Post by dowser on May 11, 2022 17:23:42 GMT
Hi All - first proper post, go easy 
And I wasn't sure whether to put this here or in DIY - can a Mod please move it if got it wrong?
Over last few years I've been getting into DACs - for last 12 months I've been running a Micromega Duo (early TDA1540 housebrick style) - used for TV and streaming duties from a Pi4. I also have a Camelot Arthur in the collection which I liked and always keep my open for other vintage bargains (especially as I want to rebuild the Micromega Duo and add an S1 chip to it).
So I won a faulty Wadia X-32 recently at a to me reasonable price (CHF 230 - guess about £180). Toslink input not working, BNC inputs not reliable.
I ordered replacement caps without even trying it - around 25 caps, but lots of low value electrolytics (1uF and 10uF) swapped to Wima films. That fixed BNC (sort of, see below), Toslink receover had been swapped out with a different kind - I managed to get an original from eBay and that brought Toslink back too (needed by me for the TV).
But BNC doesn't reliably lock onto all sources - first issue was a HiFiBerry digi hat on my Pi4, which it didn't lock to - I ordered a Allo Digione to try and that works fine (and is a huge improvement over the HiFiBerry!). Also CD transports are not always locked OK - so far it seems Philips implementations are OK (Micromega Stage, Marantz CD60, A&R CD6 SE, etc), but I have had problems with signal lock on a vintage Meracus Imagio in my collection, and a more recent Vincent CD-400. The 44KHz LED lights, but very dimly, relays sometimes clicking in the machine.
I should briefly talk about the sound - I tend to prefer TDA1541 based players/DACs - my main CD player is a heavily modified Naim CDI (I might have quite an unhealthy collection of players around my apartment...) which I prefer to everything I have tried to date. However, this Wadia, while being completely different, is simply enjoyable - I still cannot really pinpoint why. Early direct comparisons between CD transport and Wadia, and my Naim CDI, puts Naim on top from everything I subjectively hear...but I love listening to the Wadia. Clearly it will remain in my collection, especially as I just partnered it with a cheap Sugden Optima CD player - it is based on very high spec Philips Industrial servo and decoder PCBs - I have not listened to Sugden's analogue out yet, but as a transport it is fantastic.
So, back to next steps for the Wadia - it was an early issue with this player that it did not lock onto all digital sources - in the end Wadia provided it with a 2nd ROM chip that could be fitted by the owner - apparently it allowed a signal lock with higher levels of jitter from the source...and sounded less good.
I'd like to see if there is any way of improving it's acceptance of digital SPDIF sources, without diminishing sound quality - plus of course, what can I do to make it sound any better? One of my reasons for recently joining here was to get the input of Tony at Coherent - I believe he is something of a Wadia expert, but reviewing his blog here maybe specialising on more recent Wadia designs than the mid-90s X-32.
Would love to hear input from anyone with experience of these old vintage gems
Anyhow - loads of text so far, no photos - let's correct that...
Before the recap;
One of the 2 22 ohm resistors that had overheated with age (Wadia is always on, no power switch
and I also changed;
After (note: UV eprom window now covered after someone on PFM alerted me to risk);
Bodged toslink receiver next to new original Toshiba item;
Fitted, with PCB repair to undo bodge;
All done and all 3 inputs functional;
Thanks! Richard
And I wasn't sure whether to put this here or in DIY - can a Mod please move it if got it wrong?Over last few years I've been getting into DACs - for last 12 months I've been running a Micromega Duo (early TDA1540 housebrick style) - used for TV and streaming duties from a Pi4. I also have a Camelot Arthur in the collection which I liked and always keep my open for other vintage bargains (especially as I want to rebuild the Micromega Duo and add an S1 chip to it).
So I won a faulty Wadia X-32 recently at a to me reasonable price (CHF 230 - guess about £180). Toslink input not working, BNC inputs not reliable.
I ordered replacement caps without even trying it - around 25 caps, but lots of low value electrolytics (1uF and 10uF) swapped to Wima films. That fixed BNC (sort of, see below), Toslink receover had been swapped out with a different kind - I managed to get an original from eBay and that brought Toslink back too (needed by me for the TV).
But BNC doesn't reliably lock onto all sources - first issue was a HiFiBerry digi hat on my Pi4, which it didn't lock to - I ordered a Allo Digione to try and that works fine (and is a huge improvement over the HiFiBerry!). Also CD transports are not always locked OK - so far it seems Philips implementations are OK (Micromega Stage, Marantz CD60, A&R CD6 SE, etc), but I have had problems with signal lock on a vintage Meracus Imagio in my collection, and a more recent Vincent CD-400. The 44KHz LED lights, but very dimly, relays sometimes clicking in the machine.
I should briefly talk about the sound - I tend to prefer TDA1541 based players/DACs - my main CD player is a heavily modified Naim CDI (I might have quite an unhealthy collection of players around my apartment...) which I prefer to everything I have tried to date. However, this Wadia, while being completely different, is simply enjoyable - I still cannot really pinpoint why. Early direct comparisons between CD transport and Wadia, and my Naim CDI, puts Naim on top from everything I subjectively hear...but I love listening to the Wadia. Clearly it will remain in my collection, especially as I just partnered it with a cheap Sugden Optima CD player - it is based on very high spec Philips Industrial servo and decoder PCBs - I have not listened to Sugden's analogue out yet, but as a transport it is fantastic.
So, back to next steps for the Wadia - it was an early issue with this player that it did not lock onto all digital sources - in the end Wadia provided it with a 2nd ROM chip that could be fitted by the owner - apparently it allowed a signal lock with higher levels of jitter from the source...and sounded less good.
I'd like to see if there is any way of improving it's acceptance of digital SPDIF sources, without diminishing sound quality - plus of course, what can I do to make it sound any better?
One of my reasons for recently joining here was to get the input of Tony at Coherent - I believe he is something of a Wadia expert, but reviewing his blog here maybe specialising on more recent Wadia designs than the mid-90s X-32.Would love to hear input from anyone with experience of these old vintage gems
Anyhow - loads of text so far, no photos - let's correct that...
Before the recap;
One of the 2 22 ohm resistors that had overheated with age (Wadia is always on, no power switch
and I also changed;After (note: UV eprom window now covered after someone on PFM alerted me to risk);
Bodged toslink receiver next to new original Toshiba item;
Fitted, with PCB repair to undo bodge;
All done and all 3 inputs functional;
Thanks! Richard
