Wadia Digital 830 manual Does the Wadia Digital Volume Control Compromise RESOLUTION?

SHOULD I USE A BALANCED OR UNBALANCED CONNECTION?

We recommend using the balanced analog output from your Wadia 830 Compact Disc Player connected to a true balanced input. All things being equal, properly implemented balanced (also called differential) circuitry sounds better than unbalanced circuitry. The Wadia 830 is a true balanced design. It generates the inverted signal in the digital domain and all subsequent processing is done in balanced mode.

Your Wadia 830 is designed to maintain many of the advantages of true balanced design when using the unbalanced outputs. In addition, the Wadia 830 output stage is capable of driving both types of outputs simultaneously.

The balanced outputs use the standard audio pin configuration: pin 1 is ground, pin 2 is positive, and pin 3 is negative.

WHY SHOULD I BYPASS THE PREAMPLIFIER?

A preamplifier is unnecessary when using your Wadia 830 Compact Disc Player. The Wadia Direct Connect technology incorporated into the Wadia 830 provides all the necessary control functions of a preamp while the signal is still in the digital domain. This avoids the sonic degradation caused by analog circuitry, switches, and wire. The Wadia Direct-Connect output stage can drive any power amplifier and any interconnects, even very long lengths.

DOES THE WADIA DIGITAL VOLUME CONTROL COMPROMISE RESOLUTION?

The Wadia 830 Compact Disc Player uses the latest generation of Wadia’s proprietary Digital Volume Control. The volume level is adjusted in the digital domain by means of mathematical manipulation of the signal, eliminating the distortion and noise that are inevitable with even the best analog volume controls. While conventional thinking indicates that reducing the volume digitally can sacrifice low-level resolution, Wadia has created an innovative solution. Wadia’s patented DigiMaster digital filtering algorithm pro- duces a 24-bit output rather than the 16 bits stored on the CD. This high-resolution signal is then used in the computations which in turn reduce the volume level. This new signal is fed directly to the DAC chips. Through this innovative method, the Wadia 830 maintains high resolution even at the lowest volume control settings.

CAN I BYPASS THE WADIA DIGITAL VOLUME CONTROL?

The Digital Volume Control can be bypassed by setting it to the maximum setting so that the front panel bar-graph display shows only the top LED illuminated. The Wadia Digital Volume Control operates in the digital domain; it is a computer program which performs calculations on the numeric values from the CD recording. If the Digital Volume Control is set to its maximum, this computer program is bypassed. There are no passive parts, switches contacts, resistors, or even circuit board traces associated with the digital volume control.

WHAT ABOUT ANALOG SOURCES?

To use analog sources in an otherwise digital system, Wadia has introduced the Wadia 17 Analog-to-Digital converter. Now it is possible to use analog sources, such as a tuner, tape deck, or even a turntable (in conjunction with a suitable phono stage) in your system without using a conventional analog preamplifier. Consult your dealer for more information on the Wadia 17 and other future Wadia Analog-to-Digital products.

SHOULD I LEAVE THE WADIA 830 WITH THE POWER ON?

The Wadia 830 is designed to be left with the power on with no harm or wear to the unit. All motors and laser circuitry turn off when the unit stops playing. Leaving the power on allows the circuitry to remain at a constant operating temperature, providing better performance and longer life. Careful listeners will notice that the sound of the Wadia 830 will improve steadily after the unit is powered-up. A new unit will undergo more dramatic changes when power is applied for the first time. If you turn off your Wadia 830 for more than an hour, you will find that the unit will undergo similar but less dramatic improvement once power is reapplied. Depending on the resolution of the system and the attentiveness of the listener, you may find that the sound continues to improve over the first several weeks of operation.