Product Spotlight – WADAX Studio.Player

WADAX is a relatively new name to audio world, but one that has garnered an exceptional reputation very quickly. After spending time manufacturing chips, Madrid-based WADAX started producing digital products at the very high-end of the audiophile market. Their Atlantis Reference streaming DAC and server retails for £225k. It is becoming more and more common to see it set up in some of the top systems in the world.

Whilst ground-breaking, it is a range that only a select-few audiophiles are able to afford. We were delighted when the new Studio • Player was announced at this year’s Munich High-End show. WADAX have taken their innovative technology and created a more affordable one-box solution that we believe is a truly exceptional product.

At £37,500 the Studio • Player will open up the WADAX experience to a whole new section of audio enthusiasts.

We recently welcomed CEO Javier Guadalajara along with Director of Sales Brandon Lauer and COO Cayetano Castellano to KJ West One so we could discover more about this fantastic new addition to their range.

We were also joined by Alan Sircom, editor of HiFi Plus magazine, who oversaw a round table discussion with the team. We then got a full master class from Javier and Brandon on Studio • Player and what makes it so unique in the world of digital audio.

So what is Studio.Player?

The Studio • Player seamlessly integrates WADAX technology into a single chassis, combining the functionalities of a ​CD/SACD disc player, streamer, and DAC.

Although just a one-box system at the moment, there is forthcoming expansions to the system including a master clock and external PSU. Expected to arrive next year.

Studio • Player incorporates a disc player which reads both Red Book (CD) and Scarlett Book (SACD) discs so you can play back music no matter the format.

What Sets Studio • Player Apart?

The unit is built upon the same DAC circuitry as the Atlantis Reference. Studio • Player delivers uncompromising performance within a streamlined design. Its user-friendly interface ensures effortless operation.

One of the key technologies that WADAX has developed is MusIC (Multiple Unidirectional Interference Cancellation). This is a feed forward correction process that operates in the time domain and analyses the errors that pop up when converting digital music to analogue sound, it then creates an inverse of these errors, correcting the time and phase error and cancelling them out. This process happens in real-time, making sure your music comes through clean and true to the original recording.

The build quality of this unit is spectacular. It looks and feels high-end. It is manufactured from over 600 custom-machined parts using 14 different materials to control vibrations and resonance perfectly. Inside, it’s packed with more than 4,500 components spread across 40 circuit boards, all aimed at delivering pristine sound. It is a fully-balanced, dual mono design with complete physical and electrical separation of left and right channels (digital and analogue), ensuring each channel gets its own dedicated processing.

It is an incredibly ‘quiet’ streamer due to its ultra-low ripple power supply with 30 local regulation stages, this design ensures minimal noise.

How Does it Sound?

Whilst all this is very impressive having listened extensively to the unit, we can comfortably say that what sets it apart the most is sound quality. It’s like the veil has been lifted off your digital music, revealing details you never knew existed. Every instrument and voice is precisely placed, creating a beautifully balanced soundstage and there is texture and depth that creates a dynamic sound that is so enjoyable and engaging.

We tested a few different styles of music to see how the WADAX would perform for different tastes. We started with Jazz. Listening to Midnight Sugar by Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio. The most noticeable thing was how good the imaging was. The drums felt like they were coming from the back wall, you could close your eyes and easily imagine where each musician was standing. The texture also was exceptional, details like the force the drummer was striking the cymbal was noticeable. It brings another dimension to the music when these aspects come to life.

Next we tried something a bit more commercial with ‘Another Love’ by Tom Odell. Again the results were great. The song starts off quietly and the fragility on his piano playing and subtle bass notes at the start created a real atmosphere in the room, yet when the song starts to pick up there was plenty of punch to deliver the climax with gusto. It’s a song of two halves and the WADAX proved it was capable of delivering both at the highest level.

Finally we tried something a bit more punchy and fun with Blue Monday by New Order. The soundstage shone here. It was wide and the separation of the many instruments was managed fantastically. There was no harshness to the high notes. Some of the synths can sound fatiguing in lesser systems, here it was not the case at all. Everything was effortless.

We have spent quite a bit of time with this player and its quality is clear. This is a ground-breaking and special product. If you are considering a high-end digital source for your system, Studio • Player should be on the list.

How Do I Listen to it?

We now keep the Studio • Player on permanent demonstration in our Central London showroom based in Marylebone. Contact as at info@kjwestone.co.uk or call 0207 4868262 to arrange a personal audition in one of our dedicated demonstration rooms.

Photos courtesy of Boyer.

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WADAX is a relatively new name to audio world, but one that has garnered an exceptional reputation very quickly. After spending time manufacturing chips, Madrid-based WADAX started producing digital products at the very high-end of the audiophile market. Their Atlantis Reference streaming DAC and server retails for £225k. It is becoming more and more common … Read more

The post Product Spotlight – WADAX Studio.Player appeared first on KJ West One | Hifi Store.