RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Wadia 12 Digital Analog Converter (DAC) Wadia 12 DAC Legendary state-of-the-art digital technology from Wadia. One of the best - if not THE best digital/analog converter for the money. Incredible delivery with a hint of warmth while retaining Wadia's legendary presentation of detail. Music is much more focused as it emerges from the DAC 12. Percussion is particularly enhanced. Outstanding value. Converter has four digital inputs including Glass Optical, Coax (RCA) via BNC connector, Toslink, and AES/EBU Balanced. Also has two analog outputs, Gold Plated RCA and Professional Quality XLR Balance
Ambitious asking price at AUD990 for a used Wadia 12 DAC—it's well above the typical second-hand range of AUD600-800 seen on European markets like AudioMarkt, where similar 17-year-old black units have recently listed around AUD720 before expiring unsold. While Wadia's digi-shaped sound remains timeless, condition and provenance drive value here; this feels like a stretch unless it's pristine with full docs.
Buyers should verify the remote (a common loss item prone to battery corrosion), power supply integrity (capacitors fail after 15+ years), and original glass-faced chassis for cracks from mishandling. Insist on seller photos of internals and a no-reserve audition to confirm no digital jitter or output dropouts—these early aAir models shine or sink on maintenance history.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Wadia Digital emerged in 1988 from St. Paul, Minnesota, founded by a team of engineers who had honed their skills at 3M Corporation in advanced digital telecommunications. Disillusioned by the lackluster sound of early compact disc players, they channeled their expertise into revolutionizing digital audio reproduction. Their debut product, the groundbreaking Wadia 2000 Decoding Computer, marked a pivotal moment, proving that CDs could deliver musically engaging performance through innovations like proprietary upsampling filters, glass-fiber optics, and jitter-minimizing clocking.
The brand has long specialized in high-end digital audio components, particularly outboard digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and CD transports, with models like the di322 and di122 exemplifying their current focus on precision decoding. While early offerings transformed source playback, Wadia later expanded into integrated amplifiers such as the a315, maintaining a commitment to sophisticated digital signal processing over analog-heavy categories like speakers or turntables.
Positioned firmly in the ultra-high-end market, Wadia commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its pioneering role in elevating digital sound to rival analog warmth. Now under the McIntosh Group banner and based in Binghamton, New York, it remains a boutique force, appealing to collectors and purists who prioritize technological refinement in two-channel systems.
See all Wadia listings on RADAR.
HiFi Forsale
Good
StereoNET
audio-markt.de
Good
audio-markt.de
Good
DE
Hifitörget
SE
audio-markt.de
Good
