Audio Mirror Wave Tube DAC review by Steve Huff

I purchased the Wave Tube DAC based on Steve’s review. I think it is amazing. I have it paired with an Aurender N30SA streamer and the combination is incredible. I would be happy to answer any questions. The combo is fed into a McIntosh C12000 Preamp and MC462 Amp with Dynaudio Confidence 30 speakers. I was previously using the Laiv micro DDC and Harmony DAC. Huge improvement in sound quality with the Wave DAC. Vlad is amazing to work with and we have continued communication and collaboration post the sale.

Steve gets some impressive gear for review -  most of it out of my reach.

mooks005,

Please share more details about the sound of the Wave in your system, and what you like (don’t like?) about it.

@hilde45 I had no idea! Thanks for posting that. Why does he have a beard in some of the videos and not others even though chronologically it's impossible? It certainly explains his mannerisms and makes him even less believable than before. He has 1.66 mln subscribers. That's where he gets his stereo money.

Prior to buying the Wave DAC, I had the Eversolo DMP-A8 and then the Laiv micro DDC/Harmony DAC. I found with both that certain digital music tracks had a harshness in the high end that made digital music fatiguing to listen to. My main goal in buying the Wave DAC was to eliminate that harshness and make all music, whether an audiophile recording or the 60s/70s rock that I prefer, sound pleasing to listen to for long periods of time. The Wave DAC has 100% done that for me. In addition, the sound is dynamic, fairly neutral, with a big sound stage. Beatles music sounds like it never has on my system. I couldn’t be happier with the sound and have stopped looking for a new DAC. 

In terms of things I don’t like - it doesn’t have a fancy display like some DACs, I wish it had a master clock input, and sometimes when switching inputs, powering up the system, I have to fiddle with things to get sound to play but some of that is the nature of digital music. Also, when you buy a boutique product there are less posts and others to consult with, but it is hard to beat a personal relationship with the owner, designer, builder.

I don’t have the experience that many do on this site, but I have been on a quest to get amazing digital sound and at least by my standards I am there. I don’t see how it could get much better especially with the addition of the Aurender N30SA. Of course with this hobby there is always something better, but I should be good for quite some time. Now I am going to add a turntable to try to achieve that on the analog side.