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DACs — Ferrum Wandla GoldenSound Edition Gen 2
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Ferrum Wandla GoldenSound Edition Gen 2
Image source — © Ferrum
The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition Gen 2 is a fully balanced DAC and preamplifier from Ferrum, the Polish audio company. It is a development of the original WANDLA and of the first GoldenSound Edition, and the new version made its debut at CanJam NYC. The list price is EUR 3,295, USD 3,295 or GBP 3,295. Owners of the first GoldenSound Edition receive the Gen 2 firmware at no cost, and the MQA decoding of the original model has been dropped. The box ships with a remote control, a USB cable, a power cord and an external AC/DC adapter.
Key specs that matter
Conversion runs on an ESS Sabre ES9038PRO chip that accepts PCM up to 768 kHz and 32 bit and DSD512. The USB-C and I2S inputs take the full rate plus DoP256, and I2S follows the PS Audio pin layout. AES and coaxial S/PDIF reach 192 kHz and 24 bit with DoP64, the ARC input handles 192 kHz with CEC control, and optical stops at 96 kHz. An RCA analogue input accepts up to 9.5 Vrms. In PRO mode the output level is 8 Vrms on XLR and 4 Vrms on RCA, falling to 3.5 and 1.75 Vrms in the Red Book setting, and output impedance is 44 ohm balanced and 22 ohm single-ended. Frequency response runs from 10 Hz to 200 kHz within 0.1 dB. The chassis measures 217 x 206 x 50 mm and weighs 1.8 kg.
Engineering and use context
Three processing features were reworked for Gen 2. Impact+ now offers seven bass profiles - Reference, Ref+, Smooth, Kick+, DD-Comp, DD-Comp+ and Sub-Bass - with the effect level adjustable from 10 to 130 percent. Tube Mode, which in the first edition worked only on the second harmonic, now models five valves, the EL34, KT88, 300B, 2A3 and 7062, reproducing harmonics up to the seventh at 10 to 200 percent. The spatial processing can be switched on its own, has separate modes for headphones and loudspeakers and adds a Transient Compensation option aimed at high-frequency transients. Gen 2 also brings more digital headroom and four Signalyst digital filters. Retained from the original are the SERCE DSP module, Dynamic Digital Filtering, the touchscreen and Streaming Control Technology.
Pairing
The unit runs from 22 to 30 V DC through either a proprietary FPL four-pin socket or a 5.5/2.5 mm barrel plug, drawing 10 W at idle and 15 W at most. Paired with the Ferrum HYPSOS supply, it gains 4TSD voltage sensing. The line outputs pass through a volume control that can be bypassed in the analogue domain, and Ferrum states that the Impact+ profiles are there to fit the processing to different loudspeaker systems and headphones. The analogue input presents 47 kohm to the source.
Alternatives
The standard Ferrum WANDLA is the base DAC and preamplifier from which this edition was derived, and it can take the same Gen 2 functions through the Converting Plug-in sold for EUR 595.
Key specs that matter
Conversion runs on an ESS Sabre ES9038PRO chip that accepts PCM up to 768 kHz and 32 bit and DSD512. The USB-C and I2S inputs take the full rate plus DoP256, and I2S follows the PS Audio pin layout. AES and coaxial S/PDIF reach 192 kHz and 24 bit with DoP64, the ARC input handles 192 kHz with CEC control, and optical stops at 96 kHz. An RCA analogue input accepts up to 9.5 Vrms. In PRO mode the output level is 8 Vrms on XLR and 4 Vrms on RCA, falling to 3.5 and 1.75 Vrms in the Red Book setting, and output impedance is 44 ohm balanced and 22 ohm single-ended. Frequency response runs from 10 Hz to 200 kHz within 0.1 dB. The chassis measures 217 x 206 x 50 mm and weighs 1.8 kg.
Engineering and use context
Three processing features were reworked for Gen 2. Impact+ now offers seven bass profiles - Reference, Ref+, Smooth, Kick+, DD-Comp, DD-Comp+ and Sub-Bass - with the effect level adjustable from 10 to 130 percent. Tube Mode, which in the first edition worked only on the second harmonic, now models five valves, the EL34, KT88, 300B, 2A3 and 7062, reproducing harmonics up to the seventh at 10 to 200 percent. The spatial processing can be switched on its own, has separate modes for headphones and loudspeakers and adds a Transient Compensation option aimed at high-frequency transients. Gen 2 also brings more digital headroom and four Signalyst digital filters. Retained from the original are the SERCE DSP module, Dynamic Digital Filtering, the touchscreen and Streaming Control Technology.
Pairing
The unit runs from 22 to 30 V DC through either a proprietary FPL four-pin socket or a 5.5/2.5 mm barrel plug, drawing 10 W at idle and 15 W at most. Paired with the Ferrum HYPSOS supply, it gains 4TSD voltage sensing. The line outputs pass through a volume control that can be bypassed in the analogue domain, and Ferrum states that the Impact+ profiles are there to fit the processing to different loudspeaker systems and headphones. The analogue input presents 47 kohm to the source.
Alternatives
The standard Ferrum WANDLA is the base DAC and preamplifier from which this edition was derived, and it can take the same Gen 2 functions through the Converting Plug-in sold for EUR 595.
Specifications
Model name
Wandla GoldenSound Edition Gen 2
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
EES Sabre ES9038PRO
DSD compatability
Yes
Parameters
up to 768 kHz / 32 bit and DSD512
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
10
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
200 000
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
8
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
4
Input Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
47 000
Output Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
44
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
22
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
N/A
Dimensions (mm)
217 x 206 x 50
Weight (kg)
1.8
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