THE WATTSON AUDIO MADISON STREAMING DAC IS A MADE IN SWITZERLAND ULTRA COMPACT MODEL

Wattson Audio of Switzerland has announced the release of its second audio product, the ultra-compact Wattson Audio Madison streaming DAC.

The new Wattson Audio Madison DAC/streamer has a small footprint, minimalist design, and is entirely made in Switzerland, the case being CNC machined from a solid aluminium block.

The Wattson Audio Madison Streaming DAC

SWISS MADE

In addition to integrating the brand’s proprietary streaming interface, the Wattson Audio Madison incorporates a dual mono DAC, digital inputs, LEEDH Processing lossless digital volume control and a headphone output.

The Wattson Audio Madison Streaming DAC on headphone duties

Its ergonomics are as simple as they are functional, allowing you to access all the features using either the Wattson Music app or to control it with the multi-function button on the front panel.

LEEDH PROCESSING

The Wattson Audio Madison features support for PCM and DSD high-definition formats. It has a new up-sampling process with time-domain optimization, a legacy of the Anagram Technology up-samplers. The lossless LEEDH Processing volume control allows for direct connection to power amplifiers. The adjustable bass response compensates for speaker placement near walls and the proprietary streaming solution is engineered by SA and is bit-perfect and asynchronous.

Wattson Audio Madison Streaming DAC with Boenicke speakers

Madison comprises one D/A converter chip per channel in dual differential mode, has fully-symmetric analogue output stages and very low-noise power supply circuits.

Rear view of the Wattson Audio Madison Streaming DAC

WATTSON AUDIO MADISON TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Network input: 100Mbit/s Ethernet

Digital inputs: 1x S/PDIF on RCA connector, PCM and 1x S/PDIF on TOSLink

Analogue outputs: 1x unbalanced on RCA connectors and 1x balanced on XLR

Headphone output: 6.35mm Jack connector

Supported compression formats: WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, WMA

Control protocols: UPnP/DLNA, AirPlay compatibility, Roon Ready³

Streaming services brought by the Wattson Music app: TIDAL¹, Qobuz², airable radios

Network streaming resolution: PCM up to 32-bit 384kHz, DSD up to 256x (11,2896MHz)

S/PDIF input resolution: PCM up to 24-bit 192kHz

RCA output level (0dB FS): 2,1V RMS

XLR output level (0dB FS): 4,2V RMS

Signal-to-noise, weighted (SNR-A): typ. 124dB

Harmonic distortion (THD+N, 0dB FS): typ. 0,001%

Headphone output: 2x 100mW on 32 ohms, 2x 25mW on 150 ohms

Dimensions (W x D x H): 6,9 x 7,3 x 1,9in (174 x 185 x 47mm)

Weight: 2,31lb (1050g)

Power supply: 5V DC, external, medical grade

Power consumption: 50mW (idle), 4,5 W (playing)

The Wattson Audio Madison Streaming DAC is very compact

WATTSON AUDIO MADISON PRICE

3199€ RRP

HiFi Pig Says: A perfectly compact piece of Swiss engineering, the inclusion of the LEEDH Processing volume control is very interesting.

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