Wadia 381, 381i Owner's Manual

381/381i CD Player

Information & Operation Manual

381/381i CD Player

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Table of Contents

Preliminaries

Wadia Digital – A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Installation and Set-up

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Installing the Tip-Toes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Connecting to Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Connecting to AC Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Connecting Directly to a Power Amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Using with a Preamplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Optimizing the Output Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Connecting Digital Sources (Wadia 381i CD Player only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Choosing a Digital Cable (Wadia 381i CD Player only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Information & Operation Manual

General Operation

Front Panel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Display Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Display Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Disc Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Remote Control Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Playback Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Theory of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Menu Screen Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Digital Algorithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Appendices

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Using Data Discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Software License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Environmental Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Thank You

All of us at Wadia would like to offer thanks and congratulations to you for purchasing the Wadia 381/381i CD Player. We sincerely believe that your Wadia 381/381i CD Player will bring you many years of musical pleasure and satisfaction.

While every new owner is anxious to begin listening, we encourage you to take a few minutes to read this manual and familiarize yourself with the full capabilities of the Wadia 381/381i CD Player.

If you are in a hurry to begin listening, please read the sections of this manual where the symbol at right is shown.

Wadia Digital – A Brief History

Wadia Digital, founded in 1988, is one of the original companies dedicated to high performance digital audio reproduction. Wadia was formed by a team of engineers from the Minneapolis based 3M Corporation (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing) who shared many years of experience in advanced digital telecommunications research and development. In the early 1980’s, these engineers became intrigued by the emerging compact disc technology. Disappointed with the sound quality of early CD players, they examined the workings and designs of these early components and found them to be unsophisticated when compared with the technology available in other areas of digital design. In response, they founded Wadia Digital – a company based on the philosophy of applying advanced technology to improve the performance of digital audio components. Wadia’s first product, the Wadia 2000 Decoding Computer, was an absolute breakthrough in digital audio. For many discerning listeners, it proved that Digital Audio was a musically responsive, evolving, and engaging format.

Building on a tradition of excellence, Wadia continues to develop innovative technology; refining, listening, engineering, and improving along the way. Since the Wadia 2000, new generations of industry-leading designs have been introduced and embraced by listeners around the world. Each step of the way, Wadia has consistently raised the standard for performance of Digital Audio playback.

Here is a brief list of the technological innovations the Wadia engineers have pioneered over the past 20 years:

• DigiMaster™ patented algorithm (filter optimized for reproducing music)

• ClockLink™ proprietary jitter reduction technology

• SwiftCurrent™ current to voltage conversion technology

• First outboard Digital-to-Analog converter

• First to apply glass fiber-optics to home audio

• First to recognize jitter as a source of audible distortion

• First to perfect digital volume control

• First high-end CD player competitive with expensive separates

• First company to provide bit perfect digital audio output from the iPod

Although Wadia’s digital expertise and track record exceed those of any audio company, technology alone does not guarantee musical performance. Wadia designs are born of a delicate balance of technology shaped by a passion for music.

Wadia is proud to introduce the Wadia 381/381i CD Player, a breakthrough in sonic performance and value, and a strong statement of our years of dedication to music.

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Installation and Set-up

Unpacking

Use care in unpacking your Wadia 381/381i CD Player. Inspect it for any shipping damage and call your dealer immediately if any is found.

Do not plug your Wadia 381/381i CD Player into an AC outlet if you find shipping damage.

We advise saving all packing materials so that the unit can be easily and safely shipped if the need arises.

Accessories

Provided with the Wadia 381/381i CD Player are the following accessories:

• AC power cord

• Four tip-toes with threaded studs

• Four steel coasters

• RCA/BNC adapter (only included with 381i CD Player)

• Remote Control

• Two type AAA batteries

Do not tip the unit onto the back panel. This can damage input and/or output connectors.

Installing the Tip-Toes

With the unit still positioned on its side, screw one of the tip-toes into the bottom of each corner post.

Position the Wadia 381/381i CD Player where you would like it to reside in your system. We recommend choosing a solid, non-resonant, level surface for best performance. If this surface is susceptible to damage, place one of the steel coasters under each tip-toe.

Connecting to Your System

CHECK

VOLTAGE

HERE

Check to make sure your Wadia 381/381i CD Player has been manufactured for operation at your AC line Voltage. Attempting to use the Player at any voltage other than the specified on the rear of the unit may damage the unit. Damage caused by improper operation is not covered by warranty. If the voltage specified is different from your AC voltage, contact your Wadia dealer.

