Wadia 861SE with GNSC Statement Upgrade

I owned this unit from Steve for 2 years and only sold it as i changed front ends completely...Mine was without digital ins and outs and i was very impressed with the build out mods and the resulting quality of sound.
In addition, Steve is tops as a person both before AND after the sale...

Hope this helps,

Jake

I have the 861SE with Reference upgrade from GNSC. I still really like the looks & the sound. I don't feel compelled to change or upgrade.
As AZjake wrote - Steve is tops in pre & post sales & the best person for Wadia mods.
I also know a friend who owns an 861SE with Statement mods (what you are looking at) & he has compared his Wadia sound to other hi-end CDPs like dCS, Burmester, Accuphase, Esoteric & found that changing would be a lateral move more than anything else. FWIW. YMMV.

Hi Bombaywalla,
I had a Wadia 861se with GNSC statement upgrade. I can assure you it has nothing to compare with DCS or Esoteric top end models. The wadia was lacking in definition. It had a big sound but with little resolution or depth in soundstage. Dynamics were either on or off. It may be more musical than the old DCS P8i but only great if you only listen to rock music.

While the Wadia is a beautifully built machine and GNSC did a wonderfully neat job inside, there are better players out there.

New digital is nearly always better than old digital.

Dear Chadeffect,

Although I don't doubt your hearing, the description of the disadvantages you note do not seem compatible with my perception of Wadia. Specifically, lack of resolution, dynamics, soundstage depth, and definition. Those descriptors, along with a solid bass and clear delineation of harmonies and rhythm, are among its attributes. Likewise, I would never recommend any Wadia for rock music. So your conclusions are interesting.

The 861se remains a statement single-box CD player. Although they may have updated the power supply and a number of other things, the 861 contains a great transport. The transport is vital because an accurate read requires less error correction, and error correction can be unmusical. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to buy or recommend an 861SE Statement for a great price if that was the budget. Of course, it needs attention to shelfing, powercord, and power conditioner for it to really open-up.

Chadeffect,
You are stating your opinion as if it were "fact" when in fact it is your opinion. Others have theirs and they may be just as valid.