Where does the new introduction leave the Studio Player? Exactly where it has always been, securely anchoring in its own, three-box upgrade path. The Studio DAC is a lot more than just a Player without the transport. Rather than sitting alongside the highly regarded all-in-one box, the new DAC and Transport aim to fill the gap between it and the Reference products, in both price and performance terms. How successfully they’ll do that – and how big a step up in performance they’ll offer – only time and listening will tell, but Wadax have a disconcerting habit of seriously exceeding expectations with each new product. Only a fool (or those with an agenda) would bet against them.
Meanwhile and elsewhere, Wadax equipment, both Studio Line and Reference seemed to be the most popular (and consistently musically rewarding) digital source components at the show. I lost count of how many rooms it appeared in, but the number of new Studio line units in use suggest that Wadax are finally succeeding in getting on top of the production demands that have delayed product introductions and deliveries in the past.
Clarisys Loudspeakers
By Roy Gregory
After their monumental triumph last year, presenting the massive, four-way Atrium active system in a large and less than promising space, in one of the more incomprehensible exclusions this year, Clarisys found themselves without a room at the ACV. Instead, they were to be found playing the four-panel, three-way, Aria Mk.2 in one of the three, off-board shows, occupying a glass box penthouse perched atop a tower block. The views were spectacular: the sound less so. Paired with Aries Cerat amplification, it was nice enough when things were quiet and simple, but dynamic demands or dramatic increases in musical density saw the amp simply ‘punk out’. There’re really no other words for it, as the speakers simply left the reservation, or at least any semblance of control once complex or dynamic demands arrived.
Having had the Clarisys speakers at home, I’m well aware of what they can do – and this wasn’t it! Instead, it underlined the futility of drawing conclusions about the sonic capability of any product at a show. It was an interesting example of the needs-must/shotgun marriages that so often occur at audio events – to the detriment of all involved. In the past, I heard the same effect exhibited by Apogees that outran their amplification. This doesn’t make the speaker or the amp bad products. They just shouldn’t be used together.
Sadly, the performance of the Auditoriums in the Wadax room (this time driven by monster Goldmund amps) was no better. I might point a finger at the direct connection of DAC to power amp: why does anybody do that these days? Especially when you consider that the Goldmunds are capable of receiving a digital input! I might also point a finger at the musical choices being used, none of which were particularly testing, or by the same token, encouraged the system to show its teeth. I came away with the distinct impression that those playing the system were unhappy or lacked confidence in it. As to why, who knows? But anybody wanting to know what the Wadax Studio Line components, or the Clarisys Auditoriums actually sound like, was going to be sorely disappointed.
