Parks Audio Waxwing measurements

[pogo]

EQ setting 13 is customizable in the app.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Does waxwing have the E500R-0 eq? this is standard RIAA below 1khz and flat above. This eq is relevant for many test record for cartridge respone

 

[pogo]

This should be this setting:

 

[somebodyelse]

Does waxwing have the E500R-0 eq? this is standard RIAA below 1khz and flat above. This eq is relevant for many test record for cartridge respone

It's not in the list of presets in the manual:

20. EQ

For most vinyl users, Phono will be the only setting ever used. Meanwhile for sources like CDs or digital music it should be set to Line In, which is a flat response. For enthusiasts with older LPs and 78s, the alternate EQ settings will provide proper equalization for best sound from these records. The bottom menu EQ setting even allows custom record equalizations, with adjustable turnover, bass shelf, and roll-off. The default custom setting is the RCA RIAA standard: 500R-13.7. If you can sort out the critical turnover frequency, then many times the bass shelf and roll-off can be adjusted by ear. For older recordings, also use the LO and HI filters to limit the frequency response.

Possible Settings:
Line In
Phono (default)
Teldec LP
London LP
AES LP
NAB LP
Columbia LP
CCIR 78
Columbia 78
Blm300 78
Eur500 78
Eur250 78
Custom

You could probably configure the custom EQ to do it though. I think you can try this in the app even if you don't have a Waxwing. It could probably be included as a preset in a future software version if you ask.

 

[Balle Clorin]

E500R-0 is one of the choices in Puffin, so I want the same for Waxwing, good to see it is possible

 

[pogo]

Embarrassing, I only discovered the TX power setting for Bluetooth today. I can now set it to the lowest level without any problems.

 

[Spurs27]

Hello!
Can you confirm that the Waxwing can be used as a line level DSP between a preamp and power amp?
Would it be transparent and have much lower distorsion and noise compared to the MM/MC input?
What about the noise from the 5V USB PSU?
Seems a bit odd to use a preamp with excellent PSU performance together with a mobile USB unit.

 

[Salt]

Hello!
Can you confirm that the Waxwing can be used as a line level DSP between a preamp and power amp?
Would it be transparent and have much lower distorsion and noise compared to the MM/MC input?
What about the noise from the 5V USB PSU?
Seems a bit odd to use a preamp with excellent PSU performance together with a mobile USB unit.

Why would one want to use a phono ADC for a link from Pre to amp?
Just curious.
For only DSP there are other solutions.

 

[pogo]

Why would one want to use a phono ADC for a link from Pre to amp?

To get a tube or tape sound, to give the playback more or less AIR/WARMTH, to control the volume, balance, bass and treble settings via the app, ...
All these settings can also be saved in profiles.
The Waxwing is not just a phono pre.

 

[somebodyelse]

To get a tube or tape sound, to give the playback more or less AIR/WARMTH, to control the volume, balance, bass and treble settings via the app, ...
All these settings can also be saved in profiles.
The Waxwing is not just a phono pre.

That's just DSP with labels. The Waxwing may not be just a phono pre, but if all you want is some line level DSP it's a relatively expensive and not so versatile way to get it.

 

[Joachim Herbert]

That's just DSP with labels. The Waxwing may not be just a phono pre, but if all you want is some line level DSP it's a relatively expensive and not so versatile way to get it.

It does so much more. Guess it's just not your cup of tea.

https://parksaudiollc.com/waxwingmanual.html

 

[somebodyelse]

It does so much more. Guess it's just not your cup of tea.

https://parksaudiollc.com/waxwingmanual.html

I've read the documentation. It's a good package for phono use, and if the fees for getting it over the atlantic weren't so ridiculous I might have one by now. But @Spurs27 asked about line level use, and it's a lot less compelling there compared to say a 2x4HD or Flex. The tube/tape effects are the only things you probably couldn't do. The rest are things you could do with one or more conventional filters.

 

[pogo]

No.

 

[Joachim Herbert]

@Spurs27 asked about line level use, and it's a lot less compelling there compared to say a 2x4HD or Flex.

Sorry, obviously did not read carefully. It's a pretty sophisticated phono pre, and this is what the dsp presets are designed for.

You are absolutely right. It's not meant to be an all purpose dsp.

 

[vinyldoom]

That's if you live in Norway ! In the UK it is now the eqivalent of $845 - nearly twice the price it is in the US, so it is going to have a negative impact on sales. Normally if you are buying imported goods domestically (not importing them directly) it would be the same price as elsewhere or the dollars would just be turned into pounds ($499 to £499) as it would give a 30% uplift in the equivalent dollar price.

Hopefully Park's audio can export some and get Amazon UK , etc. to distribute them or at least go back to the method before where I managed to get one from Amazon US, a few days ago, for $624 (£481) not the $845 (£654) they suddenly want now ! Good product I agree but very poor / inefficient distribution for the non -US market, which is going to cost them sales and ultimately profit, if left as is.

FWIW, I just ordered from Amazon.com with delivery to the UK - it seems adding any cheap item (I added a cheap $13 vinyl) forces the import fees to recalculate to the correct amount. $654 delivered via the fastest option including all fees.

Not sure why Amazon does this, but yeah. Will email Shannon to let him know in case anyone else runs into the same issue and asks him.

 

[Salt]

Ordered with delivery to DE and the price was correct about 600€, regarding customs and fees, without any other item ordered.

 

[vinyldoom]

Ordered with delivery to DE and the price was correct about 600€, regarding customs and fees, without any other item ordered.

Yeah, for some reason, on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, they want to charge an extortionate $331.39 deposit which makes no sense. I discovered, as mentioned above, that adding any other item to your order forces them to correct it to roughly the right amount.

Before:

After:

I found the cheapest possible item shipped by Amazon I could find ($0.58, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C57YHG6) and it did the job.

I personally wasn't comfortable paying Amazon a $332 deposit without a guarantee of when or if they'd even refund the excess on import.

 

[Scoobz1]

Yeah, for some reason, on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, they want to charge an extortionate $331.39 deposit which makes no sense. I discovered, as mentioned above, that adding any other item to your order forces them to correct it to roughly the right amount.

Before:

View attachment 418435


After:

View attachment 418436

I found the cheapest possible item shipped by Amazon I could find ($0.58, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C57YHG6) and it did the job.

I personally wasn't comfortable paying Amazon a $332 deposit without a guarantee of when or if they'd even refund the excess on import.

If i was Shannon i would make sure the UK version came with a three pin plug connection (or something similar) which you pay an extra 50 cents for either from him or another seller and perhaps explain that it results in a precise import fee being calculated which results in a lower overall cost (product and import fees combined) and or the removal of a very hefty deposit with no gurantee to what will eventually be refunded