The Waxwing Thread

[Laika2]

Spent hours last year setting up the Azimuth of my ortophon black lvb250. The cartridge hangs low, used a microscope and a mirror, it is about impossible to see the reflection to tell if it is vertically correct.

NOTE: Dreaded doing it again, used the Waxwing to set it today with the Azimuth setting, expected it to take quite a while.

Result 3 minutes and it was perfect with the Waxwing setup tool and was much better than my two hour mirror and ebay microscope job. (actuality 4 hours, did it twice with mirror over 6 months.)

FOUR HOURS Azimuth MANUAL SETUP

THREE MINUTES with the Waxwing Azimuth tool and MUCH BETTER RESULTS

This more I mess with the Waxwing the more it blows me away.

HOW TO VIDEO

 

[Platypus20]

After some trial and tribulations my Waxwing finally arrived.

It replaced my Aragon 47K phono preamp, that’s out for repairs, I’m coming out of the Waxwing digitally into Benchmark DAC 1. Super easy to set up, the adjustability is amazing, right now I have both the rumble filter and the Magic turned on. The results for me are actually better than I was hoping for.

 

[markstein]

Spent hours last year setting up the VTA of my ortophon black lvb250. The cartridge hangs low, used a microscope and a mirror, it is about impossible to see the reflection to tell if it is vertically correct.

NOTE: Dreaded doing it again, used the Waxwing to set it today with the VTA setting, expected it to take quite a while.

Result 3 minutes and it was perfect with the Waxwing setup tool and was much better than my two hour mirror and ebay microscope job. (actuality 4 hours, did it twice with mirror over 6 months.

FOUR HOURS VTA MANUAL SETUP

THREE MINUTES with the Waxwing Azimuth tool and MUCH BETTER RESULTS

This more I mess with the Waxwing the more it blows me away.

HOW TO VIDEO

VTA and azimut are two totally different settings - or did I misunderstand your post?

The Waxwing helps setting the azimut by displaying the crosstalk - a very useful feature. VTA has to be set separately.

 

[Laika2]

VTA and azimut are two totally different settings - or did I misunderstand your post?

The Waxwing helps setting the azimut by displaying the crosstalk - a very useful feature. VTA has to be set separately.

Thanks, I stand corrected again. When I dug out my old LP's a few years ago I DLed a bunch of set up guides. In this process I somehow got it in my head VTA is vertical tracking Azimuth (not angle) and still oddly keep using the same term interchangeable with VTA. I wish VTA was that easy, I set it with a clear block and a cheap android based microscope. It's close but to my understanding you can't get it exactly right without some special bubble levels put on the tonearm. Someday I might order some, I should. It would be very easy to be 5 degrees of doing VTA by eye.

I'm trying to make a slight guide on what the Waxwing is capable of and how to do it. I have corrected my post, thanks for keeping me inline, otherwise my mini guide of features makes no sense or at least is confusing.

Correct me any time.

Thanks.

 

[Bob from Florida]

Thanks, I stand corrected again. When I dug out my old LP's a few years ago I DLed a bunch of set up guides. In this process I somehow got it in my head VTA is vertical tracking Azimuth (not angle) and still oddly keep using the same term interchangeable with VTA. I wish VTA was that easy, I set it with a clear block and a cheap android based microscope. It's close but to my understanding you can't get it exactly right without some special bubble levels put on the tonearm. Someday I might order some, I should. It would be very easy to be 5 degrees of doing VTA by eye.

I'm trying to make a slight guide on what the Waxwing is capable of and how to do it. I have corrected my post, thanks for keeping me inline, otherwise my mini guide of features makes no sense or at least is confusing.

Correct me any time.

Thanks.

Don't go overboard with VTA. Set it level or slightly down by eye on your thin records. Listen to your records instead of OCD over VTA.

 

[markstein]

I tried to "optimize" my VTA, however, with my microlinear cartridge it does bit really is a critical setting. Different settings did not make any measurable difference.

 

[Laika2]

I tried to "optimize" my VTA, however, with my microlinear cartridge it does bit really is a critical setting. Different settings did not make any measurable difference.

I could hear a slight difference I think, no double blind, may be the placebo effect. Tail down seemed to add a bit more bass (added a Matt for tail down) tail up, bit more detail, thought the same, very little if any difference. Waxwing makes it easier, no changes in rake or VTA, want more bass or detail, or both, easy to do on the fly with the Waxwing and it's clearly a change, not something I may be imagining.

 

[ejr]

Just wondering if anyone is familiar with the MiniDsp Adept and how it compares to the Waxwing.

ADept

The miniDSP ADept is a compact high-resolution A/D (analog-to-digital) convertor that accepts single-ended (RCA) or balanced (on XLR) audio signals. The digital output is available on SPDIF coaxial and TOSLINK optical connectors, and can also be recorded to a computer or mobile device via the...

www.minidsp.com

 

[somebodyelse]

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../minidsp-adept-adc-phono-preamp-review.65333/
They're somewhat different beasts. The Adept has more input options and better ADC, while the Waxwing has more DSP options. Which is preferable will depend on use case.

 

[ejr]

I really don't care about all the options that the Waxwing has and it seems unnecessarily complicated. I just want to get analog output into a DAC that doesn't have analog inputs -- and "better ADC" sounds good to me. Can you elaborate? I'd be happy with something that lets my turntable sound as close to what I hear when I connect it to my old analog preamp.