Connecting to AC Power

We have designed your product with careful attention to every detail. We are extremely confident of the performance obtained when your Wadia component is plugged directly into the wall with the power cord provided. Your Wadia product has been designed with power conditioning, surge suppression and an extremely sophisticated overall protection scheme. Externally sourced surge protectors, power conditioners, or aftermarket power cords can be a mixed bag of benefits and limitations, particularly those which limit current and/or alter phase relationships of the voltage and current (power factor) delivered to the Wadia product. In some cases, we have found aftermarket products can be quite beneficial, while in other cases we have found that these products can actually degrade the sonic performance. If you wish to experiment with any of these devices, work closely with your local dealer – and most of all, trust your own ears.

Connecting Directly to a Power Amplifier

Avoid allowing static shocks to be applied to the inputs or outputs. To prevent static shocks, touch any grounded surface, such as the Wadia 381/381i CD Player chassis, before connecting or removing a cable. It is unlikely that a static shock will damage the unit, but it may cause the Wadia 381/381i CD Player circuitry to “lock-up” (see Trouble Shooting: Lock-Up in the Appendices).

Inputs and outputs can be safely connected to the Wadia 381/381i CD Player

1. Before the unit is powered up

2. When the unit is in Relay-Mute mode

We strongly recommend that you use your Wadia 381/381i CD Player connected directly to your power amplifier. Even if you purchased your Wadia 381/381i CD Player with the intention of connecting it to your preamplifier, we suggest that you try direct connection to your amplifier. Many listeners are surprised by the improvement in performance over even the most expensive preamplifiers.

To connect your Wadia 381/381i CD Player to a power amplifier, ensure that your power amplifier is turned off then connect your analog interconnects from the Wadia 381/381i CD Player analog outputs to the amplifier’s inputs.

Using with a Preamplifier

While the Wadia 381/381i CD Player was designed to be used without a preamplifier, no compromises were made in its design that will prevent excellent operation in a conventional system with a preamplifier.

When using a preamplifier, set the Wadia 381/381i CD Player volume control to its maximum level.

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Optimizing the Output Level

Best performance is obtained when operating the Wadia Volume Control near the top of its range. If needed, the maximum output level of your Wadia 381/381i CD Player can be adjusted to match the overall sensitivity of your system so that the critical listening will take place with the volume control operating near the top of its range.

The maximum output level of the Wadia 381/381i CD Player is adjustable by means of a set of internal switches. The Wadia 381/381i CD Player is factory set to accommodate the most common range of system sensitivity. If you find that your typical volume level during critical listening is below 65 on the volume display, it will be advantageous to use a different setting. To change the output level, consult your dealer.

Connecting to Other Digital Sources (Wadia 381i CD Player only)

The Wadia Integrated CD Player /Decoding Computer is equipped with digital inputs which can accept digital signals from any of these established digital formats. (Input 1: Wadia USB, Input 2: Coaxial with BNC connector, Input 3: Plastic-optical TOSLINK, Input 4: AES/EBU with XLR connector).

The Wadia Integrated CD Player /Decoding Computer digital inputs will decode any word length up to 24-bit, and any of the standard digital audio sampling frequencies up to 96kHz.

Choosing a Digital Cable (Wadia 381i CD Player only)

The performance of any digital transmission method depends on the quality of the cable and the sophistication of the transmitter and receiver. For example, a high quality coaxial cable can outperform a low quality AES/EBUcable. A high quality AES/EBU cable will outperform a poorly implemented glass optical system. If you are using a coaxial cable we recommend that you have the cable terminated with a BNC connector. This will provide higher performance than an RCA connector. Your Wadia Integrated CD Player /Decoding Computer comes with an RCA/BNC adapter that can be used for experimentation between different types of coaxial cable. Please note that USB cables from different manufacturers can exhibit a broad range of performance levels. Regardless of manufacturer, the length of USB cable can affect sound quality in significant ways, with shorter lengths always sounding better than extremely long lengths.

Again, we highly recommend that you take advantage of your dealer’s experience and, most importantly,

trust your ears.

All XLR-type inputs and outputs on the Wadia 381/381i CD Player, both digital and analog, use the standard audio pin configuration:

Pin 1 - Ground Pin 2 - Positive signal Pin 3 - Negative signal

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