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Wadia 581i using as a pre any good


I am in the market for a new player and this unit has peaked my interest mainly because being able to remove a pre-amp out of my set-up. This is a second system so I only have two sources, the actual cd source and a McIntosh 300 Music Server that I make use of for back ground music which could be connected into the Wadia via digital. This would be a very simple set-up but my concern is what am I going to loose in sound quality over all doing this. I have experimented in the past with other units and have always gone back to using a good pre. usually tube.

I am after the best sound possible over all, stage, dynamics,vocals, holographic presence and I can go on.

What I seem to mainly loose when not using a good pre is that feeling of a actual holographic presence with body and flesh tone which just involves me.

Presently in this set-up is a ARC Ref3 pre, ARC cd3 MK2, McIntosh 300, McIntosh 501 mono blocks, Eggleston Andra 2 speakers, cable Virtual Dynamics balanced.

I do have coming a Supratek Sauvigon line stage which I have been told is suppose to be better than the ARC Ref3 pre.in many ways, I will find out for myself if it's all hype or an actual fact.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
128x128dev
bar81
791 posts
 
You have discovered the importance of impedance matching. One of the things I love about the MIT Magnum MA interconnects is the variable impedance. While I know which will sound best, I always like to try out all the settings to make sure the reality matches the theory and if I ever switch out any components I don't have to buy new cables.

As to driving amps direct with a Wadia, you're grossly oversimplifying both ends of the issue. The Wadia preamp section has never been "shi**y", in fact it's comparable to any decent preamp and much better than low end preamps. But cables or not, the Wadia direct can't touch a high end preamp in the chain. Direct is a great option to have but it's not a high end solution, never has been and never will be.
ranperry
13 posts
 
From my experience, each amp I tried, added different signature to the sound, whether is was SS or Tubes.
Once you get used to it, driving the amps directly is the way to go (for my ears). Wadia has done an exceptional job with their volume control and adding a preamp just doesn't cut it for me.
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
>> 07-11-07: Bar81
>> The Wadia preamp section has never been "shi**y",
correct! Now I know that it is as you said "in fact it's comparable to any decent preamp and much better than low end preamps". Not having the correct interconnect employed caused an incorrect conclusion.

>> But cables or not, the Wadia direct can't touch a high
>> end preamp in the chain.
Maybe so! I, however, do not have a firm opinion on this. I only listened briefly & the listening was not critical either. However, the differences in sound using the 2 interconnect cables was SO dramatic that I could easily hear that the Virtual Dyn cables were doing a better job (when they were used to connect the Wadia direct to the power amps).


>> Direct is a great option to have but it's not a high
>> end solution, never has been and never will be.
I never did compare my setup with & without my preamp in a critical listening session or sessions hence do not have a firm opinion on this.
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