One of the best CD source components available, or one of the best Digital to Analog converters available?

The 381i featuring selectable digital inputs, outputs, and volume control offers the best of all worlds. Connect your personal computer, media server, iTransport, digital tuner... the 381i is ready for today's digital world.As a DAC the 381i offers some of the most advanced features seamlessly integrated into a single chassis with a true reference CD transport. Featuring Wadia's SwiftCurrent 3 Discreet, isolated internal power supply, Clocklink jitter reduction, and weighing in at 50lbs, this component acts as center of your digital music universe.

Technology

By the Numbers
The 381i utilizes a new CD only transport, modified to allow ClockLink™ jitter reduction and pure data capture, providing state-of-the-art audio information extraction with the lowest measured error correction in Wadia’s history. Patent worthy technologies ensure that data is accurately captured from audio discs including discs recorded FLAC. The mechanism is further enhanced by a custom mounting and enclosure system that provides both mechanical and electrical isolation. The result, performance surpassing even the highly acclaimed transports featured in previous players.

Tradition Meets Innovation
Developed for our special edition and reference products, Wadia’s SwiftCurrent™ 3 Discreet (SC-3D) has been combined with the latest version of our superior current to voltage (I/V) conversion technology. Current exiting the D>A converters is optimally loaded, in turn allowing each DAC to remain linear. Current is then mirrored and driven with a zero global feedback Class A throughput stage. The output feeds directly into a phase accurate filter that simultaneously creates voltage and removes unwanted high frequency noise. The SC-3D generates 3 independent data streams that drive both the balanced and unbalanced legs of the output stage. A quieter blacker background ensures holographic images will appear, or in other words the sound stage will be rendered in... 3-D.

Pure Power
The 381i CD Player features two new fully balanced shielded toroidal transformers that are electrically, mechanically, and acoustically isolated from other components. New inductor filtering has been added to the digital supply ensuring smooth charging of capacitors and eliminating noise spikes from the ground plain. There is a fully regulated separate power supply for digital processing, clocking, D>A conversion, and the output stage. Every performance component is powered by regulated isolated power traces. The result – quiet pure power with lightning speed allowing instantaneous reproduction of transient information.

Craftsmanship

"A person who works with his hands is a laborer.
A person who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman.
A person who works with his hands, his brain and his heart is an artist"
—Louis Nizer

Perfecting every step in the process is the hallmark of Craftsmanship. Knowing what the steps should be taken requires a deep understanding of our values, a personal commitment to excellence, and a skill level that can only be reached with time and experience. Wadia products are created, assembled, and tested, by practiced master craftsmen. Our artisan workers, trained technicians, and skilled laborers, have decades of experience and a passion for not only their craft but also for music and beauty. They finish each step before moving to the next step, they use exact measurements, and they never settle for less than accurate. Wadia products are not finished until they inspire.

Keeps You Up at Night
When was the last time you lost yourself in a musical performance? Listen with the Wadia 381ise and space and time will stand still for precious moments while you are swept away by the power of music.

Specifications

Power Supply:
Dual transformers in internal isolation chamber

Decoding Software:
3 user selectable upsampling algorithms including DigiMaster v2.5

Compatible Formats:
Red Book CD, CD-R, CD-RW, FLAC

Digital Processing Capability:
1 - 24 Bits

Digital Resolution:
21 bit resolution

DAC Sample Rate:
1.4112 MHz

Digital Volume Control Range:
50 dB in one-hundred 0.5 dB steps

Maximum Output Voltage:
Can be adjusted via internal switches from 0.3V to 4.25V to match system sensitivity

Output Impedance:
Less than 15 ohms

Analog Outputs:
1 pair balanced (XLR)
1 pair unbalanced (RCA)
Both can be used simultaneously

Digital Inputs:
1 - USB - The Wadia USB input accepts the following sample rates: 44.1k, 48k and 96k.
1 - AES/EBU (XLR)
1 - SP/DIF (BNC)
1 - Plastic Optical (Toslink)

Digital Outputs:
1 - Glass Fiber-Optic (ST)
1 - AES/EBU (XLR)
1 - SP/DIF (BNC)
1 - Plastic Optical (Toslink)

Power Consumption:
58 watts

Weight:
55 lb., 25kg

Dimensions (HWD):
7.25 x 17 x 16.5 inches
18.4 x 43.2 x 42 cm

Finish Options:
Black or Silver Anodized Aluminum

View Wadia 381/381i e-brochure