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.
Product Strengths
- Reveals previously unheard clarity, dimensionality, resolution, lifelikeness, rhythmic drive, and musical vividness in digital files
- Snaps the bass into sharp focus, revealing unprecedented pitch resolution, dynamic articulation, and harmonic texture
- Articulately presents the multiple layers of details, separating each element with mechanical precision
- Offers a three-dimensional soundstage, airy and stable, with spaced out images of the vocalist and musicians
Product Considerations
- The Atlantis Reference Music Server and DAC are very expensive, and it took this sophistication to reveal the sound quality
- The Wadax gear might be considered unattractive by some
- The Atlantis Reference DAC is demanding when it comes to accommodation, because of its considerable height
Takeaway: The Atlantis unlocks hidden potential in digital music, providing an experience of the source material like never before. It helps bring life to recordings, creating an immersive and engaging listening session.
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
Atlantis Reference (Server)
reviews
[{"title":"The Wadax Room: Wadax Atlantis Reference Server with PSU Power Supply, DAC, and Transport X CD Player; Audio Research Reference 6SE Preamplifier and Reference 160 M Amplifiers, Wilson-Benesch Eminence Loudspeakers, Transparent Cable","link":"https://www.stereophile.com/content/wadax-room-wadax-atlantis-reference-server-psu-power-supply-dac-and-transport-x-cd-player","source":"Stereophile","datePublished":"2022"},{"title":"2022 Golden Ear: Wadax Reference Server","link":"https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/2022-golden-ear-wadax-reference-server","source":"The Absolute Sound","datePublished":"2023"},{"title":"Wadax Atlantis Reference Digital-to-Analog Converter","link":"https://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/wadax_atlantis_reference.htm","source":"theaudiobeat.com","datePublished":""},{"title":"Wadax Atlantis Reference Music Server","link":"https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/wadax-atlantis-reference-music-server","source":"theabsolutesound.com","datePublished":""},{"title":"WADAX ATLANTIS TRANSPORT & DAC...The Peak of ...","link":"http://analoguefellowship.com/2020/06/08/wadax-atlantis-transport-dac-the-peak-of-digital-quality","source":"analoguefellowship.com","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Dimensions: 48 cm (W) x 43.5 cm (D) x 11.5cm (H)
- Power: 100/110/220V, switchable by service, max 100W
- Operating Temperature: 41ºF – 95ºF (5ºC – 35ºC)
- Operating Humidity: 15% – 75%, no condensations
- Internet bandwidth requirement: minimal 20Mbps
- Ethernet speed capability: 1,000Mbps
- Connections: 1 Wadax Akasa optical connection, 4 bays for storage expansion, 1 USB Audio port, 1 Service USB port
- Supported formats: WAV, WAV64, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, OGG, DSD
- Weight: 94lbs (43Kg)
Description
When we designed and built the Atlantis Reference DAC, our goal was to redefine the musical possibilities of digital media. We succeeded! A combination of solid, sound engineering and breakthrough technology, the Reference DAC has been universally recognised by the world's most exacting reviewers as not just better than competing products, but better by a considerable margin. Setting a completely new benchmark for performance, it has quickly become THE Reference, the product against which all others are measured. Now, using the same rigorous design approach, WADAX has turned its attention to server technology.
Release Timeline
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.
Select products
Select product comparisons
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.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$100,001+
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?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
From our interview with
.
Brand Page
Used
Wadax
All of the Brand's Used Products
What if you spend more?
No items found.
What competes at this price?
No items found.
How to buy
Digital Sources
Search all hifi products
Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.
