connect, the output from the CD player is connected directly to the power amplifier, bypassing the preamplifier. This eliminates several stages of analog circuitry, the analog volume control, and cables from the audio signal path providing a distinct improvement in sound quality.

There are many features of the Direct-Connect system, each of which is necessary, but not sufficient by itself, for proper performance. It is the combination of all of these elements that allows the Direct-Connect system to perform at such a high level.

1. Digital volume control (with adjustable maximum output level)
Since 1992, Wadia has continued to refine the first audiophile-quality digital volume control. It remains the only volume control that delivers the theoretical advantages of volume control in the digital domain. Although less sophisticated digital volume controls can sacrifice resolution, Wadia's volume control with adjustable maximum output level can be optimized to match a wide range of systems, ensuring greater than 16-bit resolution over the majority of the volume range. For a complete description of the WADIA Volume Control, refer to Guide to Wadia Technology Number 2.

2. High-current output stage
Wadia's Direct-Connect output stage can provide up to one-quarter amp (250 mA) of current, to drive very long cables, and low input impedance amplifiers.

3. High-voltage output stage
The Direct-Connect output stage can produce up to 4.25 Volts RMS, producing sufficiently loud volume levels even in low-sensitivity systems.

4. Low output impedance
With less than 15 ohms output impedance, the Direct-Connect output stage can drive highly capacitive and low-impedance loads with ease.

5. Quiet digital circuitry
Since the CD player output is connected directly to the amplifier, any high-frequency noise coming from the audio outputs can cause audible distortion. Direct-Connect circuitry uses the most recent techniques to minimize this noise. (See NoiseBlock)

6. True-balanced output
Fully-balanced circuit design - with the inverted signal produced in the digital domain, balanced DACs, and analog output - realizes the benefits of amplifiers with balanced inputs.

7. Digital inputs
Although CD is the reference source for most listeners, Direct-Connect components have provisions for additional digital inputs as well. These allow alternative digital sources, such as Laser Disc, DVD, DSS, DAT or Digital FM, to benefit from the Wadia decoding and Direct-Connect technology. As an alternative, listeners can connect analog sources by using a Wadia analog-to-digital converter.}

Although this is Wadia's explanation I believe it holds merit- it is not the ONLY!!! WAY too do anything but when using a Wadia w/ direct connect to power amps- for my enjoyment at least for now- it is quit inviting and warm sounding with tube amps.

Thank you for your input on this subject I think it is time to table this one!

Spatine,

ime with the Meridian 808.2i I felt that its output stage is perfectly fine for running direct to an amp; I would assume that the 808 is very similar.

All,

I'm flip-flopping again, the Ayre KX-R has brought about an amazing change to my system for the better, so I'm back in the preamp camp and likely for some time. In any case, this just reinforces what I've said above; the components decide what is the better option. What I do know is that absent a very special preamp like the KX-R, I still feel that direct is the superior option.

I am thinking of trying a pre amp to see which I like better. But I hate to drop 3 to 4K to experiment but maybe if I do not think it is worth I would hope I could get my money back. I would prefer to stay in the Tube Class A family since that is how my amps are running and the Wadia is balanced

Vx700: out here in the other side of the pond - i can say i was among the very few who tried the Wadia Direct Link approach BACK IN THE EARLY 90s when the very first Wadia entered the shores of the Philippines.

I used the one-box Wadia 6 direct to various SS amps: Threshold Stasis, White Audio Lab, "another amp of Threshold DNA" @ bi-amp configuration, and finally via MF XA-200 + XA-50 BI-AMP - it was only with the WAL that the performance was crap BUT surprisingly, it was with the Musical Fidelity combo that the system gave it's best in my system.

I would still go for the same set had my W6 not died in 2004. I was ready to get a W17 to insert my turntable+phonostage and use the W6 as control BUT it did not have an input (and then it died a natural death).

Going without pre-amp has benefits but is not for everyone, and definitely, not for the casual testers or tweakers - no sir - you gotta decide that it is what you want to do because if you consider system synergy as important, with a Wadia Direct Connect, synergy IS AN ABSOLUTE... and that's not easy.

I would still go that route even if i am currently running an entirely tube system; problem is the Wadias are really very costly - but come to think of it: a 10-year lifespan for the lens on the W6 is not bad! not bad, really :-)

Test, listen, listen, listen.
no short-cuts.

Best wishes.
.e.

Hello Egay

I have been spending more and more time listening to the Wadia direct via my Audio Valve Challenger Mono Blocks (running 6 ea KT 88's) connected with a pr of MIT Shot Gun Magnum MA Balanced interconnects and the sound is so involving clean and deep. The sound stage is just like being there. I am pleased and not sure if I could bring myself to drop another $3800 + for a pre amp just to run the volume up and down. Even if I had another digital device or even an anaolog I still really do not need a pre amp. I am happy with this for now, to the point that I might just spend the cash on some tube rolling. I also have a Jungson 280 intergrated amp that runs 80watts class A I might try that and see which amp is better.