DSP done properly
Elevated Headroom, Spatial Enhancement, Tube Mode and Impact+, all in WANDLA’s own DSP.
FERRUMDAC & PREAMPLIFIERCustomer reviews (0)
Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition DAC/PREAMP
WANDLA, with GoldenSound's DSP magic.
A fully balanced ES9038PRO DAC/preamp adding Elevated Headroom, Spatial Enhancement, Tube Mode and Impact+ in DSP.
Regular price
£3,295.00
Unit price
Including VAT
Free next day UK delivery
THE AMP3 DIFFERENCE
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Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition DAC/PREAMP
A little extra. A better pairing.
Better together.
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MEET THE WANDLA
WANDLA, with GoldenSound's DSP magic.
A fully balanced ES9038PRO DAC/preamp adding Elevated Headroom, Spatial Enhancement, Tube Mode and Impact+ in DSP.
Output to suit any amp
A hardware switch between just under 10Vrms and just under 4Vrms.
The WANDLA platform
ES9038PRO with Ferrum’s I/V converter, every digital input, XLR and RCA out, HYPSOS-ready.
Read the full description
The Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition takes Ferrum’s fully balanced ES9038PRO DAC and preamplifier and puts its computing power to work. Elevated Headroom, Spatial Enhancement, Tube Mode and Impact+ all run in the DSP of WANDLA’s SERCE digital module – DSP done properly, in Ferrum’s words – and a hardware output-voltage switch makes it easy to match to any amplifier. Each feature can be switched on or off, so it is also a straight, transparent DAC.
Elevated headroom
Extra digital headroom gives higher immunity to intersample overs, even in bypass mode at full output, so loud modern recordings play free from additional distortion.
Spatial Enhancement
A unique spatial enhancement expands the soundstage and improves the separation between musical elements, while avoiding the drawbacks common to other approaches. It has separate headphone and speaker modes, tailored to each.
Tube Mode
Tube Mode deliberately increases the even-order harmonic distortion of the DAC, like the distortion a valve amplifier adds, for a warmer, richer sound without directly changing the frequency response.
Impact+
For those who like a little more low end, Impact+ uses a customised two-band EQ that lifts the bass and adds punch and dynamic impact.
Output voltage to suit any amplifier
A hardware voltage divider switches the output between just under 10Vrms and just under 4Vrms, so you can match WANDLA to any amplifier without using digital volume or putting analogue volume components in the signal path.
Gen 2 firmware: Sweet Spot Tuning
Ferrum’s Gen 2 firmware, a free update for owners of the original GoldenSound Edition, completely overhauls three of these features and gives each its own Sweet Spot Tuning. Impact+ offers seven shapes (Reference, Ref+, Smooth, Kick+, DD-Comp, DD-Comp+ and Sub-Bass), including compensation for dynamic-driver headphones, at 10% to 130%. Tube Mode adds the signatures of five popular tubes (EL34, KT88, 300B, 2A3 and 7062), reproduced up to the 7th harmonic, at 10% to 200%, alongside the original 2nd-harmonic setting. Spatial Enhancement can be toggled independently, with headphone and speaker modes and new Transient Compensation to fine-tune the imaging.
The WANDLA platform
Underneath is the WANDLA: an ESS Sabre ES9038PRO whose paralleled outputs feed Ferrum’s own composite I/V converter, a fully balanced analogue path with a modified-IC preamplifier fine-tuned for WANDLA, and Ferrum’s optimised ARM chip for the shortest signal path, with MQA decoding and digital filters from ESS and from Signalyst, the makers of HQPlayer. Specially programmed USB and tuned coaxial, optical, AES, ARC and I²S inputs are optimised for audio, and a colour touchscreen and remote control make it easy to use.
Made for HYPSOS
It performs beautifully with its 24V adapter, and even better with Ferrum’s HYPSOS: the Ferrum Power Link cable’s 4T voltage sensing lets both perform to their maximum.
| GoldenSound features | Elevated Headroom · Spatial Enhancement (headphone/speaker) · Tube Mode · Impact+ · output switch ~10Vrms / ~4Vrms |
|---|---|
| DAC | ESS Sabre ES9038PRO · Ferrum composite I/V converter · PCM 768kHz/32-bit, DSD512 · MQA decoder/renderer |
| Digital inputs | USB-C and I²S (768kHz/32-bit, DSD512) · AES/EBU and coaxial (192kHz/24-bit) · optical (96kHz/24-bit) · HDMI ARC with CEC |
| Analogue | RCA input (47kΩ) · balanced XLR and RCA outputs (44Ω / 22Ω) |
| Performance | DAC THD −121dB · dynamic range 122dB digital / 127dB analogue · 10Hz–200kHz ±0.1dB · crosstalk −120dB at 1kHz |
| Power | 22–30V DC via FPL 4-pin or 5.5/2.5mm · 24V adapter included |
| Size and weight | 217 × 206 × 50mm · 1.8kg |
Good to know
- The GoldenSound features can each be switched off for a purely transparent DAC.
- Ferrum’s Gen 2 firmware is free for GoldenSound Edition owners and installs with the Ferrum Control App.
- No headphone output: for one, add the Ferrum OOR.
- In the box: WANDLA GoldenSound Edition, 24V DC power adapter, remote control and documentation.
In the box
- Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition DAC/PREAMP
- 24V DC power adapter
- Remote control
- Documentation
Downloads
THE FINER DETAILS
Built for
better listening.
Know what you’re choosing.
Find the right fit for your setup.
- Design
- Fully balanced DAC and preamplifier (GoldenSound tuning, tube mode)
- DAC
- ESS ES9038PRO
- Frequency response
- 10Hz–200kHz (±0.1dB)
- Hi-res support
- USB and I2S: PCM 768kHz/32-bit, DSD512 · AES/coaxial: 192kHz/24-bit · optical: 96kHz/24-bit · MQA
- Distortion (THD+N)
- −121dB (DAC)
- Output impedance
- 44Ω balanced · 22Ω unbalanced
- Size (H × W × D)
- 50 × 217 × 206mm
- Weight
- 1800g
- Line outputs
- XLR balanced · RCA
- Inputs
- USB-C · I2S (HDMI) · AES/EBU · coaxial · optical · HDMI ARC · RCA analogue
- Power
- 24V DC adapter included (22–30V DC input) · upgradeable with Ferrum HYPSOS (FPL connector)
Specifications are based on manufacturer information and may change.
The press, on the WANDLA
Independent ears.
Their verdict.
A different perspective on your next listen.
01 / Expert review
It delivers a natural to neutral tonal quality that gels well with a wide range of amplifiers
Marcus
Read reviewSelected excerpts from published reviews. Scores are each publication’s own. Follow the links for their full verdicts.
FROM FELLOW LISTENERS
Customer reviews.
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How does free delivery work?
Every UK order has a free delivery option, and orders of £50 or more qualify for free next day delivery. Order by 12 noon, Monday to Friday, for next day delivery; orders placed after 12 noon, at the weekend or on a bank holiday are dispatched on the next working day. Stock availability and destination also affect arrival — check the options shown at checkout.
Pre-orders ship when stock arrives; the next day service starts after dispatch. Full delivery information
What if it’s not right for me?
Return within 14 days for any reason, or within 30 days if faulty, with free return postage. See our full Returns Policy for conditions and how to start a return.
Can you help me choose headphones?
Absolutely. Tell us what you listen to and the headphones you have — or the ones you’re considering — and we’ll help you find a suitable pairing. Chat with us
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