Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

All

Akasa DC Reference

reviews

[ { "title": "Wadax Impresses and Satisfies in Munich", "thumbnail": "", "link": "https://www.stereophile.com/content/wadax-impresses-and-satisfies-munich", "source": "Stereophile", "datePublished": "5/24/2023" } ]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

Sitting between the incredibly quiet WADAX power supplies and the DAC or Server, the challenge facing the Akasa DC Reference cable is twofold: It must maintain and deliver that noise-free DC and it needs to prevent additional noise re-entering the feed during that transfer.
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

  • Wadax designs and manufactures its own proprietary musIC chip and correction algorithms, enabling dynamic, real-time error correction of time, amplitude, and phase distortions in the digital decoding process.
  • They utilize modular construction in their components, ensuring upgradability and longevity by allowing individual circuit boards to be replaced or improved as technology evolves.
  • Wadax employs sophisticated power supplies with multiple custom-wound transformers and real-time monitoring/correction of DC feeds to minimize noise and maximize signal integrity.
  • The Akasa interface offers unique front-panel adjustments for "Speed," "Input Gain," and "Output Gain," allowing users to fine-tune the bitstream's level and shape for system synergy.

Studio Player

  • Positioning: Positioned as a versatile, multifunctional digital component in the Wadax lineup.
  • Description: Integrates CD/SACD playback, streaming, and DAC functionalities into a single chassis, offering convenience and high performance. Shares the digital-to-analog circuitry with the Atlantis Reference DAC, ensuring excellent sound quality, but in a more compact and user-friendly design. This makes it ideal for users seeking a high-quality, all-in-one solution for smaller spaces or those with a moderate budget who still desire excellent sound quality and system compatibility with streaming services like Spotify and Tidal.

Reference DAC

  • Positioning: The flagship product in the Wadax lineup, representing the pinnacle of their digital-to-analog conversion technology.
  • Description: Features state-of-the-art musIC feed-forward error correction technology, providing exceptional accuracy and musicality. Unlike the Studio Player, it features a fully modular construction with independent dual-mono DAC and analog circuitry. Its sophisticated power supply and mechanical isolation optimize performance in large, dedicated listening rooms.
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Avg. Product Price
$500
Used For Sale
0
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
362
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
7
Founding Year
2011

Our take on the brand

Wadax is a hifi brand that developed the musIC chip, a unique feed-forward error correction system that fixes time and phase errors in real-time during digital playback. Their Reference DAC stands out for its variable output impedance feature, letting users select from multiple impedance settings to match their system, while their Atlantis Transport uses the Thor optical mechanism, designed through FEA simulation to minimize vibration sensitivity.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

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What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

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From our interview with
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Brand Page

Used

Wadax

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How to buy

Cables

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