The last of its kind
The 521 is the last DAC made by the Wadia team prior to the takeover by Fine Sounds in 2011 and as such I consider it to be the last of its kind. That is, the last DAC made following the same standards and ideas set by the team that also produced the well-known 861 CD player and 27 DAC.
Although its name reminds of the 121 and 321, the 521 does not show any resemblance to these DACs, inside or outside. Current Wadia products such as the 322 (successor of the 321) are built in the McIntosh factory but still run the famous DigiMaster software. While I have not heard the 321 or 322 I have owned the Wadia 121 and it sounds quite different from both the classic Wadias as well as from the 521. So, the 521 seems to sit in a special position.
Since I got reacquainted with the Wadia 25 about 6 months ago, the Wadia virus has bitten me again. This is after stepping away from the Wadia 25 more than 10 years ago and having owned a PS Audio PWD MKII, Meridian 818 and Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC in the meantime. This audio hobby if anything is also a school for us audiophiles. I for one often learned lessons by swapping components and finding new angles. The Toslink-only EC Mosaic DAC for example made me get an Aurender music server, and the N10 later happens to work beautifully as an SP/DIF source for Wadia DACs. This was never my intention but one thing always leads to another, and components that did not work earlier may all of a sudden work beautifully now, or vice versa.
Although the Wadia 25 is not benchmark-setting now, it still possesses that indefinable quality that goes along with nearly all Wadias of its time, and it seems to partner very well with the Aurender N10 that is my main music source. Going from the 25’s sound characteristics, I was initially looking to find a Wadia 27 as that DAC has been Wadia’s reference for many years and it should be an overall improvement over the 25.
However, the 27 is very old by now, and unlike the 25 it runs very hot and because it is filled to the rim with capacitors, I didn’t fancy facing major repairs down the line, and so instead I started looking for a 521.
Above: same circuit board number as the board used for the s7i CD player
The 521 is the successor of the 27 but it is built with a simpler power supply and doesn’t run hot at all. Also, because its circuit board is identical to the one in the s7i CD player, the 521 also has the latest in output stage technology.
Sound
The 521 is unusual for a Wadia because it sounds considerably less dark than its predecessors, while retaining the brand’s hallmark ballsy and sonorous sound. It has all the hallmark Wadia characteristics such as a solid, sonorous bass, acoustically convincing midbass with great articulation and a timbrally lifelike midrange. The 521 may not be quite as expressive as the very best DACs I heard but it is still very much a Wadia in the classical sense, with the important difference of sounding more fluid and airy than any model prior to it. Even the Wadia 27 with its GNSC Statement upgrade I remember to sound quite a bit drier and darker than the 521, and it was definitely not as highly resolving. Go figure.
Background
A Jeff Rowland Aeris was borrowed from a friend for comparison. My own Aeris which I sold not too long ago replaced the Meridian 818v1 which itself replaced the PS Audio PWD MKII. The Aeris at the time produced excellent results when combined with the AudioAanZee Ultra Flow music server but since the review of the EC Designs Mosaic DAC, I knew that the Aeris could be beaten in certain areas. Meanwhile, the Ultra Flow was upgraded to Reference Flow and now resides in the second system while the Aurender N10 is used as the primary music source in the main listening room. Although the Mosaic is superbly natural, refined, and subtle, my already quite relaxed system needs some extra grunt to really come alive, and this is where my renewed interest in Wadia comes in.
The most important aspect of the Wadia sound for me has always been its solidity and sonority, followed closely by the large soundstage that they can throw, at least when clocklinked to a suitable transport. My Apogee Diva-based setup is quite uncolored and transparent and so I tend to favor DACs that bring some character to the table, ideally with a timbre that is acoustically very convincing. This aspect may prove far less important in a setup based around, say, B&W802D’s and some people might even consider the Wadia-typical timbre to be colored. This is not for me to judge, it’s all relative after all. Anyway, it’s this timbre thing that for me can make or break a relationship with a DAC. Good timbre for me is having the feeling that acoustical instruments really possess a “wooden” quality, that stand-up basses and guitars have a real body and pianos are actually recognizable as percussive instruments. Sounds can sometimes appear as being dynamic and powerful by being in your face due to a forward midrange, but it’s how well the midrange is coupled to the lower regions, that makes the sound really convincing for me.
