14 DAY TRIAL // Some might say that today's audio gear comes with pretty much anything one could ever want, when it comes to features, and everything could be reduced to a matter of choosing the right piece for you... at least theoretically. We keep the “theoretically” in place, because there are the audiophiles or the very, very serious audio enthusiasts that would surely frown if iPods or other portable music sources came into discussion. And, for these people, Wadia has come up with a new piece of high-class audio technology, codenamed the 151 PowerDAC Mini. Following the worldwide-acclaimed 170iTransport device launched not so long ago, Wadia brings forth a new tool for the critical listeners, scheduled to hit the stores sometime during the fall.
If you remember the 170iTransport, that piece of tech was the first iPod “dock” capable of bypassing the iPod's internal DAC and thus getting the file info directly from the storage, and then processing it using its very own digital-to-audio stage.
Well, with the Wadia 151 PowerDAC Mini, things went a tad further, as we're talking about a very neat combo: a DAC boasting the traditional top-drawer quality operation and reliability, coupled with a no-nonsense amplifier capable of providing you with a 50Wpc blast in a 4Ohms impedance. If you're asking what's with the “Mini,” you should know that the Wadia 151 PowerDAC Mini comes in a truly handy, 2”x8”x8”, sober and very good looking chassis, which will also match your 170iTransport perfectly, letting you easily create a high-end audio rack based on an iPod.
The Wadia 151 PowerDAC Mini sports four inputs: two SPDIF digital, coaxial ones, a Toslink and a USB one, thus being easy to integrate with the rest of your audio gear. The front end comes with a highly readable backlit LCD display, volume and mute control, input selector buttons and a most handy IR remote-control sensor. The DAC-amplifier will be available in unobtrusive silver and black finishes. No matter the color choice, the price remains the same: around $1,195. Now, if you liked the 170iTransport, maybe you should consider saving some more and getting your hands on the Wadia 151 PowerDAC Mini as the most obvious and quality-conscious improvement for your sound system.
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