{"product_id":"ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp","title":"Ferrum WANDLA DAC\/PREAMP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Ferrum WANDLA is a fully balanced high-end DAC and preamplifier, designed and made in Poland by HEM. Ferrum calls it “The Converter”: like a Formula 1 team building the best racing car, they set out to build the best engine for digital-to-analogue conversion. An ESS Sabre ES9038PRO feeds Ferrum’s own current-to-voltage converter, which Ferrum says compares with units many times the price, and WANDLA accepts every common digital source, from USB and I²S to your TV’s HDMI ARC, to drive a power amplifier or active speakers directly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp-photo-front.jpg?v=1791353006\" alt=\"Ferrum WANDLA DAC and preamplifier with its touchscreen\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA different I\/V converter\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigh-performance DACs like the ES9038PRO output a current, which must be converted to a voltage. The ES9038PRO’s output current is strikingly high, especially with its channels paralleled to average out errors, so most designs use a separate I\/V converter for each DAC channel and combine them afterwards, which adds errors from the tolerance of each converter’s resistor. In WANDLA, Ferrum parallels the ES9038PRO’s outputs directly and converts the combined current in a single composite amplifier: a fast, low-noise current-feedback op-amp, which keeps the input impedance low even at the very high frequencies of the DAC’s delta-sigma signal, paired with a fast high-current buffer. With the same op-amp, the conventional four-converter layout measured over 10dB more distortion. Ferrum’s aim is transparent, effortless sound that leaves the familiar “Sabre sound” behind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp-photo-inside.jpg?v=1791353012\" alt=\"Inside the Ferrum WANDLA\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTruly balanced, with a short digital path\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analogue signal path is fully balanced, through a proprietary modified-IC preamplifier fine-tuned for WANDLA, and RCA inputs are converted to balanced at the first stage. On the digital side, Ferrum’s optimised ARM chip, SERCE, gives the shortest possible signal path, making five other chips redundant, and includes an MQA decoder and renderer for every digital input. USB is specially programmed and the coaxial, optical, AES, ARC and I²S inputs are tuned for audio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDynamic Digital Filtering\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose from a set of digital filters: one from the ESS DAC and four designed especially for WANDLA by Jussi Laako of Signalyst, best known for the HQPlayer app. WANDLA starts on the Ferrum team’s favourite, and Ferrum invites owners to vote for theirs, replacing the least popular filters with new ones through firmware updates, so WANDLA’s filters evolve with its users.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEasy to use, and it controls your streamer\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA high-resolution colour touchscreen with an intuitive interface, a volume knob and the included remote control make WANDLA a pleasure to operate. Volume can be analogue, with a bypass option, or digital for DAC use. With firmware 2.0.0, Ferrum Streaming Control Technology shows the title, artist and progress of music playing from a Windows or Mac computer or a Volumio streamer and lets you play, pause and skip from WANDLA’s screen and remote; volume can also be synchronised with your computer, and you can mark favourite inputs. Updates install with the Ferrum Control App for PC and Mac.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp-photo-lifestyle.jpg?v=1791353017\" alt=\"Ferrum WANDLA on a shelf\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eConnections\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDigital inputs are USB-C and I²S (PS Audio-compatible, on an HDMI socket), both up to 768kHz\/32-bit and DSD512; AES\/EBU and coaxial up to 192kHz\/24-bit; optical up to 96kHz\/24-bit (often higher, depending on the cable and source); and HDMI ARC with CEC from a TV. An RCA analogue input lets you use WANDLA as a preamp for an analogue source. Outputs are balanced XLR (10Vrms) and RCA (5Vrms), and a trigger connection is provided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp-photo-rear.jpg?v=1791353023\" alt=\"Rear panel of the Ferrum WANDLA\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp-photo-rear_close.jpg?v=1791353028\" alt=\"Ferrum WANDLA inputs, outputs and power connectors\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMade for HYPSOS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWANDLA performs beautifully with its carefully selected 24V adapter, but you can take it further with Ferrum’s \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ferrum-hypsos-hybrid-power-system\"\u003eHYPSOS\u003c\/a\u003e power supply. The proprietary \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ferrum-power-link-fpl-dc-power-chord-4-pin-dc-50cm\"\u003eFerrum Power Link (FPL)\u003c\/a\u003e cable has four wires, two for power and two for feedback, so HYPSOS can keep the voltage at WANDLA’s input exactly right, eliminating the effect of the cable’s resistance and speeding up current delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp-photo-fpl.jpg?v=1791353033\" alt=\"The Ferrum Power Link 4-pin DC cable\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp-photo-stack.jpg?v=1791353037\" alt=\"Ferrum WANDLA stacked with another Ferrum component\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/FERRUMWANDLA_1000x430_d0a7d100-1a6e-4835-a97e-0e40435374d7.jpg?v=1767222474\" alt=\"Ferrum WANDLA DAC and preamplifier\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDAC\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eESS Sabre ES9038PRO · Ferrum composite I\/V converter · PCM 768kHz\/32-bit, DSD512 · MQA decoder\/renderer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDigital inputs\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSB-C and I²S (768kHz\/32-bit, DSD512, DoP256) · AES\/EBU and coaxial (192kHz\/24-bit, DoP64) · optical (96kHz\/24-bit) · HDMI ARC with CEC (192kHz\/24-bit)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAnalogue input\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRCA · 47kΩ · up to 9.5Vrms (2–3.5Vrms recommended)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOutputs\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalanced XLR 10Vrms (44Ω) · RCA 5Vrms (22Ω) · at 0dBFS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePerformance\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDAC THD −121dB (0.00009%) · THD+N −115dB · dynamic range 122dB digital \/ 127dB analogue · 10Hz–200kHz ±0.1dB · crosstalk −120dB at 1kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eVolume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnalogue with bypass option · digital for DAC operation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePower\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–30V DC via FPL 4-pin or 5.5\/2.5mm (centre positive) · 24V adapter included · 10W idle, 15W max\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize and weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e217 × 206 × 50mm · 1.8kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGood to know\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWANDLA has no headphone output: for one, choose the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ferrum-wandla-hp-dac-preamp-with-headphone-amplifier\"\u003eWANDLA HP\u003c\/a\u003e or add the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ferrum-oor-headphone-amplifier-preamp\"\u003eFerrum OOR\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Ferrum Power Link cable for HYPSOS is sold separately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the box: WANDLA, 24V DC power adapter, remote control and documentation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Ferrum","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57117539795331,"sku":"FERRUMWANDLA","price":2795.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/3199\/8339\/files\/img_proxy_4684820d-6efd-4ad4-98af-d874bd8594b1.jpg?v=1767222498","url":"https:\/\/www.advancedmp3players.co.uk\/products\/ferrum-wandla-dac-preamp","provider":"amp3","version":"1.0","type":"link"}