Dr. Guzman

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
The Wadia 23 was the model that really started it all for Wadia in the 90's! Very well constructed, incredible big soundstage with a lot of presence in the mids. Unfortunately, it tends to be a little bit over-bright so you have to be careful with the ancillary equipment you'll connect it for. Excellent matching for tubes. The Pioneer stable platter transport is a little odd and sometimes "fragile" but it shouldn't give you trouble if you don't mess with it. High resale value and a very high esteemed reputation. Only problem is that the price is way too high. I mean, Wadia spend more on the cabinet itself than in the electronics inside. At $3,000 is not cheap, no matter what the "golden ears" tells you. Today, 2009, these models are old and you have to consider it when buying one at second hand market because it's almost sure that the laser is ready to go. Believe me...it happened to me!

karstdj

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from second hand

Summary:
After purchasing the Wadia 23 blind on recommendation, I was not the least dissapointed with the sound. The soundstage is huge: deep, wide and high. The sound tends to be a bit forward, but one is rewarded with lots of detail and dynamics. The player is the absolute opposite of dull. Replaying old discs is a joy, as one finds lots of new experiences, unknown to have existed on the disc before. I agree with other reviewers that if you have a chance to get this player, do so, it's a steal...

Strengths:
Dynamics, soundstage, liveliness, beautiful bass, depicts strong and realistic tonal characteriscs of instruments and voices

Weaknesses:
Not so much ambient information, slightly dry and rigid, missing some fluidity

Similar Products Used:
Meridian 507

Tadman

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from private

Summary:
Hi.

I heard quite a lot "high end" audio during the years. I prefer to bild my own stuff due to I can not buy better sound - wherefore I build my own stuff. However, I play on a Krell KRS-2 preamp which I find fab. I also owned the Krell KRS in six parts, but prefered the "single ended" version. Okay, now for the topic, reviewing an old cdp from 94 entry lewel wadia 23. How does such performs? Well, I was not to optimistic due to I just owned the 861 and only sold this due to a new car. I was wrong, very wrong indeed. The Wadia 23 is a fantastic player in order to age, technology and entry level model. Soundstage is huge, smooth and has great texture. This player is awesome! I owned the Wadia 26 dac as well, and this is a better dac alone, but at that time I needed a fair transport to support it and at last I gave up and sold it. In fact, the sound has that tone I like. Is it perfect? No, not at all, it has some fault especially in the treble when pushed - after all it's not the fastest dsp anymore. Soundstage could be deeper and wider as well. Background quiter with instruments more clear. Treble, midrange and bass is not as big as the 861 - but I like the tone! Very natural tone, not uncolored compared to the 861 which sounds more like a mastertape, but the 23 has that "analog" sound. I recommend this player for anyone if you can get one for a fair price. The most comic and striking issue is really, that most modern "high end" cdp are very poor made and are far from this old player in performance. I'm impressed, a bass line from an acoustic bass is just right - wood, strings made of tarms etc. Voices - yes, just has that tonal caracter. Rating is due to age and price. You can get better as the 270/27is, but still, this is a giant killer to a small price! Highly recommened! thanks

Strengths:
Very "natural" "analog" sound, huge sound. Tone! Prefer it over the 830!

Weaknesses:
Not the last word in resolution, miss the deep and wide soundstage from very highend, treble can be a bit stessed compared to the very best. The 861 treble is huge, unstressed and uncompressed in comparison. The 270/27ix however is way better than the 861 and actually the 23 has some of the same tonal qualities as this combo!

Similar Products Used:
Wadia 861, 26, 830, CEC trans and integrated, Parasound cdp 2000, Krell KPS heavily modified kps 30i and a lot more.

Price Paid:  $1100.00 from Used

Summary:
It is hard to believe that Wadia could extract such excellent sound quality from a Pioneer Stable Platter-based machine. I have high-end separates that cost $6700, and the Wadia competes favorably with them. I cannot imagine at this point how their more expensive CD players could be any better. The Wadia 23 is simply the best-kept secret (and bargain) I have ever heard in digital.

Strengths:
If ANYTHING in digital audio qualifies as a giant-killer, the Wadia 23 is it!

Weaknesses:
None!

Similar Products Used:
Theta Miles, Audio Research CD-1, Audio Research DAC-2, Sony CDP 707ES (with and without Theta DAC), etc.

Price Paid:  $3050.00

Summary:
Everything is already said.
Of course, compared to SACD it's competitive, but bare in mind, how many SACD's are there around ?
So, grep one if you can, solid mechanics, good design.

Strengths:
Dynamics, dynamics and dynamics. Incredible dynamic if compared to other sources (Tuner etc.) and Transparent.

Weaknesses:
No volume control.

Similar Products Used:
Marantz, Philips, Cambridge