Comparisons
Since I got the 521, various other DACs have been over for review such as the Meridian 818v3, Leema Libra, Wadia 25, Metrum Pavane, EC Designs Mosaic, Ayon Sigma, and most recently the Meridian Ultra DAC. These DACs all sound different and all excel in different areas.
The Leema Libra for example has a very analog-like signature. It is smoother and more relaxed than the 521, with better treble extension and air. The Wadia 25 has a nice and upbeat toe-tapping quality and is very engaging. It is even tighter and articulate than the 521 and has great timbre, perhaps even better than the 521, but it is quite dry and dark. The EC Mosaic is rule-breaking in terms of refinement and naturalness, especially at the price, but in the longer term and with some music I started to miss the power and drive that the Aeris did have and Wadias do too. The Metrum has a similarly subtle and natural sound as the Mosaic with improvements in certain areas such as a more powerful bass, but somehow it makes my brain get stuck in “technical assessment” mode, meaning that for whatever reason it doesn’t involve me emotionally as much as I would like. Sometimes it seems impossible to achieve excellence in all the areas that I find important and maybe it really is impossible, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to achieve it!
The Ayon Sigma, Meridian 818v3, and Meridian Ultra DAC have really grabbed my attention. As would be expected from a Tube-DAC the Ayon doesn’t quite have the Wadia-typical qualities such as the ballsy bass or the sonorous timbre, but it outperforms the Wadia in some other aspects, and especially its midrange is simply glorious. The Meridian 818v3 does several of the typical Wadia traits equally well such as bass solidity and articulation, and has airier treble as a bonus and the Meridian Ultra DAC actually manages to improve on the 521’s strongest areas by sounding even more lively, dynamic and articulate. An extensive review of the Ultra DAC is planned, so stay tuned.
It has long been my plan to compare the 521 to the later 321 and although this was scheduled to happen, along came the 322. The latter has also been on the list to be reviewed, but so far this hasn’t materialized. The little 121 may not play in the big boy’s league, but it definitely has its own qualities. The things I hear about the 322 are very promising indeed so I’m interested to find out for myself how the 322 sounds. Its fair price and the presence of a high-quality USB input certainly make it seem attractive.
Although several of the DACs mentioned above do one or more things better than the 521, the latter remains a very well-balanced DAC that just so happens to fit my system and taste very well. It provides almost all of the classic Wadia-typical qualities while minimizing the brand’s traditional weaker areas.
Conclusion
The audio hobby can be a long journey, and it is important to enjoy the travels too, not only because they provide new insights but also because they are invaluable in forming our opinions. I guess few audiophiles are always steering in the same direction, as the sideways are just too interesting to pass by. In my case, lots of DACs have come and gone mostly as part of professional reviews, and they all bring interesting aspects to the table. But for the past few months, the Wadia 521 has been the main DAC in my system. The music source is an Aurender N10 music server, connected with a Mad Scientist HDC Plus digital cable and driving the Jeff Rowland Concerto preamp with a T T L treated Cardas Hexlink Golden 5C XLR interlink. This combination gets very close to my ideal of a powerful and dynamic delivery, combined with nuance and fluidity.
While I will not claim that the 521 is the world’s best DAC, I think it may well be the best DAC that the classic Wadia team produced, bar the costly 9-series. If it is the classic Wadia sound that you are looking for, the 521 may be the best you can get. I certainly like it a lot. Don’t let the absence of USB bring you down: the Aurender is a splendid SP/DIF source and from experience with the USB input on the s7i CD player, I’d say that the SP/DIF inputs on the classic Wadias may be the better option anyway.