I just went back to the manufacturer's site and -- surprise -- found a link to a review on ASR:

MINIDSP Adept ADC & Phono Preamp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the MINIDSP Adept analog to digital converter and phono equalization/capture. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $299. The device is rather attractive for its class. User interface though, is unusual. You push the rotary encoder in and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[somebodyelse]

I really don't care about all the options that the Waxwing has and it seems unnecessarily complicated. I just want to get analog output into a DAC that doesn't have analog inputs -- and "better ADC" sounds good to me. Can you elaborate? I'd be happy with something that lets my turntable sound as close to what I hear when I connect it to my old analog preamp.

We don't have directly comparable measurements of the Adept and Waxwing - what we have uses a different test method with cartridge present for noise measurements which is arguably more useful, particularly for MM (there's a whole thread arguing about it). It seems similar to the older Puffin though. The Adept seems to have lower noise and distortion so if you don't care about the other bits (declicking, non-RIAA eq profiles useful for collectors of old records, LF crossfeed, semi-automated azimuth setting etc.) then get the Adept. Or use your existing phono stage (via tape out from your analog preamp?) and feed it to a PocketADC which will be cheaper and maybe closer to what you're used to.

I just went back to the manufacturer's site and -- surprise -- found a link to a review on ASR:

Why the surprise? I already provided a link to that one.

 

[ejr]

We don't have directly comparable measurements of the Adept and Waxwing - what we have uses a different test method with cartridge present for noise measurements which is arguably more useful, particularly for MM (there's a whole thread arguing about it). It seems similar to the older Puffin though. The Adept seems to have lower noise and distortion so if you don't care about the other bits (declicking, non-RIAA eq profiles useful for collectors of old records, LF crossfeed, semi-automated azimuth setting etc.) then get the Adept. Or use your existing phono stage (via tape out from your analog preamp?) and feed it to a PocketADC which will be cheaper and maybe closer to what you're used to.

Why the surprise? I already provided a link to that one.

I must have missed that.

I like the idea of the Pocket DAC, but it doesn't seem to have a ground for the analog inputs.

 

[markstein]

I really don't care about all the options that the Waxwing has and it seems unnecessarily complicated.

I would say the Waxwing is super easy to set up via its app. Performance is absolutely okay.

The Adept may be better on paper, however, in real world usage the many Waxwing features are very useful: Magic, configurable high- and lowpass, derumble (mono bass), warmth etc.

 

[wgh52]

... I like the idea of the Pocket DAC, but it doesn't seem to have a ground for the analog inputs.

To avoid potential misunderstandings: pocketADC is not aimed at connecting phono cartridges or a record player to it. I'm using pocketADC between phono preamp output and DSP SPDIF input with great results.

Regards,
Winfried

 

[ejr]

A few more questions about the Waxwing:

I have no interest in the app. I just want to be able to play my records as I always have and route them through my DAC/preamp, so that I don't need to build a separate system just for my LPs. Is it possible to use it without the app -- or to just use the app once to set it and forget it?

In any case, is the app even compatible with the only mobile device I own (an iPad Mini 2, with the most recent OS that will run on it)?

I seldom listen to records any more, but the ones that I own are all original releases from the 60s, 70s, and 80s -- some of which I still haven't seen released on streaming (or even CDs),

 

[Bob from Florida]

A few more questions about the Waxwing:

I have no interest in the app. I just want to be able to play my records as I always have and route them through my DAC/preamp, so that I don't need to build a separate system just for my LPs. Is it possible to use it without the app -- or to just use the app once to set it and forget it?

In any case, is the app even compatible with the only mobile device I own (an iPad Mini 2, with the most recent OS that will run on it)?

I seldom listen to records any more, but the ones that I own are all original releases from the 60s, 70s, and 80s -- some of which I still haven't seen released on streaming (or even CDs),

The App sets the Waxwing parameters. You have 24 memories to store different settings - ie if you have multiple cartridges, you can save different settings for each cartridge and retrieve them when you change cartridges. Once you have things set the way you want, you don't need the App unless something needs changing. You can be basic and just set the gain and loading or you can get fancy - up to you.

 

[ejr]

The App sets the Waxwing parameters. You have 24 memories to store different settings - ie if you have multiple cartridges, you can save different settings for each cartridge and retrieve them when you change cartridges. Once you have things set the way you want, you don't need the App unless something needs changing. You can be basic and just set the gain and loading or you can get fancy - up to you.

Thanks!

 

[somebodyelse]

In any case, is the app even compatible with the only mobile device I own (an iPad Mini 2, with the most recent OS that will run on it)?

On future app compatibility, the control protocol is mostly documented, so if Parks stop maintaining the app for any reason it will be possible to have a community maintained app instead.

 

[JRowland]

Just got one of these today, what a great little box. Stashes away easily, so adjustable, and mainly to me the Magic is sweet!

 

[ejr]

I bought one of these and returned it the next day. This is certainly a quality piece of hardware. It looks like it was made with top notch components. However, the app required to run it -- notwithstanding whatever its capabilities may be -- looks amatureish and cumbersome, not much more than a long list of text that you have to scroll through and primative-looking sliders that are difficult to use with my arthritic hands. Not much in the way of explanation, or even a manuel, to explain how to determine what everthing does and which settings to use. It seems to be designed for engineers rather than musicians or casual listeners.

Worse, it seems to be designed with the idea that records need to be vigorously tweaked to sound good (or that everyone who listens to them wants them to sound like a digital source). I can take my turntable and plug it into any preamp or integrated amp and the output sounds pretty much the same. When I played records on the Waxwing, I had to spend more time tweaking the app to get them to sound like they always have on every system that I have owned since the early 1970s.

So, if you're like me, and you just don't want to have to use a separate system for listening to records, the Waxwing is probably not the device for you. I'm going to try a much simpler analog to coax or optical converter box, such as those sold cheap on Amazon, or go back to using my old Emotiva preamp with my turnable and invest in another pair of powered speakers.