Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition
Combining natural, high-resolution sound with a deeply layered stage, the GoldenSound Edition makes an ESS-based DAC feel anything but clinical. StereoNET heard textured, weighty bass and precise staging, while Joshua Valour praised its coherent timbre. Its tunable DSP, expansive connectivity and analogue-preamp flexibility make this a remarkably adaptable digital hub for ambitious systems.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
91/100
Build Quality
88/100
Features Connectivity
90/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Natural, detailed presentation with coherent timbre and none of the sterility often associated with ESS DAC implementations.
Deep, three-dimensional soundstage with accurate instrument placement, strong separation and finely resolved low-level detail.
Extensive connectivity and genuinely useful sound-shaping options, including Impact+, tube mode and spatial enhancement.
Cons
The standard ESS filter options can introduce a slight glare; the HQ filters were preferred for their greater coherence and balance.
Spatial enhancement can widen the presentation, but may slightly soften centre-image precision on some material.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
Reviewers describe a highly natural, coherent and musically convincing presentation that retains substantial detail and spatial information. The GoldenSound filters are repeatedly credited with adding smoothness, balance and freedom from sterility, although some alternative filter choices can introduce a hint of glare.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
91/100
Headfonics found its natural-to-neutral balance compatible with a broad range of amplifiers, while StereoNET heard welcome warmth alongside weighty, textured and well-defined bass. Joshua Valour called it one of the most natural-sounding DACs he has heard, citing clear, coherent timbre without harshness or grit; Z Reviews did find it somewhat brighter than preferred.
Resolution and Detail
92/100
StereoNET praised the high detail and resolution for remaining free of ESS-associated sterility, highlighting crisp guitar transients, vocal texture and subtle low-level information. HiFi News likewise heard plentiful information retrieval, pinpoint timing and microdetail that vividly described recorded space, while Joshua Valour found no evident oversharpening, detail loss or dynamic-range limitation.
Digital Performance
89/100
The processor-equipped platform offers considerable filter and DSP flexibility, with StereoNET noting extra processing headroom intended to avoid clipping and distortion at full output. HiFi News found the HQ Gaussian and Apodising filters improved coherence and balance, but also reported a hint of glare from the standard ESS filters; Z Reviews additionally noted some audible noise-floor presence.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
The stainless-steel, powder-coated chassis and corten-steel side panel give the unit a substantial, distinctive construction, while HiFi News praised the sturdy enclosure and pristine internal PCB layout. Joshua Valour considered it confidently well made and Z Reviews singled out the smooth, responsive touchscreen implementation, though Joshua did not find the physical build exceptional for its asking price.
Features Connectivity
90/100
Connectivity is unusually extensive, including USB-C, optical, coaxial, AES, I2S, HDMI ARC/CEC, balanced XLR and RCA outputs, plus an analogue RCA input with home-theater bypass capability. It supports PCM to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 via USB and I2S, while the touchscreen, volume control and broad selection of filters and GoldenSound DSP options make it particularly adaptable.
Value for Money
85/100
Reviews place the WANDLA around £2,800 to $3,300, where its rich connectivity, configurable processing and preamplifier functions help support the premium. StereoNET calls it an excellent converter, especially within a Ferrum stack, while Joshua Valour characterises it as a product that will be exactly right for some buyers rather than a universal purchase.
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Specifications
Manufacturer's Description — Ferrum
WANDLA’s sound signature and its unique features like Dynamic Digital Filtering appeal to many music lovers all over the world. But what if we could tailor WANDLA even more? This was exactly what our talented design team had in mind when they started to think outside the box once again. Reaching out to the head-fi community they came into contact with renowned head-fi and high-end audio expert Cameron Oatley from GoldenSound. After an intensive period of braining, research and development they came up with the idea for WANDLA GoldenSound Edition which actually converts WANDLA to cater specific needs. Wandla GoldenSound Edition has some extra features created in partnership with Cameron Oatley from GoldenSound.
In the box :
1x Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition dac/pre-amp
1x power cord
1x remote control
1x USB cable
1x AC/DC power adapter
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Authorized dealers for Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition
- The Audio Association — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- Aalen Hifi — in-store — Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Wurtemberg, Germany (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Affair — online and in-store — Deritend, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Art Cable — online and in-store — San Diego, California, United States (website)
- Audio Destination — online and in-store — Tiverton, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio essence — online and in-store — Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Audio Sanctuary — in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Venue — online and in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 48 more verified dealers