Wadia Digital – (SA)CD Transport
Transport types
From the start and for the longest time Wadia used a Teac VRDS transport. It was only when Teac stopped producing it that Wadia needed to look elsewhere. The Pioneer Stable Platter mechanism was used in a few models, and the 302 even featured a Philips transport, but the audio world was changing and at a certain time audio-only transports were virtually at the point of being extinct. This is when Wadia resorted to CD ROM and DVD ROM mechanisms, and the StreamUnlimited transport as used for example in the S7i, which utilises an optical mechanism sourced from Sony with custom StreamUnlimited servo and loader mechanism.
VRDS
While the VRDS system is invented and produced by Teac, not Wadia, I do think that Wadia have actually helped establish the good name by using these transports in many of their products. Think about it: music lovers and audiophiles on a budget who heard about Wadia’s greatness would buy into the more affordable Teac VRDS players, hoping that it would give them a slice of that great Wadia sound. But while the transport is indeed the very foundation of CD reproduction, being responsible for a very large chunk of the eventual sound, there’s more to great sound than the quality of the transport alone. For me it is the combination of a VRDS transport and a Wadia DAC that makes the magic.
Please note:
Unknown values are marked “xxxx”. Years with a question mark are not confirmed but likely close. Do please drop me a line if you have any of the missing info!
(SA)CD Transport
WT2000T
1990-xxxx
Original Retail xxxx
Teac VRDS CMK-3 transport
Sony KSS-151A laser unit
Based on the Teac P-2S
WT3200T
1991-xxxx
Original Retail xxxx
Philips CDM-1 transport
Philips laser unit
Based on the Marantz CD95 DR (similar to a CD12 with elements of the Marantz CD94)
7
1992-at least 1996
Original Retail 17.016 euro
Teac VRDS CMK-2 transport
Sony KSS-151A laser unit
Based on the Teac P-2S
More info
8
1993-xxxx
Original Retail xxxx
Teac VRDS CMK-4 transport
Sony KSS-151A laser unit
Natural partner for the W15 DAC
20
1996-xxxx
Original Retail 6.126 euro
Teac VRDS CMK-3.2 transport
Sony KSS-151A laser unit
22
1995-at least 1996
Original Retail 2.949 euro
Pioneer Stable Platter transport
270
1998-2007?
Original Retail 11.500 euro
Teac VRDS CMK-3.2 transport
Sony KSS-151A laser unit
270 SE
2007-2010?
Original Retail 12.900 euro
Teac VRDS S-type transport (CMK-3.2 + new bridge and brushless motor)
Sony KSS-151A laser unit
571
2009-2014
Original Retail 9.990 euro
StreamUnlimited transport (initially planned to be issued with a “clamping technology” transport ie Teac)
Multi-format: CD/FLAC
Clocklink
771
Mystery component – Never released
Was to be a new Transport in 2007
Mentioned in some publications but never released
971
2009-2014
Original Retail 20.900 euro
StreamUnlimited transport (alas, no VRDS-Neo as was hoped)
Architectural 9 series cabinet
Clocklink
The last CD transport Wadia made
More info