*Highly Recommended* Mind Blowing Features in a Phono Pre-Amp - Parks Audio WaxWing (Episode 197)

[@MichaelAmster]

I own a Waxwing and have played a lot with it. I replaced a very expensive Herron VTPH-2A phono stage. One thing to highlight with unit is the test section is probably a better set of tools to tune your analog setup than anything else out there. You can get very accurate speed, channel balance, azimuth that would take $100s of dollars in tools to get right.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@MichaelAmster you’re right! I didn’t thoroughly test that feature but thanks for pointing it out!

[@DragnetSound]

Got to say this is an awesome 👍 product . I have had it for about a month now and I'm completely amazed how it sounds. So many settings through Bluetooth making it easy to setup. Highly recommended.

[@forestjose]

Thanks for the video. One question: Does the puffin works (Improves audio quality) with a streamer? Say for example, the cambridge CXN? Thanks!

[@novisnick6928]

Great review of a very i interesting phono preamp. Seems he has a passion for this versatile product. Thanks so much David!

[@rexdiamond]

I don't have an audiophile setup, but it's a nice home theater setup. My AVR (Sony STR-AZ3000ES) has rca analog inputs as well as optical inputs. Which input would be best to use for this phono preamp?

[@I-Libertine]

i have really wanted to try this out. it sounds like a lot of fun.

[@davidhanna88]

Thanks for the video!

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

What counts is that you are happy with it .

[@davidhanna88]

This is on my short list to get.

[@Grooverski]

Thought about reviewing it. Sounds like a great option for not a whole lot of money.

[@Bootradr]

Thanks for the video David. I have never bought or owned a phono preamp and I think I was mistaken on what performance in audio enhancements they actually can provide. I've still got questions and would like to learn a little more about them. But I am interested in getting one and this one sounds like it might be the right one to invest in? Thanks again for the video talking about the Waxwing. Brian in Fort Worth 🎶

[@LonesomeTwin]

Odd that there are no plans for future models. In practical use this will purely be used as a phono pre-amp, although it clearly has the capability to be a 'complete' pre-amp, it only lacks the switchable inputs and manual volume control to accomplish. I imagine the inbuilt DAC is capable of handling a wide range of input bit-rates, so with just a little extra hardware the external extra units for pulling in other sources could be replaced. Once that's done, the next goal would be streaming, and so on. So don't rest on those laurels Shannon, onward and upward!!

[@automatedelectronics6062]

As I've been saying over the years, every preamp is going to produce a different sound. The Waxwing has some cool features and it's great that it can be updated for free. If I understand it correctly, it will address the clicks and pops? I digitize alot of records and have been using a computer program, after the recording, to remove ticks and pops. It works well most of the time but sometimes it messes up the sound. My mixing board has a built-in preamp, but it can be bypassed to use line-level input. If a device, like the Waxwing, can remove the ticks and pops, in real time, that would be great and a real time saver. Does it address the surface noise caused by friction between the groove and the stylus? That noise annoys me almost as much as the ticks and pops.

[@revelry1969]

Cool. I tried out a waxwing. It was cool and the interface great. I wish he had a “true bypass” for quick A/B check. I tried to match my Rega Aria mkiii. It’s definitely a great little device. But I found it just didn’t hang with a straight forward phono stage. I could see how a newer budding audiophile would like this. The magic feature was pretty cool and good but will get better as he develops it. I have been using a Sweet Vinyl Sugar Cube…and it sounds very transparent. In the end the waxwing went back. But not because it wasn’t great…it just wasn’t good enough to replace my existing setup. I did hear some slight digital artifacting. Maybe he could build one using the AKM chipset ADC to try help with this. I have found the AKM to be best for this. Maybe I will try the waxwing again as he progresses on the tech. It’s a great device for $500.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@revelry1969 the sugarcube is the top unit for sure but $$$ :) I think this has a great blend of features and functionality for the $. I’m sure there are plenty of higher $ units which will best this unit. But comparing it to a similarly priced standalone unit, it held up and gave some additional capabilities. Thanks for your comments!

[@inspector7756]

Could you elaborate on how the aria 3 sounded better? Thx!

[@alrightnow1124]

Are you running yours digital our or analog out to your preamp?😮

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@alrightnow1124 analog out for the moment…

[@bentonpix]

The user interface aside, does the WaxWing sound the same or better as the Puffin?

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@bentonpix I don’t have a Puffin to compare. Based on Shannon Parks responses, I believe this unit is essentially a Puffin with a new interface from a sonic standpoint.

[@analoguecity3454]

It's not that digital is a problem, it's the lower resolution of the early digital! 44.1 16 bit is really good, but it's too low! 96/24 is far superior and you can hear it! It's like the background comes forward, and you have a "room ambiance" that Redbook 44.1/16!😊

[@ernestporee3697]

It's better to hear about something other than DACs and streaming !

[@Audiojunkabus]

I prefer the prior model that I have had for years. -- has a screen (Puffin)

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@Audiojunkabus it seems like the units are similar but the Puffin reached a limit of feature expansion given the interface

[@Tendervittle]

Love mine - finger licking good

[@AmazonasBiotop]

Finally!😂 "Scared of the WORD digital?" Yes, it is just a word and therefore a way to fog our brain..😂🎉 Low bar to see if it can meat a analog device in sonically. It were "as good" as the analog device sonically judging by the KZbinr and his friend. That ment that they could not hear a difference.. it might be better sonically but who knows where there were limitations in that system and room.😅 Anyway if we determine it is at least on par with his reference analog riia stage. Then we can EASILY say that the waxwing is better! 🎉 In the simple reason that it can do and measure your pickup setup and make your pickup alignment better plus all the other stuff that were mentioned.❤ Remember that this device were as we heard developed by a guy that started off with tube riias!🎉 What a great interview! Thanks ❤ Welcome to 21th century.😉

[@George-sc2mk]

It's a clever, intuitive product, especially for those who hanker for the dsp. But its virtues are exaggerated in all the unbalanced reviews that encouraged me to buy it. It was outclassed by my Graham Slee phono stage - the Waxwing was closed in and lacking resolution in comparison.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

Which model Graham Slee do you have?