Network Player Reviews, SPDIF DAC Reviews

Wattson Audio Madison and Madison LE

Christiaan Punter 24 December 2024 No Comments

Listening Round 2 – Main System

For the second round, I connected both Madisons using identical Driade Flow Link Reference 808 interlinks to the CH Precision L1 preamp to listen to via the CH A1.5 power amp and Magico S1 MkII loudspeakers. In this context, I will also assess the various streaming possibilities and investigate the differences between the two power supplies.

Starting with coaxial S/PDIF, the two Madisons behave entirely the same as when listened to using headphones. Both have a smooth, rich, powerful, and full-blooded presentation that belies their diminutive size. It is common to assume small and efficient devices cannot sound bold or have big bass, but you better believe it when it comes to the Madisons.

Experimenting with the RCA and XLR outputs proved worthwhile, for the sound improved noticeably after connecting the XLR versions of the Driade Flow Link 808s. It’s not night and day, which speaks highly of the Madisons’ output stages, but the edge goes to the balanced connection for its slightly more precise and transparent rendition. However, it should be noted that the impact of balanced versus unbalanced connections can differ depending on the preamplifier used. CH Precision routinely achieves the best sound when using balanced connections, but I’ve also encountered situations where there is a unique synergy when using unbalanced connections. That’s why I always recommend trying all connection methods and simply siding with the one that sounds best in that situation.

Digital volume control has a bad reputation, and with reason. As I have found with every digital-volume-controlled DAC so far, the sound loses a bit of refinement, clarity, and bite as soon as you leave the unity setting and start lowering the level, even if it is only one dB. With the Madisons, however, the only thing that happens when you use the volume control (either via the tactile front panel dial or conveniently via the app) is that the level is lowered by the specified amount. This seems logical enough, but digital volume leveling is simply not as straightforward as it may seem.

In terms of soundstage, the two Madisons are very similar, although the LE images slightly more crisply. Both provide a broad and deep stage that flows effortlessly.

Between the two Madisons, I prefer the LE version for its more precise nature, but I also have to hand it to the standard Madison for sounding ever so sophisticated and seductive. Of the two, it has the most “Sennheiser-like” sound: uncomplicated and always pleasant. Still, the Madison LE provides a considerably higher level of precision and realism but manages this without tipping over into becoming dry or unforgiving. In that sense, it provides more of a “Hifi-Man” kind of sound.

Power Supplies

Given that the two power supplies are interchangeable, I wondered what would happen when connecting the Madison LE’s more advanced power supply to the Madison DAC. Would it turn the Madison into a Madison LE? Well, no. However, the upgraded power supply still profoundly impacts the standard Madison, making it sound earthier and fuller and even lifting a bright sheen, making it timbrally more realistic. This test beautifully illustrates that some of the LE version’s advantages can be attributed to the improved power supply, while the bulk of its superiority stems from the component choices and its internal design.

Streaming

Now, it was time to switch from the S/PDIF source to the world of streaming capabilities. The Madisons support a wide range of services and can be directly communicated via UPnP/DLNA, AirPlay, TIDAL connect, Roon Ready, and Audirvāna. The list of services supported by the Madisons further extends via the Wattson Music app for TIDAL, Qobuz, and Airable. Quite an extensive list. It should be noted that Audirvana, in this context, is not a new streaming protocol but, as Audirvana put it themselves: “This certification is mainly for UPnP devices, but we also wanted to ensure Chromecast and USB devices get the best of Audirvāna”.

Roon

The first server to use was the Antipodes Oladra running Roon. The Madisons were found instantly, and Roon worked flawlessly, automatically selecting the NET input and allowing volume control on the Madisons. Roon’s interface remains the industry standard and I agree it is not only a joy to use, but it also offers unparalleled compatibility and convenience. With either Madison, Roon sounds precisely as I have come to expect: smooth, rich, and relaxed, and the differences between the two Madisons were exactly the same as when using S/PDIF.

UPnP

As regular readers will know, I prefer UPnP over Roon for its crisper and more explicit sound. Before trying UPnP with the Oladra server, I wanted to see how my regular Windows computer in the other room would fare using JRiver Media Center’s UPnP server component. Sure enough, the Madisons were immediately visible in JRiver, and music was streaming instantly. Although I love the Roon interface, it must be said that the simple PC with its UPnP connection provided a livelier and more exciting rendition. It was admittedly not nearly as refined as Roon via the Oladra, but when looking for a cost-effective solution, there is no beating using a computer already in the household.

With this, it was time to see what the Oladra could add when in Minim Server UPnP mode. Oh, boy, yes, This was a lot better! Sure, the Oladra operates at the top of the high-end spheres and demands a serious investment, but it clearly shows. UPnP retained all its usual hallmarks, but the pacing became more upbeat, and the increase in precision, clarity, realism, and expression was impossible to miss. Meanwhile, it’s good to realize the Madisons had no trouble perfectly resolving these differences.

The Madisons now showed an even greater level of refinement, flow, and nuance compared to their performance with S/PDIF while maintaining similar scores in other aspects. At this moment, I noticed a resemblance in the sound of the CH Precision C1.2 DAC when streaming to it. This is no coincidence! While neither Madison will be mistaken for the 40-k CH C1.2 DAC, the streaming section shares similarities and is clearly executed thoughtfully.

Qobuz

The biggest surprise was using the Madison app to stream some of my Qobuz favorites. The app works stably and fast, and Qobuz’s sound actually rivals local UPnP playback!

Due to external circumstances, there will always be minor differences between local servers and streaming sources, but in this case, I can only conclude that they are too small to worry about. After listening to a few tracks via Qobuz, I wondered whether local storage is still required in general. The honest answer is that I still like maintaining a local library, so I will always have access to my music no matter what happens. I am one of those obsessive folks who spend ridiculous amounts of time tagging and maintaining everything so that my library is precisely how I want it to be. Internet access can sometimes be unavailable, and content providers may change their portfolio or policies or, worst-case scenario, they may fold. That said, there is no denying the convenience of having a searchable, curated, and correctly labeled library at your fingertips. Ultimately, it is a matter of priorities, but sound quality is no longer a consideration.

Perspective

It would be unreasonable to expect the Madisons to truly match the performance of the CH C1.2 DAC, even if they share certain technologies. But, as mentioned, the streaming component does remind of the big DAC in the way that it sounds effortlessly fluid and free-flowing.

In a more similar price range, competitors like the Aqua Formula xHD and Laiv Harmony DAC take a different approach, utilizing discrete R2R conversion without oversampling. Such designs can achieve a very clean and crisp sound but present challenges as they are complex to implement, leading to pricing in a very different category unless the product is built in the Far East. Either way, both alternatives require adding another component to provide streaming capabilities or a headphone amplifier. So, regardless of the angle of approach, the Madisons remain a good proposition!

Conclusion

With the Madison streamer, Wattson Audio has created a beautiful device that does much more than its name implies at a price that normally does not buy Swiss quality. Not only do we get a high-quality DAC with transparent Leedh volume control, but the mobile app is a joy to use, and the device also supports nearly every streaming protocol and cloud service under the sun. Whether the DAC is used as a headphone amplifier or as a DAC in a traditional system, where it can even replace an analog preamp, the Madison provides a deliciously smooth yet solid and full-blooded rendition of anything you play.

Associated Equipment