I used to connecting my WADIA 830 to integrated Amp,and its performance was not better than a USD 800 CD player.
Last year I acquired several power amps and tried directly connect power amp to WADIA 830. Wow, its became a different machine. I found out that it drives Class A power amp so well that my friends were amazed by its clarity and sweetness. Currently I used Luxman M06 paired with Krix Esoterix Loudspeaker and oh my god, its performance is better than another USD 15K assembly. This ultra high value system is almost invincible in Jazz and Chamber music and they cost me less than USD 2500 ( all second hand ).
However, this CD player use Pioneer PEA1343 Laserhead which is not easy to find and very expensive. I spent USD 300 for a spare part. Moreover it is very selective in CD quality. In addition, A clean power is very important to make this CD player works well. I have a TDK noise filter to clean the EMI. An expensive power wire makes no difference, just waste money.

Sense of pace, tonal decay, weight of musical note. LISTENABLE!

Seems like remote weighs 5 lbs.! Not very responsive as well. Very methodical in it's sensor to unit signal.

Battled with going back to solo vinyl, ZOG talked me into upgrading my Sony es9000 SACD to a "real" red book cd player before diving back into the maddness. The Wadia 830 upon hitting the play button for the first time startled my listening ears! No one piece of gear has ever given me such listening pleasure! The tonal decay and weight of the music were in a realm that all need to experience. Sense of pace was as lifelike as I have heard from digital. I literally did not have the urge to speed through my favorite test songs, but rather listened to them in full. Why? Because I was hearing aspects that I have never before heard! I encourage anyone to try this moderately priced unit out. Zog, has the final word. "Johnny your system has arrived!" P.S. Definately configure preamp to fully utilize the Wadia internal volume control.

Similar Products Used:

Meridian 588, Sony Es9000sacd, Cary 302

Incredible overall smoothness, warmth and balance.

none

I recently (3 hours ago) acquired a used 830 CDP from a local Agoner. I was fortunate enough to purchase this unit as I now realize that it is highly sought after, especially in the european community. In the past, I have used mostly better DVD players for CD playback (i.e. Denon 3910). I have auditioned an Arcam 82 and a Linn Mimik in the past but I was astonished at the smoothness of this player, soundstage is broader. Separation between vocals and instruments is more defined. Overall, this is a very neutral player that allows you to listen for hours without fatique. Funny how I did not know about the name Wadia prior to 48 hours. It was through research using sites like Ecoustics.com which linked to audioreview that I became aware and convinced how good this player really is. I found that this player performs best using XLR connections versus RCA. Next purchase will be a good pair of silver IC with XLR ends.

Similar Products Used:

Arcam 82, Linn Mimik, Denon 3910.

My amplifer was and is Gryphon Century int. so it´s nothing wrong that and we test the player on my brothers Gryphon Antilleon, we get the same results. You have to agree that the taste is not the same for all, ok. Have a nice day. Rickard

Plays real music.

Pushing buttoms on cd-player feels like pushing on an overdue mushroom. Cheap plastic remote.

Being an audiophile for many years I´ve owned a great deal of expensive cd-players. The 830 is no doubt the finest cd-player I´ve ever had. It´s makes you feel, that you´re up front stage - close to the musicians. The music is relaxed, detailed, airy and attacks when it should - the best describtion is, that the 830 playes like an expensive turntable - very analogue - which enables you to listen for hours without fatique. You´ve got plenty of tigth bas, smooth and fast mid and fine sweet treble. Rickard from my scandinavian brotherland - Sweden - must have had a very bad day, when writing his 830 review, or maybe he just needs a good advice on buying a quality power amp. I´m playing on on a pair of heavy Threshold mono amp.s with the 830 hooked directly to the amp.s. My good friend and police colleague - Torben - is playing on Gryphon CD and Gamut amp.s, and we both - honestly - enjoy listening to each others set-up - So Rickard - get rid of that old Technichs stuff and get yourself a serious amp - enabling you to smile again.

Similar Products Used:

Krell,Burmester,ML,Sony,Meridian Naim, Rotel,Arcam,Thule

Detail,resolution,natural Sound

Plastic weak remote

Excellent source with Audioresearch amp and Sonusfaber GP speakers.A huge advance from the ordinary.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz, Teac

Sound, sound, sound, can be used without a pre-amp and Wadia customer support.

None if owner chooses to purchase optional metal remote.

Having used this player pretty much non-stop for the past month, I can concur with all the positive reviews and press its been awarded. In summary, the Wadia 830 has extremely good spatial defintion, presents a wide and deep soundstage, provides tight base extension and above all, clarity throughout the frequency spectrum that is both engaging and musical. In short, the Wadia draws you into the music by extracting EVERY last detail from recordings (be warned....poor recordings will sound poor!!!).

In comparison to the above players listed, I surprisingly found each to be sonically at par with the 830. In other words, anyone of the players would be welcome in my living room for an extended period of time. However, when price and overall value was factored into the purchasing decision the Wadia 830 was the clear winner.

My associated equipment:

Wadia 830 with optional metal remote and digital inputs
Bryston 3B-ST
Target B3 equipment stand
MIT 330 proline balanced interconnect
Totem Model 1 Signature on Target R4 stands
MIT MH-750 bi-wire speaker cables
Black Diamond Racing Cones
Gut-Wire G-Clef power cords

Similar Products Used:

Sim Audio Moon Eclipse, Theta Miles (balanced) and Mark Levinson No. 39.

Non fatiguing, great sounding, very involving, can be hooked directly to a power amp.

None found

I borrowed this player from a dealer for two days and it made a huge improvement in three different systems. In my system it replaced a Rotel player. The sound was much less fatiguing, sounded much better, and was much more involving. In another all Adcom system is made the same improvements. In a third system is sounded less bright than a California Audio Labs CL15. I used to think I needed new speakers, but now I know I need this CD player. Never before did I think that spending this much on a CD player would give the same level of return, but now I think its a more cost effective upgrade than new speakers. I never knew my CDs could sound this good. If your skeptical, go borrow one from a dealer, you'll see.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel, California Audio Labs, Lynn, Adcom

nothing for the price

price, high ferquncy reproduction

May a price ticket and a big name make you become able to lie to yourself?
If you´d like your cd player to sound like a tuner, than Wadia 830 is for you.
Warm? It mesaures - 3dB at 10Khz and output at 14 Khz is...zero. Nada.
Forget experiments with cables and all that dreams...
But, I guess it doesn´t matter if you´re 50 years old?
Even then, it costs bags of money, and it has worst small and unreliable soft touch buttons and a very cheap,
ugly remote.
Dont take cheap for bad, cheaper players do beat it.
For the first time I feel forced to write this kind of review,
and give this kind of score.

(For the price: -5 loudspeakers if I could)

Similar Products Used:

...

The Wadia 830 is a well built, good looking mamchine. I like the transport/platter drawer from Pioneer. The dynamic range of this player is quite astonishing , but also somewhat overwhelming for me. The bottom end is very strong with great bass punch and slam.

I like the Wadia in general, but with my system it seemed too up front and shrill at the high end for me. It was fatigueing to listen to for long periods of time.

I have been looking for a higher quality CD player and have auditioned the Classe .3, the Proceed CDP, and the Wadia 830. I am going to purchase the Proceed, but the Wadia is a very good player, just not with my gear.

Similar Products Used:

Classe .3, Proceed CDP