The Waxwing Thread

[Brian Hall]

I take it Magic isn't adding any audible artifacts in that section? Magic and Grade are meant to use the same detection algorithm.

Maybe a little. In that section it would be hard to tell.

 

[somebodyelse]

Maybe a little. In that section it would be hard to tell.

Which section is it? And how much of the sub-bass do they preserve on the LP? There's a lot of it on the streaming version.

 

[Thomas_A]

You should both message Shannon Parks with this information. He may be able to use those songs to improve the algorithms.

There are some other examples of electronic music that can fool. Now the algorrithms are probably different between software so it is good to collect those specific for the waxwing. The RTclickrepair is no longer developed.

 

[Brian Hall]

Which section is it? And how much of the sub-bass do they preserve on the LP? There's a lot of it on the streaming version.

The area I noticed the grading issue was on side 2 of the first record in a section without regular singing. It is a double album.

The bass sounded great. And I could feel it. I listened to the streaming version and I doubt if I could tell which was which.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

It appears that the record grading option gets confused when playing the Drif album by Heilung. During a section with a lot of various sound effects, chanting, yelling and drums only the Waxwing grading was going crazy, changing from C+ to D- and sometimes F from A+ during a more "normal" music section. This is a brand new record. First play. I did clean the record before putting it on the turntable.

I suspect Heilung would view the Waxwing being so challenged as a compliment. Adding a link to a YouTube video of a live concert (well worth checking out for the theatrics combined with the music), as well as Drif album for anyone who is not already familiar with this amazing band:

 

[Brian Hall]

I received a reply from Shannon Parks:

"Thanks for sharing that album, Brian - adding it to my test list. Definitely some content will trigger the algorithm, and glad you figured out it was just a limitation of the algorithm itself. Will certainly see if I can improve it in the future.

Also, thrilled you love the Waxwing - keep that vinyl spinning!"

 

[pmkv69]

I've been searching for a phono preamp for my setup Thorens TD320mkII turntable -> Topping DX7 Pro+ DAC (only digital inputs) -> Genelec active speaker setup. This might be the one....

 

[antcollinet]

I've been searching for a phone preamp for my setup Thorens TD320mkII turntable -> Topping DX7 Pro+ DAC (only digital inputs) -> Genelec active speaker setup. This might be the one....

It does seem pretty perfect for that application.

 

[wgh52]

The Waxwing may be the perfect phono DSP accessory to my so far "front to end digital signal chain" (incl. DSP x-over and DAC boards driving the power amps in my 4-way active speakers) as currently I'm only missing a decent A>D converter. So for the moment I'm using my MDS-JA555ES as 16/44.1 A>D converter, which is somewhat awkward... Now forgive me, but I'd really like my Lehmann Black Cube SE II PWX, so my questions are:

Am I bound to the cartridge level input of the Waxwing? ...or is there a setting with "small" amplification?
Would I have to put my Black Cube on the shelf and use the Waxwing instead, not in addion?
...or is there a possibility to reduce preamp amplification and even circumvent the RIAA equalization?
If that was possible, I could potentially also use the A>D functionality for other sources like tape or FM Radio.

Thanks for sheding some light!
Regards,
Winfried

 

[Salt]

If it's only for ADing have a look at the Cosmos E1DA.

 

[somebodyelse]

Am I bound to the cartridge level input of the Waxwing? ...or is there a setting with "small" amplification?
Would I have to put my Black Cube on the shelf and use the Waxwing instead, not in addion?
...or is there a possibility to reduce preamp amplification and even circumvent the RIAA equalization?
If that was possible, I could potentially also use the A>D functionality for other sources like tape or FM Radio.

Gain is configurable and RIAA can be turned off. There is a preset for CD which does this, or you can fine tune and save custom presets - maybe a bit more gain on the FM radio as those often had lower output than CD. See https://www.parksaudiollc.com/ for details.

Note: the API for the presets hasn't yet been documented, but most of the rest has, including gain and EQ settings. Just in case you were hoping to control it with something other than the phone app.

 

[wgh52]

If it's only for ADing have a look at the Cosmos E1DA.

Hi! Thanks for the hint, I had this on the radar, but the E1DA outputs to USB and I need Toslink or Koax SPDIF directly.

Greetings,
Winfried

 

[wgh52]

Gain is configurable and RIAA can be turned off. There is a preset for CD which does this, or you can fine tune and save custom presets - maybe a bit more gain on the FM radio as those often had lower output than CD. See https://www.parksaudiollc.com/ for details.

Note: the API for the presets hasn't yet been documented, but most of the rest has, including gain and EQ settings. Just in case you were hoping to control it with something other than the phone app.

OK! This is excellent news which I had overlooked when reading the web page! So, it would be relatively simple to make comparisons of the two phono/RIAA stages and decide which one to prefer/keep.

The only remaining risk issue is warranty and repair support as I am living in the European Union and there's no local support infrastructure here. I'll think about it, but this thing is very tempting!

Thanks,
Winfried

 

[Atomg]

I'd be curious how the "Magic" algorithm handles hip-hop records that have samples which contain pops and clicks as well as other electronic style music that has artificial pops, clicks, or static. Any one here that has a waxwing and can test this?

 

[pogo]

I have created a test file with artificially generated pops and clicks. Interestingly, Magic did not audibly suppress anything here.

 

[Atomg]

I have created a test file with artificially generated pops and clicks. Interestingly, Magic did not audibly suppress anything here.

That is great to hear!

 

[AaronJ]

I have created a test file with artificially generated pops and clicks. Interestingly, Magic did not audibly suppress anything here.

Can you distribute the test file for others to do some testing? Even an artificial click may be interpreted as “music” by the algorithm.

I think it would be interesting to take a recording of a record with a few bad clicks and pops that the Waxwing is documented to suppress, and then feed the digital file through a DAC and into the Waxwing’s analog-in with gain set to 0 and no RIAA, and see what comes through. See if it can tell the difference between an actual click and a recorded click.

 

[pogo]

feed the digital file through a DAC and into the Waxwing’s analog-in with gain set to 0 and no RIAA, and see what comes through.

This is how I did it, with and without RIAA equalization. The pops and clicks were audibly not reduced.
I'll try to upload my self-generated test file soon.

 

[pogo]

Attached the self-generated test file.

 

[jp4573]

I have created a test file with artificially generated pops and clicks. Interestingly, Magic did not audibly suppress anything here.

From the Waxwing manual:
"This function gently lessens many of the small pops and clicks normally heard during vinyl playback"
Maybe it does not work when the equalizing input chosen is "Line in"