Ferrum WANDLA DAC Review (OG) - WANDLAful sound, a couple of bugs
Thanks to Audio46 for the loan of WANDLA & Hypsos!
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Timestamps...
00:00 Intro, Pricing, Disclaimer
01:15 Shameless Self Promotion
01:47 Ferrum Offers A Splitter
03:07 Takeaways
04:00 Specs & Features
05:57 Unit Tour
11:49 Test Gear
14:38 Software Quirks
18:07 Sound
22:39 Single-Ended Output
25:21 Should You Buy the Hypsos for WANDLA?
27:27 Comparisons
31:08 Final Thoughts
Пікірлер: 38
Great that you keep comparing balanced vs unbalanced!👌🏻 Nobody does, like everybody owns only balanced gear 🤷
Thanks for the review.
Awesome review love the ferrum stuff
Thank you ever so much for your time and work,, 👍🌟🌟🌟👍 Cheers from Sweden,, 🍻😎🇸🇪
Thank you so much for this review! I was looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Wandla for a long time. Thank You! I have very similar impressions as yours, even though I have not listened to music with the Alpha Series 2. It seems like a monster DAC indeed!
@chronometa
2 ай бұрын
Does the hypsos increase the voltage output of dacs and amps?
@joseluishernandezseptien
2 ай бұрын
@@chronometa Yes, I believe between 5 and 30v. But a single Hypsos (even the new dual output version) sends the same voltage to both units. Let’s say, if Hypsos is set to 24v, then it will send the 24v to Wandla and to Oor.
👌👍Thank you for the video.
Great review! There’s a new Hypsos Dual Output that just came out, in such case you would no longer need the splitter. However I must say I didn’t like the oor with the Wandla/Hypsos, I prefer rolling other amps
I own the Wandla+Hypsos combination and love them. I overall agree with your sound assessment. The DAC excels at detail retrieval, which I love. The Hypsos is clearly a benefit to the DAC. It sounds like you used the Wandla mostly with headphones, so a couple of additional comments for those who use it with speakers. If you use the balanced outputs for a power amp, you can use the single ended outputs for a subwoofer(s). The analog inputs can also be used for a home theatre bypass. The unit also has an ARC input for using with a TV. These three features make the Wandla very flexible. Also, varying the Hypsos voltage has a pretty big effect on the sound out of the DAC, actually more than the HP filters at least with my set-up. 👍
Great review! I hope you compare the Ferrum Oor to the Schiit Mjolnir 3 when you reassess the Oor.
Thanks again for saving me money. The SE issue is a dealbreaker.
The Hysos-Oor unit I auditioned recently was also afflicted with extraneous noise. 😢 I bought the iFi Phantom instead. 😢
The FW issues you have had have been resolved with FW 1.4.0, which also adds back the ability to switch between Red Book and Pro Spec via HW (startin from Board Version 4.0) without attenuation of the signal.
Great review as always wavetheory. You didn’t mention your hypsos setting, did you just keep it as recommended by manufacturer or did you play around with voltage?
@wavetheorysound
2 ай бұрын
I didn't play with the voltage on this one. For any readers it's important to note that if you use a single Hypsos for Wandla and Oor, a voltage adjustment will effect both. They are not independently adjustable in that case.
This is on a short list with the Holo Spring 3 KTE, and the LAiv. But will hold out for the GoldenSound reviews first. The issue with the Holo tho is the rather large form factor.
@kajetan9550
2 ай бұрын
GoldenSound edition just adds 3 new functions - essentially bass boost, tube and 3D modes. The performance should be identical otherwise
@invisiblekid99
2 ай бұрын
@@kajetan9550Yeah it’s not a huge change for a decent amount extra. Will see what it’s like when your review comes in. Im in no rush so can wait.
How does this compare against LAiV Harmony dac, i am torn between the two 😑 Thanks for the vid!
Thanks for another great review. It would’ve been nice to compare the performance using a decent linear PSU at half the price or less of the Hypsos or less.
@wavetheorysound
2 ай бұрын
Agreed, but 24v lps are not cheap generally.
@rafaelglepper
2 ай бұрын
@@wavetheorysound not cheap, but there are several options in the £300-£500 range. There’s also the Burson super charger that would be compatible.
Greek here ✋Hypso ('Υψος) means Height so the plural in Greek is "'Υψοι" and it sounds like Hypsee in case someone wondered😄
As a rule, you should avoid making simultaneous connects to both the SE and XLR balanced outputs of a piece of audio equipment. This internal circuitry of the design is likely to have a common 0V ground point for both the SE and balanced amplifiers. For the audio cables this will connect to the balanced XRL shield (pin1) and the outer SE shield of the RCA phono. The external audio equipment upstream of the audio source will also be grounded. So, two separate connections will increase the risk of a ground loop and thereby generate unwanted electrical system noise. Did you evaluate the audio performance with both the SE and XLR balanced cables connected? Perhaps this explains why the SE output appeared to be inferior. In a balanced design the SE output is normally derived from the balanced signal via a differential amplifier stage. The pre-amplifier you connect the DAC to will have a similar differential amplifier stage (unless the pre-amplifier is full balanced).
Nice review! please also review the SJY Horizon and Verrum 2, impressions so far these punches way above their weight.
28:19 *Amber 5. Lukasz never stops iterating.
@wavetheorysound
2 ай бұрын
Does he secretly work for SMSL? 😆
I have no idea why anyone would buy this when it’s limited in its upscaling vs a higher bit rate DAC and just using HQPlayer.
Imagine calling yourself Golden Sound, imagine how much ego you'd have to have.
@invisiblekid99
2 ай бұрын
Jesus Christ what’s wrong with you? Hifi reviewer who is very knowledgeable (you seriously cannot deny that) who is after the Golden ie “best” sound. I honestly don’t see an issue but whatever, I’m sure Wave Theory appreciates the smoke enema.
@mikeg2491
Ай бұрын
Imagine calling yourself a chief fun officer and devoting your life to taking the fun out of everything
So it has a bad left channel? I stopped the video right there. Pass.
I think you should drop your "Shameless Self Promotion" as what it is right now, it sounds like you're blaming the kid, doesn't sound right to do that.
@anupambphoto
2 ай бұрын
I think he should keep it. one its really funny he pokes fun at himself too. two, its a good reminder about the effort put in for these reviews, and that youtubers have lives too.
@kajetan9550
2 ай бұрын
If I remember right it first appeared on April 1st which was very fitting. It’s a really fun segment for viewers and I bet his son had a great laugh at it as well
@theodorezurla496
2 ай бұрын
Lighten up bro 😂 this is hilarious
@hiraksarma3068
2 ай бұрын
Have a sense of humor bro, and it helps his channel too, I vote for keeping it.