• Home
• Forums
• Archives
• Dealers
• About

Wadia 151 PowerDac Mini

By Gary Pearce

November 2010

Wadia 151 PowerDac Mini Digital Amplifier/DA Converter. $1999

Occupying the same exalted HiFi ground as companies such as Wilson Audio, Krell and Audio Research, Wadia practically invented the outboard DAC back in the late ‘80’s and together with its ever-increasing flotilla of battleship CD transports, ownership of the digital arms race.

Waterfront shenanigans

In fact a couple of years ago I turned up to a product demonstration on Auckland’s waterfront hosted by the importer of both Wadia and Wilson Audio, and this was a most entertaining afternoon – essentially as the afternoon stretched into the later hours the music became louder and heavier (ACDC’s Thunderstruck, anyone?).

A steady diet of Heineken was just the spur for me to quickly remove Barb Jungr from the awesomely built transport tray and gently replace it with Sydney’s finest, and I was bloody glad I did for it proved to be one of the genuine surprises of this reviewers audiophile life.

I’m not really an Acka Dacka fan, but I do appreciate their raw edge and genuine passion for rock and roll – could the cultured Americans get down and dirty?

Well, they sure did. what this event proved to me, after hours of listening to the usual bland audiophile stuff, that great equipment can play real music that excites and captivates the listener. The sound quality was quite staggering: dynamics were stupendous especially considering the cavernous hall the demo took place in, while from my seating position the bass transients were deep, nimble and easy to follow.

Unobtanium

So for a company responsible for creating so much unobtanium for us normal folk, they have followed the rather super little 170i iPod transport with the new151 PowerDAC Mini. I’d describe the PowerDAC Mini as an outboard DAC with on-board amplification, but as is usual with Wadia they have incorporated technology from much higher up its digital food chain. With 25 watts of Class-D power per channel (8 ohms), the Wadia utilises asynchronous upsampling of the signal up to 384kHz from each of its four inputs (including USB). Equally interesting is the topology – digital all the way until it reaches the output stage, unlike most traditional amp/DAC’s where separate circuits perform both D/A conversion and amplification in the same box.

The back end: digital inputs at right, speaker poutputs at left.

Data rates of 24/192kHz can be handled natively (USB is limited to 24/96) via the two RCA and the single optical inputs, and a digital volume control rounds off the internal architecture. The PowerDAC Mini comes with a nice metal remote control that includes 180-degree phase along with the usual volume and source selector/track up & down and mute buttons, along with a few other standard widgets.

Just slightly larger than my Mac Mini, the diminutive component is supremely easy to site and is attractively finished in a powdercoated black finish. Four pointy rubber feet complete the aesthetic, and the indentations on the top rubber inserts suggest a good stable home for either the 170i or 171i iPod transport.

Now I certainly wasn’t expecting to experience the same hair-raising dynamics and stomach churning bass control I heard from the Watt/Puppy/Wadia 270SE/931 Controller and VTL system I heard on that memorable day on the waterfront, but I was still expecting a bit of an experience – albeit on a different level. Would I be impressed?

Playtime

The 151 PowerDAC Mini was used in a number of configurations using the tidal nature of equipment that happens to regularly permeate my home, but the majority of listening was done with my Mac Mini (2.66ghz/4gb RAM) and iTunes using a pair of Theophany M3B or Yamaha Soavo 900M standmounts. Other equipment included my Squeezebox Duet/Welborne PSU and either Castle Durham/Harlech or my single driver Voigt ‘Vofo’s’. Cables used included Nordost Moonglow digital / Superflatline mk2 bi-wire speaker cable and a bog-standard USB cable I carefully selected from Dick Smiths.

The PowerDAC quickly dispelled any notions of producing a lightweight sound by easily driving all the speakers used during the test, and although it couldn’t recreate the control of my 250wpc integrated, it surprised me with generally excellent sound quality.

Bass transients were impactful and defined, and my favourite Marley album (Exodus) in Apple Lossless came alive with a good, stable image and defined soundstaging. In particular, the Theophanies sounded very good via the PowerDAC, this speaker has an overly warm presentation that was in some way counteracted by the accuracy and neutrality of the little Wadia.

Changing to the Soavo 900M’s also proved insightful, its 6-Ohm load presented the Wadia with a touch more verve and drive, while the increased definition of the speaker allowed me to listen further into the performance.

Likewise the trio of the Duet/Vofo’s and PowerDAC proved to be fruitful as well, the Fostex equipped floorstanders have an efficiency of around 96dB (8oHms) and this proved the best sound quality of the lot – albums from Grace Jones, Boards Of Canada and Robert Plant/Alison Krauss were among the many enjoyed during many extended listening sessions.

Wadia's matching combination: the 170 iPod transport and 151PowerDAC mini

The verdict

I see the 151 PowerDAC Mini as a bargain HiFi product that over performs for the asking price, and an elegant way for HiFi fans to join the world of Wadia at ground level.

In summing up: The ground level performance of this PowerDAC Mini actually relates to more than a few rungs up the ladder for most of its competition. Highly recommended.