More Wadia Reviews
Wadia 12
Wadia 25
Wadia 26
Wadia 27ix GNSC
Wadia 171i
Wadia 121
Wadia 861
Wadia S7i
Wadia 581
Wadia 781i
Everything you always wanted to know about Wadia
Wadia Company Special
As a Wadia MUSIC-lover, (not Wadia SOUND-lover), I really appreciate your reviews and I appreciate the compilation of your Wadia database. I know it was not a minor task. (Note: There is no place I can find to Comment after the Database.)
Though not in Euros, which started in 1999, the original price of the X32 (X-32) DAC is known: $1995.
http://www.stereophile.com/content/wadia-digimaster-x-32-digital-processor-specifications#wHkZDobgcRidh7fT.97
Thanks for the additional info Brandon, much appreciated! I’ve added the price info for the X32.
HFA contains posts and pages. Posts have a comments section but alas pages do not. All the database articles are on pages and so unfortunately do not offer an option to provide feedback.
Note: Audiogon’s BlueBook shows the X32’s original price at $2,500, in 1990.
https://bluebook.audiogon.com
(You have to sign up).
Hi How would you compare the Merdian Ultra to Wadia 27ix? Thanks
All Wadias have similar character traits, such as a sonorous and very solid bass, impressive dynamic slam and a spacious sound with great back to front layering. The thing is, this layering is only really evident with Wadia CD players or transport-Dac combo’s using Clocklink. Without this, Wadia DACs are still spacious but no more so than the best of the competitors. The 27ix sounds very similar to the 861 CD player. I would place the 27ix between the 25 and 521 DAC. The Ultra DAC is more refined than the 25 and 27ix, and possibly also more than the 521. It is certainly airier. The Ultra DAC is also every bit as dynamic as any Wadia. In terms of bass, the Ultra Dac also comes very close, but where any Wadia still beats it is in terms of timbre/tonality. However, what I regard as natural and convincing sound, someone else may see as dryness or edginess. So, all the advantages of the more modern Ultra Dac aside, such as USB and network inputs and DSD conversion, it is a matter of deciding on preferences and what will match best in your system. Finally, also note that differences in timbre can be more evident in one system than in another.
Thank you for the insight I used to own an 861 so know it well. I currently am using a 27ix via AES/EBU input. Have you tried the or heard the Chord DAVE versus Wadia and or the Ultra. And how would you compare the Bricasti to the Ultra. I looking at creating a shortlist of DACS to listen too.
I’ve not heard anything Chord just yet. For Bricasti versus Meridian, these are quite different, and in a very different price range too. I would suggest reading both reviews right here on HFA and decide for yourself. https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/spdif-dac-reviews/bricasti-m1-classic/ and https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/spdif-dac-reviews/meridian-ultra-dac/
BTW, I don’t know your budget but the best DAC by far for me is the CH Precision C1, which I prefer it over all the aforementioned ones. See the review: https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/spdif-dac-reviews/ch-precision-c1-a1-part1/
Hi I know you bought a Bricasti , did you sell you 521 or are you interested in selling it. I am based in the UK so assume is 240V.
The Bricasti M1 replacede the 521 which I sold not too long after that. Even if the Bricasti was more refined and more hi-res, there was still something about the Wadia that I thought was special. But it was ageing and did not have a USB input and for me as a reviewer that is a serious limitation. If you are looking for the best Wadia sound and can find a 521 and you can live without USB then I would still recommend it. A 27ix is not bad at all, either, though.
I have a Wadia 521 that is for sale but have no idea what it is worth.
I’d say about 2700 euros but only if you find a Wadia devotee because it has no USB.
Hi Christiaan,
I have w25 and w321 (and w6 for transport). My w6 is broke down and they couldn’t repair it. During playback clicking, chirping as though i press the forward button – i loved this w6 :((( . So i need to change my system just a transport or with dac. Did you compared with s7i or Metronome Technologie C8+ dac / T5 transport? The bass is very important for me, because i am listening wide range of music from classical to industrial, even black metal.Or what could you suggest for me. Thanks Akos (from EU)
Hi Akos, while all classic Wadias have a characteristic sound, the 6 is not a very special CD transport. The 25 DAC, however, remains one of my favorites even to this day. There’s just something very convincing about it. The 521 and 121 (and, I imagine, the 321 as well) are more refined and are airier in the treble but, as you may already know, this comes at the cost of some sonority and bass solidity.
