Wadia 302

By Michael Wong

February 2006

Wadia 302 CD player. $8495.

Wadia 302. The 302 is the latest edition of Wadia’s entry level offering. This replacement was prompted by Pioneer discontinuing their unique Stable Platter transport. The 302 uses a Philips VAE-1250 dedicated CD transport. Wadia also took the opportunity to update the digital and analogue circuitry. Digital processing is performed by Wadia’s proprietary DigiMaster 24-bit, upsampling digital filtering system.

Though it may be the entry level model, the 302 shares the “carved from solid” mechanical integrity I admired in the 861. The brushed aluminium fascia features a dual colour display and wonderfully tactile metal transport keys. Nice thick slabs of aluminium are also used for the top, bottom and side panels.

Half-weight

It’s only half the 861’s height and weight but the 302 shares a similar sized footprint mandating a large, sturdy shelf to place it on. Support is provided by a triumvirate of Wadia’s excellent metal feet. Matching metal discs are supplied to avoid damaging furniture surfaces.

The 302 offers users the choice of single-ended or balanced analogue outputs and a BNC equipped digital output. Digital inputs are optional. As with the 861 there is the option to run the 302 straight into a power amplifier, eliminating the need for a preamp. This is accomplished by using a digital volume control. With such devices there is an optimum operational range, as you attenuate the signal you effectively reduce playback resolution. Wadia compensates for this potential loss of musical information by providing a range of maximum output level adjustments via easily accessible DIP switches on the rear of the 302. With a range of 0.3V to 4.25V it should be possible to integrate the 302 into almost any system.

The remote control provides access to all functions including display switching and phase inversion. Alas, the all-metal remote of the 301/861 is replaced by a plastic remote, not quite as nice to the touch but with better button layout.

Wadia 302 inside.

Setup is straight forward and can be easily accomplished without recourse to the well written manual. The disc draw opens and closes smoothly with the slightest of plasticky chatter. Being a dedicated CD transport, discs are read quickly. Interestingly, closing the drawer without a disc loaded causes the transport to react with boy racer-like motor revving noises! Fortunately we are spared the garish blue lights that have adorned recent Marantz and Musical Fidelity equipment.

For the listening evaluations the 302 was used in single-ended and balanced modes. The Krell integrated amp was also configured for unity gain input for direct connection of the 302.

Grand scale

First up was single ended connection. Everything this player does is on a grand scale. There’s a huge soundstage with realistically sized performers and instruments. There’s plenty of depth yet layered soundstaging is slightly disappointing, with images at the back of the stage appearing a touch ethereal, without the dimensionality heard from the front.

The high frequencies don’t seem as rolled as the 861. Mids have a silky quality close to big brother 861, without the expensive player’s spooky you-are-there midrange realism. The bottom end goes low, missing just a bit of dynamic drive expected of such an expensive player.

Overall the 302 trades the clinical perfection and take-no-prisoners control of the 861 for a more gentle nature that makes the 302 a easier to live with.

Well balanced

With balanced connection the 302 starts to earn its money. There’s better focus to the sound and the excellent front stage dimensionality extends further back this time. The sound is more incisive, music takes on new life with some of the effortlessness and drive that gets the 302 closer to the 861’s stellar performance without forgoing the 302’s gentle disposition.

Perhaps due to Wadia’s direct connection output being limited to single-end operation in my case, the sound was a mix of delight and disappointment. The delight came from the spacious presentation and pristine quality to the sound but was unbalanced by emphasis on the high frequencies with produced a slight degree of edginess and imparted a sense of mechanical reproduction to the music.

Half priced

The 302 is well built, looks good, is easy to use and sounds pretty good as well. The closest reviewed competitor to the 302 would have to be the Linn Unidisk SC. Both are great sounding sub-$10,000 CD players. The Linn has versatility on its side, and is a bit more natural sounding; the Wadia has superior build quality, a user-friendlier interface and is a little less expensive.

It is only when put up against the super heavyweights like the Wadia 861 or Reimyo CDP-777 that the 302 is found really wanting. With the 302 being less than half the price of the 861 but with much more than half the 861’s performance it makes an unexpectedly good value for money statement.

For your nearest Wadia dealer

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