Rockna Wavedream DAC: Awesomesauce

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Nov 7, 2019.

  1. Ake_Y

    Ake_Y New

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    Thank you... TomNC.

    Note : I also asked about Wavedream volume in other forums. Intially, I thought Vpp and Vrms are the same as V.

    So Volume I set up on Wavedream Edition at that time is 0 dB = 6.6 Vpp per spec = 2.33 Vrms, which is roughly recommended Vrms for single ended input sources.
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2021
  2. Beefy

    Beefy Friend

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    This trend absolutely sucks, especially for headphones.

    I have the output of my DIY DACs set below 1 VRMS, and still have fidgety volume control on most headphone amps. I mean, I know I listen at lower volumes than most people, but it is very easy to get well beyond deafening sound levels with virtually all the equipment we buy.

    Recommended by who? I'd like to slap them in their silly faces.
     
  3. Ake_Y

    Ake_Y New

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    Sorry if the information is wrong. Please suggest the correct value. Thank you.
     
  4. Beefy

    Beefy Friend

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    No, I'm sure someone told you that. 2 VRMS has become the convention for some insane reason. I have many faces to slap.

    Output levels should be set to match your amp's gain, such that you can use a reasonable amount of the volume control. Usually, this will be way lower than 2 VRMS.
     
  5. Ake_Y

    Ake_Y New

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    Just want to update that I demoed Dave yesterday. Dealer contacted me last Sunday that a customer left one for burn-in. I spent an hour at distributor. Dave sound is more lively than Hugo TT2, but it's not musical like Rockna Wavedream. I still prefer Rockna Wavedream to Chord Dave. Right now, my choices are narrowed to either Rockna Wavedream / Denafrip Terminator Plus / Audio-GD R7-HE.

    I'm trying to find a way to deal with over-emphasize bass/drum of Wavedream. For Terminator plus, Denafrips distributor in my country has only Terminator 2 available. If I could not deal with Wavedream bass/drum and don't like Terminator sound signature, I might go with R7-HE.
     
  6. Prtuc2

    Prtuc2 Acquaintance

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    I shared similar impression on the Wavedream, the bass on some tracks seems overwhelming. I was able to get it under control with the Psvane Acme tubes which I saw you already own. Did you test audition the Rockna Wavedream with your own amp yet?
     
  7. Ake_Y

    Ake_Y New

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    Thank you very much for sharing.

    I hope so, but my Cayin HA-300 is too heavy ( 30 kg. = 66 lb. ) . I think I will demo Wavedream again in couple weeks.

    May I ask which Amplifier and Wavedream model you are using now?
     
  8. Chianti

    Chianti New

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    Make sure to set the filter to linear, or hybrid which is default when I received my Wavedream two months ago.
     
  9. Prtuc2

    Prtuc2 Acquaintance

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    I am using the DNA Stratus which uses the 2A3 power tube instead of the 300B which I heard is more bass prominent than the 2A3 counterpart. 300B is higher power output as well probably can handle power hungry planar better.

    I am using the Linear filter, local clock, USB to pc foobar2000 music player and set to 0dB running off RCA single ended cable.
     
  10. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

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    Dear Randos.
    You should always mention the amp and also the tube compliment if relevant. The DAC and the version, in this case balanced or regular, edition or signature and most importantly the transuducer to give your opinions some context.

    This sort of rambling is head-fi level discussion.
     
  11. Ake_Y

    Ake_Y New

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    I just demoed Wavedream again yesterday. I also tried Audiobyte Hydra Stack ( Vox/Zap ) for the first time.

    - Setup : Spotify on my iPhone connected via WIFI -> Lan Interface -> Wavedream Edition / Hydra Stack via Coax -> Leben CS600X EL34 mode via RCA -> Focal Utopia Headphones

    Note : Staff and me could not find the way to enable headphone output on Hydra Vox so we use Leben instead. I just found out later that DSD Direct must be disabled to enable headphone output.