CD versus server is a much too big subject to go into in these comments but given that you already have two great DACs I’d suggest looking at an alternative CD transport, not an integrated. Even though I have often advocated that integrated is better and this is indeed often the case, these days, you won’t easily find a CD player that has all the strengths that your DACs have. I’ve not yet heard anything by Metronome.
You could search for a Wadia 20 or try something new. The S7i has a very different sound than the Teac-equipped players that preceded it, see my S7i review for more info. What might be interesting is the StreamUnlimited transport with which is available OEM as Blue Tiger in many CD players and most recently in the very interesting Pro-Ject CD Box RS and at a very reasonable price. You could also look at the Project CD Box RS2 T which uses the CDPro 8 mechanism which is said to be the successor to the famous CDPro2.
This transport (combined with either of your DACs) could very well sound similar to the S7i which is tighter and faster and more nimble than, for instance, a Wadia 861.
How would you compare the Wadia 521 to the Levinson 360? I read the comparison of the 360 vs the Wadia 27, where you ended up preferring the Levinson for more air in the highs and more fluid mids… Both Wadia 521 and Levinson 360 use 4 BB 1704 chips if I am corrrect… And the same chip is used in your CHprecision, but that dac is out of my budget…
I’ve not owned these DACs in the same period, let alone heard them side by side. That said, I’d say the Levinson remains the smoothest and most refined while the Wadia, even though the 521 is the smoothest and airiest of all the Wadias, still sounds more robust. Of course, the sound is not only made by the DACs but also the power supply and regulation and especially the filtering which is very different between Wadia and Levinson. Incidentally, the CH is more like a Wadia than a Levinson although it is more refined than the 521.
Thanks, very clear and helpful! I did consider differences in power supply and output stages but forgot about the filtering, which indeed makes big differences…
You did use a levinson 360S, not a 360, would that make much difference?
Any experience with T+A HV series?
I have owned both 360 and 360S. The balance of virtues is similar (both sound like a Levinson and not as a Wadia) but the latter is a little crisper and more precise and slightly more revealing. The 360 is a little smoother, more easy-going. I have no personal experience with any T+A products.
Thank you, that corresponds exactly with my experience with a levinson 380 and 380s preamp, the 380 indeed a bit more smooth and the 380S a bit more crisp and precise
Good to know, thanks for the feedback.
Hi Christiaan,
Thanks for the good review, as for the first comment for this post in 2021, I would like to know your opinion about Wadia 9/10 combo to use it as an standalone DAC? Of course both Wadia 9 and Wadia 10 have no USB input, but possibility to use a digital to digital USB converter to use it for computer music (Tidal app etc.) or directly to use it with a network player via AES/EBU connection. How would you compare this DAC (20 bit max 48 kHz) to CH Precision C1 or other reference DACs?
Hi Kamyar, Alas, I have not heard the W9. However, I have a strong feeling that its character resembles that of the W25 but with a little bit more nuance and refinement. If that is indeed the case then it is one of the most robust and beefiest sounding DACs in the world, even by today’s standards. If you like the Wadia sound then there’s nothing quite like it. The C10 comes close in this field but the Wadia remains the master. In other areas, however, such as treble air, resolution, and overall refinement, the C1 will win. The main thing to contemplate is that Wadias such as the 25 DAC and 861 player can sound quite dry and this is something that has to fit in the system. Interestingly, the 521 is very smooth, certainly for a Wadia. But of course, it’s also less incisive and robust than the 25. I would have considered the lack of a USB port as an issue but as I repeatedly find that AES/EBU and S/PDIF work so well, and many servers and streamers also offer these outputs, I wouldn’t give it a second thought.