{"id":7276,"date":"2015-02-23T10:13:36","date_gmt":"2015-02-23T08:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/?page_id=7276"},"modified":"2019-06-20T15:21:11","modified_gmt":"2019-06-20T13:21:11","slug":"wadia-digital-sacd-player","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wadia-digital-sacd-player\/","title":{"rendered":"Wadia Digital – (SA)CD Player"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"wadia<\/h2>\n

While the S7i pictured above with its StreamUnlimited transport is definitely\u00a0a very good CD player, I still have a soft spot for the older 861 with its less resolving but fuller sound and super-sturdy, indestructible transport.<\/p>\n

Model numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The model numbers can be confusing. While the “i” stands for “inputs”, Wadia started with CD players without an “i” that nevertheless had all inputs and outputs. In response to demand for more affordable products,\u00a0they issued a “B” (Basic) model for the 861 that omits the extra connectivity. Still later they omitted the extra inputs and outputs on all normal models except for the ones with an “i” suffix. For example the standard 861 has all inputs and outputs, 581 only has analog out and 581i has all inputs and outputs.<\/p>\n

Transport types<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a0an optical mechanism sourced from Sony with custom StreamUnlimited\u00a0servo and loader mechanism.<\/p>\n

SE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Special Edition, or, perhaps, Second Edition. Applies only to the 861 and the 581.\u00a0In case of the 861 this marks the change from standard Teac VRDS CMK-3.2 transport to an upgraded\u00a0Teac VRDS S-type transport, which is a CMK-3.2 + new bridge and brushless motor.\u00a0In case of the 581 this indicates\u00a0no performance update but an update that added better stability and reliability. Not all SE models were exactly alike however, and later SE models could be recognised by the slits in the sidepanels for improved ventilation.<\/p>\n

\"wadia<\/p>\n

VRDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Please note:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unknown values are marked “xxxx”. Years with a question mark are not confirmed but likely close.\u00a0Do please drop me a line<\/a> if you have any of the missing info!<\/p>\n

\n

(SA)CD Player<\/h2>\n
\n

6\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1992-xxxx<\/p>\n

Original Retail $4500
\nTeac VRDS CMK-4 transport
\nSony KSS-151A laser unit<\/p>\n

\n

16\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1995-xxxx<\/p>\n

Original Retail 9.756 euro
\nTeac VRDS CMK-3.2 transport
\nSony KSS-151A laser unit<\/p>\n

\n

21\"wadia21<\/strong>
\n1995-xxxx<\/p>\n

Original Retail 7.147 euro
\nVRDS CMK-4 transport
\nSony KSS-240A Laser-unit<\/p>\n

\n

23\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1995-xxxx<\/p>\n

Original Retail 3.607 euro
\nPioneer PEA1030 Stable Platter transport<\/p>\n

\n

850 standard (basic)\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1997-2002<\/p>\n

Original Retail 7.169 euro
\nTeac VRDS CMK-4a transport
\nSony KSS-240A laser unit
\nNo digital inputs or outputs<\/p>\n

\n

850 Inputs\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1997-2002<\/p>\n

Original Retail 8.531 euro
\nTeac VRDS CMK-4a transport
\nSony KSS-240A laser unit
\nDigital Inputs (2x BNC, ST, Toslink)<\/p>\n

\n

850 Outputs\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1997-2002<\/p>\n

Original Retail 7.709 euro
\nTeac VRDS CMK-4a transport
\nSony KSS-240A laser unit
\nDigital Outputs<\/p>\n

\n

850 Inputs and Outputs\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1997-2002<\/p>\n

Original Retail 9.071 euro
\nTeac VRDS CMK-4a transport
\nSony KSS-240A laser unit
\nDigital inputs (2x BNC, ST, Toslink)
\nDigital outputs (ST, BNC)<\/p>\n

\n

860\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1997-2002<\/p>\n

Original Retail 10.799 euro
\nTeac VRDS CMK-3.2 transport
\nSony KSS-151A laser unit
\nDigital inputs and outputs<\/p>\n

\n

830\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1998-2000<\/p>\n

Original Retail 4.537 euro
\nPioneer PEA1343 Stable Platter transport
\nDigital inputs and -outputs are optional<\/p>\n

\n

831\"Wadia<\/strong>
\nMystery Component<\/p>\n

The Wadia 831 is mentioned in various places on the internet but I am quite sure that the 831 was never released as such, but as the 301 instead. Look at the prototype images… aren’t all buttons and displays in exactly the same position as for the 301?\u00a0John Shaeffer commented that the 831 would feature a stunning new design. Well, for me it’s clear that this must have become the 301, which indeed has a radically different design.<\/p>\n

\n

861\"wadia<\/strong>
\n1999-2006<\/p>\n

Original Retail 11.500 euro
\nTeac VRDS CMK-3.2 transport
\nSony KSS-151A laser unit
\nDigital inputs and outputs
\nSuccessor to the 860
\nReworked DAC board compared to the 860<\/p>\n

Extensive Reviews:
\nCompared to Krell, Meridian, CEC, Audiomeca<\/a>
\nIntegrated vs Trans-DAC<\/a>
\nCompared to S7i<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

301\"wadia301FwebL<\/strong>
\n2002-2003?<\/p>\n

Original Retail 5.400 euro
\nPioneer PEA1343 Stable Platter transport
\nDigital out on coax
\nDigital inputs are optional<\/p>\n

