According to Rockna when I spoke to them in March 2022 for the Wavedream Signature at least it requires changing the transformers and should be done in the factory.
I’m guessing the wavelight is different
I have a new Wavelight and this is according to the manual… I guess the Wavedream is different. I am absolutely loving this Dac by the way!
Has anyone heard older Wavedream Signature with original MSB modules? I have been hearing some chatter that it’s worth hunting for.
I was told my Wavelight would only need an hour to warm up. I have not experienced this to be accurate. My first listen was at the 12 hour mark and I was actually upset because it sounded almost bloated with warmth (I am particularly sensitive to warmth).
I listened to the DAC throughout yesterday and it was the 24 hour mark where it seemed to lose this oppressive warmth, to my ear. I have been back and fourth with my back-up DAC (D1se2) to confirm that it’s not brain burn-in or something to that effect. I’m at the 48 hour mark now and, although it is what I would describe as a slightly warm DAC, it is warmth in what I would consider to be done “the right way” - weighty, tonally rich but not bloated and oppressive.
Vocal timbre is incredible on this. That’s the first positive thing that stood out to when listening to this DAC. Bass guitar weight is very satisfying. I think it may still be a little too warm and thick for me. I think it’s ever so slightly too forward for me to but I’m finding it hard to complain because it does sound quite good. I’m just hypercritical of new acquisitions. The higher the spend, the more critical I am.
Qobuz > Rivo > SU-6 > Wavelight > Mentor > Cosmo / Avija
At the level you’re at and the criticality in which you’re listening, it sounds like many of your niggles could be addressed by the right cabling both up and downstream from the DAC.
Snake River Boomslang Aes is what you need from your Singxer to WL to solve your problem. (Wavelight likes Aes more than Coax).
When I had it with Wavelight it tilted the dac to the sound you are looking for.
If you want power cables, try to find Triodewire Labs Ten plus, that will help towards your sound goal too (had it with Wavelight as well with the boomslang).
Thank you both for the guidance. I am enjoying the DAC and I’m unsure if I even have a problem with it’s tonal balance now that it is thermally stable. I need more dedicate time listening, rather than listening while I’m working.
However, what would have me continue to look for another DAC is it’s forwardness. Fortunately the Mentor has pushed me a few rows back and so again, I need more time with it, some quality listening time, to understand how I feel about it’s presentation. I take it cables wouldn’t resolve this though if I decided it wasn’t for me and I wished to be a few rows further back?
Cables can help slightly in any capacity but that’s it, slightly. They’re never going to fix a flaw. Consider them like adding a bit of finishing salt on your steak. A more technical cable will help reveal more detail but it’s never going to make a soft DAC sharper.
Listen a lot and then decide what you want, and if it’s pushing a characteristic slightly, yes there will be a cable for that. But if you’re trying to completely change a characteristic, it won’t happen.
