Digital Drive: REVIEW: Wadia Digital 302 CD Player/Recorder by Ganesh

Model:	302
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$3,500
Description:	Latest 'budget' Wadia CD player
Manufacturer URL:	Wadia Digital
Manufacturer URL:	Wadia Digital

Review by Ganesh ( A ) on June 08, 2005 at 05:35:08
IP Address: 57.66.69.73

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for the 302

I am surprised at the lack of reviews of this very fine player so though I'd write one. Having listened to a number of high end digital sources recently and having had a dabble in SACD playback the Wadia remains a firm favorite. In fact I have heard (from several reputable sources) that they prefer it over the 861 - claiming it to be more "involving". I haven't heard the 861 so I can't comment.
I've compared it to various Shanling products, the Audio Aero Capitole, Primare D30.2, Meridian 508.24 and some home grown products (such as an modified Audio Note DAC 1.1 amongst others). In general terms the diminishing return principle does apply when comparing some of the higher end equipment - some differences you really have to listen out for and of course psycho-acoustic factors come in to play. In the main though I believe the Wadia to be on a par with the Capitole (perhaps a little ahead in terms of detail) but comfortably better than the other players in the list.
I set up a listening experiment which might be of interest: A direct comparison of a modified Shanling T200C SACD player (using SACD media) against the Wadia playing the Redbook version of the same albums. Albums so tested included Peter Gabriel "UP", Bob Dylan "Blood on the Tracks", Jacintha "Lush Life". Unsurprisingly the Shanling couldn't compete in the same league on pure Redbook playback but I thought it would be a close fight on SACD versus Redbook.
For example the SACD of "Blood on the Tracks" was set spinning on the Shanling in all its remastered glory. It sounded pretty fine too until I played the old (un-remastered) version on the Wadia. The Wadia blew away the Shanling on all fronts. The noise floor was significantly lower (the silence "blacker"), the pacing more dynamic, the bass much better defined and most surprising of all the mid-range was smoother and had greater detail. Now I'm sure there are better SACD players out there but I found this really surprising - and it was consistent across all types of music - from rock, to jazz, to folk.
I'm still slight shocked at how good this player is - I wonder what it is in the design that gives it this level of performance. Is it the work they have done on the digital filters? Is it perhaps the zero feedback output stage? I'd like to know. In any case itâ€™s the sheer amount of detail this player can retrieve that is so impressive - alongside the famous Wadia bass.
The downside of the Wadia is that the detail can overwhelm sometimes (especially if all you want is some background music - the Wadia is too attention grabbing!). Perhaps it can also sound a little clinical on poorer recorded material.

Product Weakness: Can be a little clinical (especially on poorer recordings)
Product Strengths: Detail, pace and bass!

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Music Reference RM-200
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Music First Magnetic Passive
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Wadia, Shanling etc
Speakers:	Zingali Overture 3, Tannoy Monitor Golds
Cables/Interconnects:	Analysis Plus Silver Oval, Acoustic Zen Shotgun
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All sorts
Room Comments/Treatments:	Rugs, bookcases - you name it :)
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3-4 weeks now
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Can be a little clinical (especially on poorer recordings)
Product Strengths:	Detail, pace and bass!