    - Rockna Wavedream Edition ( v. 4.80 Firmware / Linear Filter / Local Clock / Normal Phase / Dither On ) : I spent about 2 hours with it. I could say that Wavedream sound has texture, upfront, spatial and lush. However, bass and drum impact is still quite too aggressive for me, especially R&B and dance music like Earth, Wind & Fire, Christina Aguilera. If the bass/drum impact could be reduced around 1 - 2 steps out of 10, I will buy it without any hesitance. I think it is suitable for speakers and might pair well with bass light headphones, such as Audio technica ATH-ADX5000 / Sennheiser HD800s.

    - Audiobyte Hydra Stack ( Linear Filter / Normal Phase ) : I spent 30 mins with it. I think Hydra Stack sound is in the same tone as Wavedream, but laidback and less bass/drum impact. I prefer its sound to Wavelight. I mean Hydra Stack sound is closer to Wavedream than Wavelight. To tell the actual differences, I have to test A/B between them again. I did not do this time because I would like to spend time with Wavedream, which I like most among them.

    Next step, I will contact both Denafrips and Audio-GD distributors for demo ( Terminator 2 and R7-HE ) . Thank you for reading.
     
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    Last edited: Jan 22, 2022
  12. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Sorry for not reading all of this, but my parents are actually considering a Wavedream Edition. Their whole speaker rig is SE, so that makes sense for them and would avoid a transformer.

    Does the SE version sound just as good as the XLR version?
     
  13. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Most likely.
    Unlike the SE output on my (now sold) WL, the SE output of my WD XLR Edition don’t suck.
    I never got a round to directly compare them with BAL output on the same amp, though. The only amps in my possession that do both are the Jot 2 and Jot A, however, so they’re not the last word in technical abilities (however great they sound, especially for the price).
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yes SE version is also good. The DAC that I can think is most similar presentation wise to is the Yggdrasil LIM - but everything better. Figured I'd include that tidbit for purposes of synergy.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2022
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    That sounds good, I loved the tone of the LIM. Does the Wavedream Edition do the "noise reduction"/"summing" thing that the LIM does and 2541 does to a greater extent and even the Wavelight does to a lesser extent? The tone of the LiM with more grit would be a fantastic DAC.
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    WD is the exception to that observation. It does both the blacker thing, yet maintains the fine gradations of volume levels, not crushing them into nothingness. It's vinyl like in this way. As such I'd argue that it's blacker than the LIM and just if not more resolving as the A2.

    The WL isn't in the same league as the WD.
     
  17. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I hate to be a dumbass and ask dumbass questions but I'm kind of a dumbass when it come to electronics.

    Could someone tell me which settings I should have the Wavedream Edition SE set to for best results streaming Tidal from a Pi2AES?

    For one thing, the channels are reversed right now using I2S. Do I need to fix that in Moode or in the Wavedream Edition SE settings somewhere?

    I'd also love your opinion on the best settings for

    Filter
    DSD-BW
    Dither
    Clock

    thank you for the help for this moron!

    Even with the amp not burned in or warmed up properly I'm hearing great things.

    (this is not my DAC, my parents decided to buy one for some reason when I told them about the possibility of adding a Pi2AES streamer to their speaker rig)
     
  18. AdvanTech

    AdvanTech Friend

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    There is an option to choose I2S mode 1 or 2. That should flip your channels.
    Linear sounds bestest to me.
    Not sure about the others. Enjoy!
     
  19. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Hmmm, HDRlink1 and 2 seem to just be 2 I2s inputs, they both have the channels the same way. When I switch from 1 to 2, it just switches from one of the inputs to the other, but both inputs have the channels inverted.

    I have it set on linear right now that's good! :)
     
  20. AdvanTech

    AdvanTech Friend

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    It's within the Rockna mobile app that I can go to "I2S MODE" and switch between 1 and 2. I don't know what HDRlink is.
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2022

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