Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition were completed using a mix of the Ferrum OOR/HYPSOS bundle via an I²S connection from a Cayin N8ii and a USB connection from a Windows 10 laptop with Roon.
Headphones paired with the balanced output of the Ferrum OOR included the Abyss Diana MR and the Audeze LCD-5.
Summary
The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition DAC is a chameleon of the highest quality. There are just so many options and performance permutations to alter the output that it can be quite difficult to put your finger on any one singular presentation and say, “That’s how the WANDLA sounds”.
Perhaps the vast array of onboard tweaks is really what this DAC is all about, tweaks that find incredibly useful in fine-tuning or maximizing my amplifier and headphone pairings.
Save for those who want a rich and mellow or analog R2R sound (there may be a filter for that I kid you not) the WANDLA GoldenSound Edition is a component you could easily describe as ‘DAC for all seasons’.
I still hear what I would term a delta-sigma polish to its output, at least in its unaltered stock mode, (as unaltered as it can be).
Ranged against a few R2R DACs I have here such as the Holo Audio Spring 2 and the Musician Audio Aquarius the WANDLA GSE sounds more precise, with a slightly shorter decay, and a bit of shine on the top end that I do not hear from those aforementioned DACs.
However, you can alter that tone tremendously with the onboard DSP and voltage controls. You can fatten it up on the lows with Impact+ or smoothen the tone considerably with the Tube mode which doubles down on the earlier chameleon description.
I will tell you one strong subjective opinion. If you have been using the ERCO as a DAC to the OOR then I recommend you stop immediately and upgrade to the WANDLA GSE.
The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition is more dynamic sounding, with better low-end extension, and a more defined and holographic soundstage. There is a huge difference which makes the upgrade all the more worthwhile.
Coloration
Put on the spot I would describe the WANDLA GoldenSound core sound signature as natural to neutral with excellent dynamic range and a very black background.
You get an addictive level of sub-bass presence and mid-bass impact, much more so than my compared DACs, the ERCO Gen 1, Aquarius, and even my favorite R2R DAC, the Holo Audio Spring 2.
There is just a minor hint of upper-mids forwardness and treble overtone through the upper mids and highs that can expose natural sibilance in brighter recordings.
However, you will only notice this when ranged against mellower DACs that soften in the same range or with headphones with a boosted set of upper mids such as the Diana MR.
With headphones that have a more naturally attenuating treble, such as the LCD-5, it sounded almost perfectly balanced through the mids and the highs.
All of the above is in Red bypass mode with the OOR, is a very transparent neutral amplifier, and is the best reference point to start with when using the WANDLA GoldenSound Edition.
With richer sounding amplifiers such as the Feliks Audio EUFORIA evo, it is unlikely you will hear any upper mids sibilance emphasis, especially if your headphone of choice is the smooth-sounding ZMF Headphones Atrium.
If you choose to pair it with HYPSOS then be aware the voltage setting can further color the sound signature.
Dropping down to 22V will soften the tone but you also lose a lot of that solid fundamental frequency from the WANDLA. Going up to 25V can brighten the highs creating a slightly harsher tone with clean-sounding headphones or amplifiers.
Tube Mode
Should your amplifier and headphone combo be of the unforgiving kind then the WANDLA GoldenSound’s Tube Mode is worth turning on. Here the potential for harmonic dissonance is vastly reduced.
There is a little bit of treble attenuation, I can hear it compared to it turned off but it’s tasteful rather than walled off creating a more rounded tonal quality to the mids and highs of my OOR/Diana MR test rig.
With the mode on the higher register note attacks lose a little incisiveness. However, the resulting output is much smoother, which I found invaluable for some of my recordings that are positively dripping in vocal sibilance.
Impact+
You can vary the coloration further with Impact+ which as I describe it ‘stiffens’ the bass response, a welcome tweak for slightly bass-light headphones such as the LCD-5 and even the Diana MR.
Of course, you need an amplifier that will respond well to that such as the neutral and punchy OOR. The Feliks Audio EUFORIA evo/Atrium combo sounded a bit bloomy for my tastes and I would never recommend using Impact+ combined with Tube mode for what is already a smooth-sounding performance.
The best trait of IMPACT+ for me is how it deals with the fundamental frequency of instruments over a fairly wide range. It’s not a tweak that suddenly creates a warmer bass response but rather it enhances the dynamics and weight to a noticeable degree on leaner-sounding rigs.
With the OOR and the Diana MR, there was quite a noticeable shift upward in bass power, producing a stronger fundamental and a more ‘planted’ quality to the lows and mids.
You can increase the aggression and impact on the lows even further with the Pro 8Vrms mode but for some, this might inject what I would describe as a ‘stressed’ tonal quality and could create more fatigue with brighter-sounding headphones.
Staging & Dynamics
In stock bypass Red mode, the WANDLA GoldenSound Edition sort of mimics the OOR staging with a relatively rounded staging quality but nothing I would describe as atmospheric.
Nothing too wide though the depth is excellent and ranged against the ERCO it’s more insightful with better headroom and improved separation.
Some DACs can produce more width and channel separation in default mode such as the Holo Audio Spring and the Aquarius.
However, once you start working the Spatial Enhancement mode into the equation there is a massive change in staging dimensions and the perceived holographic nature of the sound via the OOR (or any headphone amplifier to be honest).
With Spatial Enhancement turned on the EUFORIA/Atrium pairing left and right channels went from ok to wow. If you have a headphone with an expansive soundstage characteristic then turning on Spatial Enhancement is a no-brainer.
