Over the years, I have had many products (Arcam, Cambridge Audio etc) using the Wolfson WM8740 DACs…
… and when I listen to them alongside other products, with other DACs, I (personally) find the Wolfson based products easier on my ears… It’s not just one product, either… I have, presently, a CD player, a multi disk spinner, a streamer and a stand along DAC all using the Wolfson DACs and I think there;s a trend in their sound… My integrated amp, for instance, has an ESS DAC built in and I prefer the sound via the Wolfson equipped products to feeding the same files through that…
I appreciate, of course, it is not simply as simple as the DAC used, but also its implementation etc… But the streamer and integrated amp are contemporary products from the same brand (Cambridge Audio)…
IIRC correctly, the Wolfson is not “Wolfson” any more but Cirrus Logic…
So, what products out there still use the Wolfson chip…?
As well as my (out of production) disk spinners, I have them in a CA DacMagic 100 and the CA CXN V2 streamer… I think, though, other than those products, CA have phased them out…
These days I run a Chord DAC (and love it), but the Rega was my first ‘separate DAC’ love. As with all Rega products you can hear it’s made with love. Highly recommended.
Wolfson was acquired by Cirrus Logic in 2014 and there are a few “hifi” level portable DACs using Cirrus chips today. I’ve never compared a vintage Wolfson to these newer Cirrus based DACs but…
since we’re on the topic Has anyone compared vintage Wolfson to current Cirrus based DACs and have comment?
I still have my original Cambridge Audio DAC in a box upstairs. Maybe I should break it out and have a listen for old times sake.
It was the first standalone DAC I ever bought and I really enjoyed it
I have a REGA Apollo CD Player (last version) that uses a Wolfson DAC. It sounds good but I can’t find any substantial difference when I use it as a transport connected via coax to the Hegel H120 (AKM 4490, I think)