Ferrum - WANDLA GoldenSound - DAC/PreAmp

Thinking about the potential of WANDLA’s computing power, our Ferrum team thought up of the ultimate experiment. Could we make Digital Signal Processing really work for us? Enter WANDLA GoldenSound Edition with Elevated digital headroom, Spatial Enhancement, Tube Mode and Impact+, all done in the DSP of our SERCE module. DSP done properly.

Elevated digital headroom

Higher immunity to intersample overs even in bypass mode at full output level, allowing you to play back any music free from additional distortion, and enjoy a high-quality sound.

Tube Mode

An intentional increase of the even-order harmonic distortion produced by the DAC, similar to the distortion added by a tube amplifier. This allows the user to enjoy a warmer, richer sound without directly changing the frequency response.

Spatial Enhancement

A unique spatial enhancement to provide an expanded soundstage and improved clarity of separation between musical elements, whilst avoiding the drawbacks commonly found in other approaches. It has two modes of operation: headphone and speaker mode tailored differently for different use cases.

Impact+

For those who enjoy a little more low-end in their music listening experience. This feature uses a customized two-band EQ which not only elevates bass but provides additional ‘punch’ and dynamic impact as well.

New Voltage Adjustment

The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition benefits from a hardware level output voltage adjustment of standard WANDLA, allowing the user to swap between just below 10 Vrms output to a just below 4 Vrms output. This is facilitated via a dedicated hardware voltage divider, allowing the user to select lower output voltage and ensure compatibility with all amplifiers, without a need to use any digital volume control, or to have analog volume control components in the signal path.

Dynamic Digital Filtering

WANDLA has three ESS digital filters to choose as standard and, as a world first, two digital filters created for Ferrum by renowned filter-maker Signalyst, know for their HQPlayer app. More filters will follow after interacting with WANDLA users.

Proprietary amplification

Fully balanced modified IC pre-amplifier, fine tuned for WANDLA.

Optimized Digital inputs

Specially programmed USB, and tuned coaxial and optical S/PDIF, AES, ARC (TV) and I2S ports, optimized for audio.

Made for HYPSOS

WANDLA performs beautifully right out of the box, but you can take its performance above and beyond when pairing it with HYPSOS. Using the proprietary Ferrum Power Link (FPL) connection with 4TSD voltage sensing, both components will perform to their absolute maximum, unleashing unheard-of musicality.

SERCE

Digital audio system module - Our optimized ARM chip offers the shortest signal path possible, making 5 chips redundant.

Unique output cable design: two wires delivering the power and two wires providing the feedback to ensure flat voltage at every moment. We named this technique Ferrum Power Link (FPL) and it eliminates the harmful effects of the cable's resistance effectively improving transient response. The current delivery speed at the powered device's input is significantly improved.

WANDLA comes with a carefully selected DC power adapter. To get the most out of WANDLA you can connect it with HYPSOS using our proprietary Ferrum Power Link DC power cable. This FPL cable can be ordered separately.

Sepcifications

• DAC chip: ESS Sabre ES9038PRO
• DAC resolution: 768 kHz / 32 bit, DSD 512
• Digital inputs: USB Type-C (up to PCM 768 kHz / 32 bit, DSD 512, DoP 256); I2S (up to PCM 768 kHz / 32 bit, DSD 512, DoP 256), PS Audio® compatible; ARC (up to PCM 192 kHz / 24 bit), TV input with CEC; AES (up to PCM 192 kHz / 24 bit, DoP 64); Coaxial S/PDIF (up to PCM 192 kHz / 24 bit, DoP 64); Optical S/PDIF (up to PCM 96 kHz / 24 bit*) *may work up to PCM 192 kHz and DoP 64 – depending of customer optical cable and transmitter
• Analog inputs: RCA
• Analog input Vmax: 9.5 VRMS (2 – 3.5 VRMS recommended)
• Analog input impedance: 47 kΩ
• Line outputs: balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA
• Volume control: analogue with bypass option / digital for DAC operation only
• Output level (@ 0 dBFS / 1 kHz sine): PRO: 8 VRMS balanced, 4 VRMS unbalanced; Red Book: 3.5 VRMS balanced, 1.75 VRMS unbalanced
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 200 kHz +/- 0.1 dB analog inputs
• DAC THD: -121 dB (0.00009 %), THD+N: -115 dB unweighted
• Analog input THD: -123 dB @ 2 VRMS
• Dynamic range (A-weighted): 127 dB analog, 119 dB digital
• Crosstalk: -120 dB for 1 kHz, better than -100 dB for 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Output impedance: 22 Ω unbalanced, 44 Ω balanced
• Power consumption: 10 W idle, 15 W max
• Power inputs (22-30 VDC): 5.5/2.5 mm DC connector, center positive; proprietary Ferrum Power Link (FPL) 4-pin DC connector
• Power adapter: 100-240 VAC to 24 VDC
• Remote control: included
• Dimensions: 21.7 cm x 20.6 cm x 5 cm / 8.6″ x 8.1″ x 2.0″
• Weight: 1.8 kg / 3.97 lbs