Rockna Wavelight Dac

High quality musical R2R dac

SMOOTH AS SILK

In Rocknas’ quest for developing a package for the audiophile seeking more than just high-quality audio reproduction, they realized several things. Firstly, they need digital precision but with ‘analog’ charm, free of any ‘digital glare’ yet with rich detail. Secondly, this package needs to provide outstanding value, future proofing, new features, and a stunning, timeless design. This is how the ‘Wavelight DAC’ was created, more than just a little brother for the accomplished ‘Wavedream’

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Description

SOFTWARE DEFINED ARCHITECTURE & FPGA TECHNOLOGY

Wavelight DAC employs the latest Xilinx 7-series FPGA which allows Rockna to assemble the functions of a custom high performance R2R processor. The Wavelight’s digital processing capabilities are built with complex VHDL coding and state of the art FPGA hardware. The architecture is described, in fact, by a piece of software.

When upgrading the Wavelight with new firmware, you actually change its hardware. This system allows great flexibility, obsolescence protection and lets us improve the sound of your dac by changing its internal architecture, add new, cool features, or improve the existing ones. Each digital block is custom built under the Rockna Audio high-performance standard.

UPSAMPLING FILTERS

For the Wavelight Rockna truly did their math and extended out testing methodology. Careful optimizations allowed them to achieve subtle nuances in listening sessions so that any listener is catered for.Powerful, customized DSP units are performing high precision calculations in real time for studio-quality up sampling. User can choose between 4 filter modes: linear, minimum phase, hybrid mode and NOS.

ANALOG SECTION & POWER SUPPLY

With 5 digital inputs and one analogue input, the unit is also capable of operating as a preamplifier. To avoid data truncation, the volume control inside the Wavelight is fully analogue, even if controlled digitally. The analog path is fully discrete. Two toroidal power transformers allow the separation between analog and digital circuitry. A massive filtering bank capacity (over 100.000 uF) is conditioning the power supplies.

RECLOCKING & D/A CONVERSION

A combination between memory buffers, digital phase-locked-loop (DPLL) and a custom input clock-decoupling scheme provides effective jitter cleaning before the conversion itself. Using the advanced Femtovox2 technique, the final result will lead to ‘analog’ sound without compromises. A high precision R2R discrete ladder is performing the conversion from digital to analog domain, driven by the FPGA algorithms. The Wavelight dac is capable of operating in pure R2R mode or in an OS (internal mode).

QUALITY

Each Wavelight is manually assembled in the Rockna factory, individually tested and undergoes their strict quality control process. They believe that sound should be complemented by detail in fit and finish, sturdy construction, thorough circuit design and reliability. This is why they are using selected components such as high precision resistors or audiophile-grade decoupling capacitors. The chassis is entirely built from massive aluminium with anodised finishing and a fine brushed texture.

Wavelight Specifications

  • Input frequencies Tos-link:- 24bit 44.1-176k PCM, DSD64
  • Input frequencies Rca:- 24bit 44.1-192k PCM, (DoP) DSD64
  • Input frequencies Xlr:- 24bit 44.1-192k PCM, (DoP) DSD64
  • Input frequencies Usb:- 32bit 44.1-384k PCM, DSD64-512
  • Input frequencies I2s link 1 (LVDS) – 32bit 44.1-384k PCM, DSD64-512
  • S/N Ratio 117dB
  • Dynamic range 117dB
  • Output impedance 50 Ohms
  • Output voltage Rca 2.4 ,Vrms & Xlr 5.6Vrms
  • Full 78dB Digital Volume Control
  • Analogue Inputs: 1 RCA
  • THD +N Rca  -113db
  • THD +N Xlr   -119db
  • Selectable gain Rca 0/6/9.5 dB
  • Selectable gain Xlr  8/14/17.5 dB
  • HT BYpass    Yes
  • Dimensions: 430 x 300 x 55 mm
  • Weight 7.25kg
  • Black or Silver
  • Price £5,695

 

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