What I hear from the above is some additional treble extension and sparkle and a more filled-in performance at the extreme ends of the Atrium’s X-Axis.
More than that, the nuanced characterizations of the cues, in terms of dynamic range, how they pan and scan and move around become a lot more vivid and detailed sounding.
I suspect some of that slight treble boost adds subtle contrast to the note timbre which, in turn, draws your attention to them a lot more.
I should also add that messing with the HYPSOS voltage levels can further shape the staging performance from your setup. Lowering it to 22V reduces the openness and amount of depth creating a very shallow soundstage from the OOR and EUFORIA evo.
25V does the opposite but can give the highs a slightly exaggerated influence that I find to upset the smooth balance of headphones such as the Atrium.
Synergy
Firmware updating
Before I go into the HYPSOS pairing it’s probably worth noting that the update process for Ferrum devices has undergone significant improvements since my last review of their product lineup, (ERCO).
You can now access a dedicated Ferrum-themed MAC/PC app to download and install which made updating my WANDLA and HYPSOS a seamless trouble-free experience.
Granted, there was a problem with MAC updates recently that affected some older bootloader models but that seems to have been rectified at the time of writing.
If your WANDLA has a bootloader version from 0.8.1 up to 0.14.0 and you use a MAC then you need to visit the Ferrum website for specific advice on avoiding problems when upgrading.
If you have one of the older HYPSOS single-DC coupler units and this is the first time connecting your WANDLA GoldenSound Edition you must ensure you have the latest HYPSOS firmware with the WANDLA as a coupling option.
Updating for both devices requires USB-C for the WANLDA and curiously, still an older micro USB for the HYPSOS dual DC coupler version which is unchanged from my older single DC coupler unit.
Once connected your devices will be immediately recognized and checked to see if there are new updates. If there is an update it’s about 2-3 mins max to download and install.
HYPSOS Pairing
While the immediate improvement is not as noticeable compared to the HYPSOS/OOR combo, I do hear a difference using the standard power brick WANDLA GoldenSound Edition versus the HYPSOS pairing.
It is all about the voltage control with the HYPSOS and how it affects the staging openness and width and to some extent the tonal quality, particularly on the highs.
On the stock 24V setting with a bypass red mode SE lineout to the Feliks Audio EUFORIA evo/Atrium pairing, there isn’t much of a change in tonal quality rather the WANDLA sounds more dynamic, incisive, and slightly bigger sounding.
If you drop it down to 22V it feels like the fundamental frequencies just fell away producing a shallower narrower sound but also one I would consider a little softer in tonal quality.
Push it up to 25V and the energy picks up considerably sounding more aggressive, and punchier, but also a little brighter through the highs of the Atrium.
I am not 100% keen on the 25V setting. I had issues with the presentation sounding somewhat ‘stressed’ on the OOR with a higher voltage rating from the HYPSOS and my feeling about the WANDLA on 25V is much the same. My recommendation is to leave it on 24V for the majority of your listening sessions.
In-House Amplifier Pairings
The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition is tailor-made for the OOR/HYPSOS setup. I have never heard the OOR perform so well with other DACs save for the uber-expensive dCS Lina Network DAC.
For stacking consistency I have often paired the OOR/HYPSOS stack with the ERCO. I doubt I will now after comparing it to the WANDLA.
The performance from the ERCO ensemble sounds softer and more withdrawn with reduced dynamic range. It lacks many of the DSP options the WANDLA GSE brings to the table to enhance the sound to match whatever is on your head.
Typically, I would not use the OOR with headphones such as the Diana MR or the LCD-5 given its dead neutral tonal quality without some PEQ.
I love the dynamic range and punchy performance but the tonal aspect can be unforgiving and not as open-sounding as alternative amplifier options. There are also a few things you cannot work too much on such as dynamic range and soundstage unless you start swapping DACs around.
The stock WANDLA has some decent filters to begin with but the additional DSP on the GSE version is a difference-maker and saves me a lot of PEQ and DAC swapping work.
For example, the Diana MR can sound a little sharp if recordings have a brighter upper mids mix, especially for lighter falsetto vocals and percussion work where sibilance seems emphasized.
The GSE Tube mode eliminated that annoyance right away producing a more rounded and pleasing even-harmonic tone. Throw in Impact+ and you will have a satisfying reply to those who think the Diana MR range lacks a bit of ‘oomph’ on the low end.
3rd Party Amplifier Flexibility
Another great example of the WANDLA GoldenSound Edition’s flexibility is the Feliks Audio EUFORIA evo/ZMF Headphones Atrium open combo, which is typically a warm and very relaxing combo with a strong focus on staging space from the Atrium.
An equally smooth or rounded DAC is never an ideal combination for my tastes. I prefer neutral and punchy and let the EUFORIA evo tube magic work its magic to bring that rich and weighty balance to the output.
The stock WANDLA in Red DAC out mode via an SE RCA output sound produces a precise and clear tone with excellent resolution from the EUFORIA/Atrium combo. However, you can get more out of this setup by switching to the Pro mode which brings more physicality and verve to the Atrium performance.
The icing on the cake is the Spatial Enhancement option which plays out beautifully with the expansive strengths of the Atrium.
Once turned on you get more treble extension and energy, enhanced contrast on the Atrium timbre, and everything simply opens up sounding bigger and more immersive.
This transformation reminds me a little of how I reacted when I attached the M Scaler to the Hugo TT2 a few years ago, every detail and note gets magnified exponentially.