\n

861 Basic\"wadia<\/strong>
\n2002-2006<\/p>\n

Original Retail 8.500 euro
\nTeac VRDS CMK-3.2 transport
\nSony KSS-151A laser unit
\nNo digital inputs or -outputs<\/p>\n

Extensive Reviews:
\nCompared to Krell, Meridian, CEC, Audiomeca<\/a>
\nIntegrated vs Trans-DAC<\/a>
\nCompared to S7i<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

302\"wadia_302<\/strong>
\n2003-2007?<\/p>\n

Original Retail 5.900 euro
\nPhilips VAM1250 transport
\nDigital out on coax
\nDigital inputs are optional<\/p>\n

\n

861 SE\"wadia_861se<\/strong>
\n2003-2006<\/p>\n

Original Retail 12.900 euro
\nTeac VRDS S-type transport (CMK-3.2 + new bridge and brushless motor)
\nSony KSS-151A laser unit
\nVarious digital in- and outputs<\/p>\n

\n

581 Basic\"wadia581_center<\/strong>
\n2006-2010<\/p>\n

Original Retail 9.990 euro
\nSanyo SF-HD65 CD-ROM mechanism
\nMulti-format: CD\/SACD
\nTransport manufactured in Korea with optics manufactured in Japan, With modifications to the mechanism as well as the servo board, along with an additional board to help control the operational functions.
\nNo Digital in- and outputs<\/p>\n

Extensive Review<\/a>
\nCompared to 781i<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

581i\"wadia_581i<\/strong>
\n2006-2010<\/p>\n

Original Retail 11.990 euro
\nSanyo SF-HD65 CD-ROM mechanism
\nMulti-format: CD\/SACD
\nTransport manufactured in Korea with optics manufactured in Japan, With modifications to the mechanism as well as the servo board, along with an additional board to help control the operational functions.
\ni adds Digital in- and outputs<\/p>\n

Extensive Review<\/a>
\nCompared to 781i<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

581i SE\"wadia_581ise_800<\/strong>
\n2007-2010<\/p>\n

Original Retail approx 14.000 euro
\nSanyo SF-HD65 CD-ROM mechanism
\nMulti-format: CD\/SACD
\nTransport manufactured in Korea with optics manufactured in Japan, With modifications to the mechanism as well as the servo board, along with an additional board to help control the operational functions.
\nSE wasn’t a performance update but an update that added better stability and reliability. Later SE models could be recognised by the slits in the sidepanels.<\/p>\n

\n

781\"wadia_781
\n<\/strong>2008-2010<\/p>\n

Original Retail 12.800 euro
\nCD-ROM mechanism
\nNo digital inputs or -outputs<\/p>\n

Extensive Review (781i compared to 581)<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

781i\"wadia<\/strong>
\n2008-2013?<\/p>\n

Original Retail 17.990 euro
\nCD-ROM mechanism
\ni adds Digital in- and outputs (not USB though)
\nOptional USB input (U-upgrade)<\/p>\n

Extensive Review (781i compared to 581)<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

381\"Wadia381<\/strong>
\n2009-2013<\/p>\n

Original Retail 8.990 euro
\nStreamUnlimited CD-ROM mechanism
\nMulti-format: CD\/FLAC (no SACD)
\nNo Digital in- and outputs
\nBased on the 581SE (but different transport)
\nSaid by some to sound even better than the 781 with CD’s<\/p>\n

\n

381i\"Wadia<\/strong>
\n2009-2013<\/p>\n

Original Retail 10.490 euro
\nStreamUnlimited CD-ROM mechanism
\nMulti-format: CD\/FLAC (no SACD)
\ni adds Digital in- and outputs
\nBased on the 581i SE (minus SACD playback)
\nSaid to sound even better than the 781i with CD’s<\/p>\n

\n

S7i\"wadia<\/strong>
\n~2010-2013<\/p>\n

Original Retail 16.490 euro
\nStreamUnlimited CD-ROM mechanism (Sony KHS313 or SF-HD870 optical pickup)
\nNo SACD, but focus on best possible CD replay<\/p>\n

Extensive Review<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

981i\"wadia<\/strong>
\nMystery Component<\/p>\n

The new SACD player that never made it past the prototype stage, which is a pity because it would feature the new 9 series design and if the picture is anything to go by it was going to have a “proper” optical transport.<\/p>\n

\n

More Wadia Company Special<\/h3>\n

Wadia Digital Main Page<\/a><\/p>\n

Wadia History<\/a><\/p>\n

Wadia Upgrades<\/a><\/p>\n

(SA)CD Transport<\/a><\/p>\n

DAC<\/a><\/p>\n

AD Converter<\/a><\/p>\n

Glass \/ Optical Interface<\/a><\/p>\n

iPod \/ iPad Transport<\/a><\/p>\n

Digital Amplifier<\/a><\/p>\n

Media Server<\/a><\/p>\n

Read Also<\/h3>\n

Wadia CD transport Masterpieces<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While the S7i pictured above with its StreamUnlimited transport is definitely\u00a0a very good CD player, I still have a soft spot for the older 861 with its less resolving but fuller sound and super-sturdy, indestructible transport. Model numbers The model numbers can be confusing. While the “i” stands for “inputs”, Wadia started with CD players […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7276","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7276"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19344,"href":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7276\/revisions\/19344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}