Report - WADAX Studio Player North American Premiere

Thanks Chris.

Curios in that jpeg, I see the full blown WADAX.  Did you have a chance to A/B it with the studio player?

Look forward to your further reports. 

As I have indicated, I am hoping to have a session with the Studio player and compare it to my current CH 1.2 on Oct 9th when I get my Riviera stuff delivered. 

<quote> pulled me into the music emotionally.</quote>

Intangible and largely unquantifiable but without which sums to nought

Sounds like the full Wadax experience I reported from Axpona. 

“In fact, one listener was absolutely certain that digital audio had peaked. He was more interested in a pair of amplifiers than anything else. After listening to some tracks, then listening to more tracks, followed by listening to even more tracks, he couldn’t believe what he heard. He stayed seemingly forever, like a kid in a candy store trying to sample every last piece. This guy repeatedly pulled up new music that he just had to hear on the Studio Player. If we are lucky, we’ve all been there before, hearing things like we’ve never heard and making long lasting memories.”

Was there an A/B in the demo with another streamer/DAC? Otherwise not fully sure how the effect of the Studio Player on the system as a whole could be assessed.

2 hours ago, McNulty said:

Was there an A/B in the demo with another streamer/DAC? Otherwise not fully sure how the effect of the Studio Player on the system as a whole could be assessed.

And don't forget CDs and vinyl.  This was done in a place with a huge number of high end sources.  I can imagine buying one of these.  But at this level, everything sounds really good, the only relevant reviews are comparisons

I look forward to hearing this unit at CAF in November.

14 minutes ago, ray-dude said:

 

The journey is the reward Chris.  Keep sharing your steps and stops on that journey (delighted to walk that path of discovery with you)

Thank you so much @ray-dude. Brightened my day :~)

2 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

This wasn't a review, the event wasn't setup as a review or an A/B event. It was a North American premiere of a single component where the focus was on that component. 

 

You guys make it really frustrating to write about anything that doesn't have an A/B/X comparison, even when such comparison isn't warranted in the scope of what's being written. 

Thanks for your reply and I’m sorry the question lead to frustration. The question related to the text regarding the listener that just had to hear music on the Music Player and couldn’t believe what he heard. Based on the response my impression is he seemed enthusiastic about the room and the system as a whole.

20 minutes ago, McNulty said:

Based on the response my impression is he seemed enthusiastic about the room and the system as a whole.

He was a customer, probably familiar with the system, and spent probably an hour listening. I wasn't present for the entire listening session. I was there for the beginning before I left to talk to others. I heard his comments what he was done. I have no idea what went on in the hour I wasn't present. 

5 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

This wasn't a review, the event wasn't setup as a review or an A/B event. It was a North American premiere of a single component where the focus was on that component. 

 

You guys make it really frustrating to write about anything that doesn't have an A/B/X comparison, even when such comparison isn't warranted in the scope of what's being written. 

I know it was not a review, but you wrote that you have a unit coming to you at home for review.  My comment was a request for your next post--I hope when it is at your house you can let us know how it compares to CDs and other DACs.  

I do not post enough or vehemently enough to expect that you remember me as a person, but I have never advocated A/B/X or other objectivist criteria.  So please do not include me as "you guys".  I do think comparisons are important though.  If this sounds as good as a CD played through a well-reviewed $20-30K DAC, it would be a terrific product.  But if streaming is an achilles heel, and it sounds only as good as a CD played through a Yggy (which would still be pretty damn good), then it is less appealing to those who typically do their digital listening through CDs or local files, but perhaps still great for regular streamers.

3 minutes ago, PeterG said:

 

I know it was not a review, but you wrote that you have a unit coming to you at home for review.  My comment was a request for your next post--I hope when it is at your house you can let us know how it compares to CDs and other DACs.  

 

I do not post enough or vehemently enough to expect that you remember me as a person, but I have never advocated A/B/X or other objectivist criteria.  So please do not include me as "you guys".  I do think comparisons are important though.  If this sounds as good as a CD played through a well-reviewed $20-30K DAC, it would be a terrific product.  But if streaming is an achilles heel, and it sounds only as good as a CD played through a Yggy (which would still be pretty damn good), then it is less appealing to those who typically do their digital listening through CDs or local files, but perhaps still great for regular streamers.

Where do the comparisons start and end? Last time I asked such a question, everyone and their mother required a slight adjustment or different piece of equipment because something wasn't available at a local dealer or they wanted it compared to their own DAC, etc... 

I understand the desire for comparisons, but in my view a comparison can't provide what most people think it can provide. 

Let’s move the comparison discussion here - 

I prefer subjective reviews that include both measurements and comparisons. There are only a few places that do that, unfortunately. 

Reviews, to me, are mostly to create a list of things I'd like to hear/purchase and to eliminate others. (You can't hear everything).

Both comparisons and measurements help with that and make it easier to decide what's on my audio "bucket list". 

There is a phenomenon of being familiar with a reviewer  - his tastes and "ears". 

You can sort of figure out over time what he likes and how that compares to you. Then when you read a review you have some context and can pretty much tell if you will agree with the review. That's a subjective, but useful type of data for me. 

17 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

Where do the comparisons start and end? Last time I asked such a question, everyone and their mother required a slight adjustment or different piece of equipment because something wasn't available at a local dealer or they wanted it compared to their own DAC, etc... 

 

I understand the desire for comparisons, but in my view a comparison can't provide what most people think it can provide. 

Either I'm be harder on you than I mean to be, in which case I'm sorry.  Or you're having a really tough week, in which case I'm still sorry, but in a different way, haha....

AS has often done an excellent job on comparisons.  When you first wrote about the Yggy, 10 or so years ago, you called it worthy competition for DACs at 10X its price.  Your RAAL headphone reviews also gushed with valid comparisons.  (The first worked out great for me, the second not so much, but you informed us beautifully in both cases)  The excellent TBVO could almost be turned into an SNL satire of comparison.  Frankly, this is what makes AS worth reading. 

There's another site written by a well respected audiophile who has refused to do any comparisons.  It's too bad, it has led to all his reviews reading the same, as if you could just swap the proper nouns and then conclude "ah, musical goodness" or something similar.  Yawn

12 hours ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

 

I think it is fair and reasonable to ask for comparisons, just as it is fair and reasonable to present what findings and experiences are at hand - just as you do. It is interesting, informative, and entertaining

 

Things change a little if one is a "professional reviewer" or "professional critic" and *IF* they offer a ranking or hierarchy of some kind  based on whatever criteria.

 

It depends on where you derive "value" but I value for example the subjective review of say a food critic I have come to feel mirrors my own findings upon sampling the same cuisine and is able to communicate descriptively in a way that I find meaningful, if it conjures up that experience.

 

I use this to narrow down *my comparisons of choice* on what might otherwise be an endless list.

 

One also has the *choice* to get a second (review) opinion that caters to their needs. Choices abound!

Agree.

My query was strictly because they had their premium Reference 600K+ product set up in the same system, so an A/B I thought, would be a natural at an introduction of such a unique product

6 hours ago, PeterG said:

Either I'm be harder on you than I mean to be, in which case I'm sorry.  Or you're having a really tough week, in which case I'm still sorry, but in a different way, haha....

I do appreciate the comment. We are all human, subject to the ups and downs of life.