DirectConnect
The Wadia series feature the latest iteration of Wadia's directconnect Technology. With directconnect, the output from the CD player is connected directly to the power amplifier, bypassing the preamplifier. This eliminates several stages of analog circuitry, the analog volume control, and cables from the audio signal path providing a distinct improvement in sound quality.
There are many features of the directconnect system, each of which is necessary, but not sufficient by itself, for proper performance. It is the combination of all of these elements that allows the directconnect system to perform at such a high level.
Digital Volume Control (with adjustable maximum output level)
Since 1992, Wadia has continued to refine the first audiophile-quality digital volume control. It remains the only volume control that delivers the theoretical advantages of volume control in the digital domain. Although less sophisticated digital volume controls can sacrifice resolution, Wadia's volume control with adjustable maximum output level can be optimized to match a wide range of systems, ensuring greater than 16-bit resolution over the majority of the volume range.
High-Current Output Stage
Wadia's directconnect output stage can provide up to one-quarter amp (250 mA) of current, to drive very long cables, and low input impedance amplifiers.
High-Voltage Output Stage
The directconnect output stage can produce up to 4.25 Volts RMS, producing sufficiently loud volume levels even in low-sensitivity systems.
Low Output Impedance
With less than 15 ohms output impedance, the directconnect output stage can drive highly capacitive and low-impedance loads with ease.
Quiet Digital Circuitry
Since the CD player output is connected directly to the amplifier, any high-frequency noise coming from the audio outputs can cause audible distortion. directconnect circuitry uses the most recent techniques to minimize this noise. (See NoiseBlock)
True-Balanced Output
Fully-balanced circuit design - with the inverted signal produced in the digital domain, balanced DACs, and analog output - realizes the benefits of amplifiers with balanced inputs.
Digital Inputs
Although CD is the reference source for most listeners, directconnect components have provisions for additional digital inputs as well. These allow alternative digital sources, such as Laser Disc, DVD, DSS, DAT or Digital FM, to benefit from the Wadia decoding and directconnect technology. As an alternative, listeners can connect analog sources by using a Wadia analog-to-digital converter.
Digimaster
In 1989, Wadia introduced the DigiMaster filter system, a patented digital re-construction filter designed to specifically address the requirements of music reproduction. The DigiMaster system has become the heart of Wadia's approach, providing the best sonic performance of any re-construction filter available.
A digital filter system, sometimes refereed to as "Up-sampling", is the process of mathematically generating digital samples to “fill in the blanks” in a digital data stream. Up-sampling increases the digital data rate, reducing the demands on the analog filters used to smooth the signal during digital to analog conversion. Well-executed up-sampling can have a dramatic sonic benefit, resulting in a more accurate, realistic, and natural musical presentation.
Wadia’s patented DigiMaster system is a software based solution that runs on high powered Digital Signal Processors. DigiMaster uses a synchronous interpolation process to preserve the entire original signal and provide up to 2.8 MHz data rate – almost 30 times the data rate of 96 kHz up-sampling systems! The DigiMaster system uses 12th-order polynomial Spline curve fitting to generate up to 63 new samples for each original sample.
Digital filter systems are used in most digital playback systems and are designed to perform well on a small number of "bench" tests, such as frequency response, while sacrificing performance in other areas. The DigiMaster system provides balanced performance, producing excellent results in a wide range of tests, including phase and impulse response, which are critical to accurate and realistic reproduction of music.
Scientist and mathematicians have confirmed the technical excellence of the DigiMaster algorithm however it is the feedback from our customers that matters the most. Around the world audio enthusiast agree that Wadia’s innovative up-sampling process realizes the most compelling and engaging musical performance available.
