I've owned a Wandla with Hypsos power for over a year now. End game for me.
Are there better sounding DACs out there? No doubt. But this is so good (and has so much flexibility) I can't justify spending more for diminishing returns after already dropping nearly $5K on this kit. That's a lot. A lot for a DAC (with external power supply, yes). I need to refresh my perspective sometimes...
I don't at all knock those who spend more, good on 'em.
As for DAC experience, I've had two R2R's that I really liked at first for their tube like fluidity and lack of digititis. One night however, I went to put on Siegfried from the 1997 Solti Ring set CD box and I was shocked at the lack of sparkle and life from my (generally well regarded) MHDT Orchid, which had replaced an Eastern Electric MiniMax. I actually kept the MIniMax because it sounds so very good in my second system, but I quickly sold off the MHDT.
Back to the Ferrum: it has brought my CD collection to a level I never thought possible. It gives my system deep and wide soundstage, a bit of analog warmth, bass clarity and top end extension restoring the life that I was missing with the R2R's. It has no glaring faults and the filter flexibility is fun and helpful, as are the voltage options on the Hypsos.
I suspect you can get as good of sound for ~$5K (including the Hypsos), but truly hard to imagine seriously exceeding it in the general price range.
Enjoy the music and the Christmas season fellow audiophiles.
