The Wadia 5, 7 and 9 series players 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.