Switching Wadia 581 between CD & SACD layers?


Hi folks,

I recently bought a Wadia 581; great player, great sound, but the manual and the player's quirkiness are driving me nuts. Hybrid discs are a toss up, sometimes the player selects the SACD layer for weeks at a time and suddenly, should my luck change, selects the CD layer out of the blue. SACD only discs work fine, nothing else to select!

The manual does not mention how I can control switching between layers. I have the later version of 581 with the side vents and the "much vaunted" ability to switch between SACD and CD layers. For 8 large, it should be able to do that!

I will really appreciate any guidance on this problem. It would be good to know I am not the only long-suffering Wadia owner out there. I have written to Wadia on the matter, but since they took a "mere" 8 months to ship my player to me, my expectations are hardly sky high.

Thanks and cheers,

Khalid
128x128aurlieus
If you play a CD and then a hybrid, it increases your chances of it selecting the CD layer. If you play a non-hybrid follwed by a hybrid, does it always get it right?

Regards,
At one point a month ago I would play a normal CD and then hybrid after hybrid and it would play only the SACD layer. However, now that it has started only playing the CD layer of all my hybrids, I still get a sudden reversion to SACD layer out of the blue. However, I will try your experiment with SACD only discs followed by a hybrid to see if there is a pattern here.

BUT, all this would really be academic if I could CONTROL my own musical destiny!!!!!

Thanks and cheers,

Khalid
Hi Aurlieus, I have a Wadia 581se. Concerning hybrid discs, I'm not sure why the Wadia goes into loading and then cues up one mode over the other, but to change to the other layer simply stop the player and push the "mode" button. I just tried it on mine and it switched from sacd to cd mode in about 8 seconds. I then pushed stop and then "mode" again and it switched back to sacd from cd mode. I have the metal remote. I don't know which remote you have (plastic or metal) or if it makes any difference. Have you tried the "mode" button to switch your's from cd to sacd mode? By the way, the player loads faster as it breaks in. Mine initially loads most cds in 5-7 seconds now. Stan
Hi Stan,

There must be something wrong with my laser, I do have a mode button but it simply loads hybrids in CD mode and even after pressing the mode button several times as you explained above, it keeps replaying the disc in CD mode.

Ack! I think I may have to get the player replaced!

Thanks very much for your help.

Khalid