Wadia Digital 850 Should I use a Balanced or Unbalanced connection?, What about Analog Sources?

WADIA 850COMPACT DISC PLAYER

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Should I use a Balanced or Unbalanced connection?

We recommend you use the balanced analog output from your Wadia 850 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 850 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 850 is designed to maintain many of the advantages of true balanced design when using the unbalanced outputs. In addition, the Wadia 850 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 850 Compact Disc Player. The Wadia 850 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 850 output stage can drive any power amplifier and any interconnects, even very long lengths.

Does the Wadia Digital Volume Control compromise resolution?

The Wadia 850 Compact Disc Player uses the latest generation of Wadia’s proprietary digital volume control. The volume level can be varied 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 digital filtering algorithm produces 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 850 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 the Volume Control to its maximum setting so that the front panel display shows a volume level of 99.

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 Volume Control is set to its maximum, 99 on the front panel display, this computer program is bypassed.

What about Analog Sources?

In order to fully realize the potential of this type of 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 850 with the power on?

The Wadia 850 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. If desired, the front display can be turned off (see Turning off the Display under Remote Operation). Leaving the power on allows the circuitry to remain in thermal stability, which provides better performance and longer life. Careful listeners will notice that the sound of the Wadia 850 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 850 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. Although there are many theories on why this occurs, none have been proven. However, years of listening experience has confirmed this phenomenon.

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