Rockna Wavedream DAC: Awesomesauce

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

  1. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Set up the new Pi2AES a lo and behold: I have music!

    Albeit, L and R reversed, but that's at least a huge improvement over the noisy/static sent by my old Pi2AES.

    I guess the Wavelight currently implements PS-Audio pinout? In any case, Nicolae said they would add Gustard support in the next firmware.
     
  2. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Send us the early unit back and we will see if it can be fixed. If not I will replace it.
     
  3. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    FYI - fixed the unit. There was a tiny solder short on the HDMI connector. It passed, so the short itself must have been intermittent. In any case, it's fixed and will be sent back Tuesday. I will also include our PS Audio adapter to try. It's new so still in beta. Feedback would be greatly appreciated!
     
  4. Clemmaster

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    Will do, thanks a lot!
     
  5. etherealsound

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    Out of curiosity, Is this still happening?
     
  6. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    I actually have the loaner Wavelight with me right now. Wrapping up thoughts on it (I want to throw it in my speaker setup one more time for confirmation) and also working on my impressions. There is a lot to go over; 4 filters and preamp function being the most interesting, and I wanted to be thorough.

    Also, I'd like to ask that this thread be kept about the Wavedream. Use the Wavelight thread to talk about the Wavelight.
     
  7. Bob 49

    Bob 49 New

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    How good is the volume control in the Wavedream Signature Balanced? How well does it work to use this dac direct to amps? Is there audible bit stripping? Thanks.
     
  8. Walderstorn

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  9. Xecuter

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    It's not bad, but a decent pre-amp would be worthwhile.
     
  10. famish99

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    I'd say you're pretty good until you're below -20db, then it starts becoming noticeable.
     
  11. Miracle1980

    Miracle1980 Acquaintance

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    Is the preamp function working as a real analog attenuator? I mean...if you reduce the volume on the Wavedream does it affect also the noise floor on the amp as an analog preamp?
     
  12. AdvanTech

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    As per the website, it looks digital. Wavelight is analog.
     
  13. Bob 49

    Bob 49 New

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    Here is what Nicolai said about the Wavedream Signature Balanced volume control regarding bit stripping with reducing the volume via the Wavedream's volume control: "the coupling the dac to amp does not lose resolution. Regarding volume control, for 16 bit files you can set the volume very low without losing resolution, up to -90 dB.
    For 24 bit files, you can go to about -42 dB without any loss. I2S interface is indeed 32 bit but there are no usable files on this resolution."
     
  14. Miracle1980

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    Thanks, that's also helpful.
    My question was more about if lowering the digital volume of the Wavedream would affect the output also in terms of voltage and lowering the S/N ratio as with the usage of attenuators (Rothwell for example)....
     
  15. m17xr2b

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    My 2c on Wavedream filters and inputs.

    On filters, I mostly use Linear, occasionally Hybrid, NOS(Off) when I need to correct a sharp setup/headphone and never Minimum.

    Linear, the most accurate filter, perfectly focused high end and bass. I strive to have the amp/hp combo sound best on this filter. Most neutral, a touch serious. Used 85% of the time.
    Hybrid, the drama button, enhances bass punch and treble stage at the expense of quality. Treble is hazy and fuzzy but more up front. Guilt pleasure, some not so well recorded tracks get too mangled on detail. Fun and engaging but not suited for critical listening. Does something interesting to vocals, occasionally perceived as upped volume.
    NOS, mostly used to calm down a hot-ish setup, soft attacks, not enough bite for my liking. Can work great with some setups, HEK SE was a blast and Susvara with PP EL84. Perceived enhanced low end due to lesser top end focus. Better than my previous Metrum Pavane DAC2.
    Minimum, not sure what's wrong with it but it's not working at all, frequency shifting or something but never found a setup where it worked even half decently. Just no.

    For input, the big one was HDMI(LDVS/I2S) vs AES. Did the trial with Pi2AES with LPS(separate hat and Pi power). As this is a cable sensitive area I used the two best IMO class cables, WyWires Platinum AES and Mapleshade Vivilink 3 plus HDMI.
    The difference was really subtle between them with HDMI just edging it overall yet both were at such a high level I'd be happy with either. Still interesting LDVS even with a very small margin was better than a purposely built audio transport standard.
    The main reason this is, AES needs to encode at the source and decode at the receiver side, I2S doesn't so one less hoop to jump through. A good opportunity for me to sell all the expensive AES transport gear for the cheaper and better HDMI setup.

    USB, Rockna nailed it, many companies tried to but this is easily the perfect USB implementation when used with software to bypass the windows mixer such as Dante Via. All the previous USB setups had something or many things wrong, lack of focus, haze, frequency bumps etc. Straight PC(youtube)->Wavedream with USB won't disappoint with the only limitation being bitrate and the inherent conversion yet the FPGA processor in the DAC performs more than admirably, no need for any sort of external boxes USB->Coax/AES boxes. My DIY amp builds were done with USB music, and whatever differences found here were exactly reflected with HDMI. I2S is still superior from a technical view yet I've not had a case where I2S was needed to enjoy a song, it's both or neither.
    Using this dac with 80% on USB for simple fun, enjoyment and DIY and only on I2S for more serious listening when ultimate quality is needed.

    A personal reason to like this dac, the company HQ is 20 miles from where I grew up, crazy.
     
  16. Miracle1980

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    @m17xr2b Thank you for the tip about linear filter... I'm trying it since yesterday (for the first time) and I like what I'm hearing!

    I convey with your description about the filters:

    Hybrid: slightly V-shaped with bass and highs more prominent. Highs are a bit more fatiguing and less detailed. It's the fastest and most "sigma-deltish" filter.
    My favourite at the moment

    Nos: relaxed and more organic. It feels slower and more meaty on the mids/low-mids. It has the classic 'nos sound'

    Linear: I'm still trying it but probably it's the most balanced filter. Quite transparent and nicely balanced on all the frequencies. I feel that nothing is missing or added.

    I actually never tried minimal...so I cannot comment on it.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
  17. Saleh84

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    I don't know if my ears are imagining things, but months of usage somehow made the combo of NET and wavedream sound even better! I knew R2R needs a lot of hours to burn in fully (if you believe in burn in to be real).

    I made few videos using a zoom h6 recorder stereo cartridge which is the best mic available to me. Maybe with headphones they can give some idea about the sound I'm hearing by now ))

     
  18. PavelDosko

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    Hello,

    Jaká je kvalita vestavěného předzesilovače? Jaký streamer používáte pro Rockna s převodníkem I2S nebo I2S converter?
     
  19. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Nenuphars?
     
  20. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

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    Pre-ampifier in rockna is not bad but a decent external would be the way to go for power amp/active speakers.
     

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