Rockna WaveLight DAC
High-end DAC built by true enthusiasts with a solid engineering background
The DAC is based on an FPGA chip, the latest Xilinx 7 series, contrary to relying on an off-the-shelf DAC. By choosing this solution, Rockna achieves exceptional performance, simulating a hardware chip with software - and gains an entirely different processor power than otherwise. One of the most essential things for Rockna in developing the Wavelight DAC has been to maintain a distinctly analog sound from any digital source. And we must say that the result is far beyond what we had thought possible!
The harmony between instruments is instinctively right. Details and definitions flow across the full frequency range as if you had your ear next to the instruments. Voices sound so natural that you sometimes will doubt if they are actually in the room with you. Wavelight is, in our eyes, a bit of a milestone in terms of DAC's with its ultra-natural glow and seamless, silky smooth rendition of the music.
In addition to the advanced Xilinx FPGA solution, the digital section offers advanced jitter elimination via memory buffers and DPLL circuits before the signal is finally reclocked using their Femtovox2 technology. But the digital part can be quite excellent without a competent analog section, and this is where many manufacturers fail. But Rockna has gone all-in and uses, among other things, fully analog volume control that is controlled digitally, as well as dual toroidal transformers that supply power to the digital and analog circuits. 100,000 uF of capacity ensures an extreme overhead of super-clean and precise voltage supply. Do we need to mention that all components are carefully selected according to their audiophile properties? No, we thought so.
Rockna Wavelight sounds clean - and maybe at first much cleaner than you are used to. Gone are the digital glare, nasal midrange, and a pushy bass, and left are just instruments' natural attack, rhythm, and presence. Without a doubt, it is not a DAC for mid-range setups, but if you are looking for the perfect "non-digital" DAC for a serious high-end setup, this is undoubtedly a contender.
| Measurements | 43 x 5,5 x 30 cm |
| Weight (net) | 7 kg |
| Input, optical (TosLink) | 1 |
| Input, coaxial (S/Pdif) | 1 |
| Input, USB | 1 |
| Input, AES/EBU | 1 |
| Input, Stereo RCA | 1 |
| Output, Stereo RCA | 1 |
| Output, Stereo XLR | 1 |
| Output, Headphone | No |
| App Control | Yes, iOS & Android |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 117 dB |
| Audio decoding | DSD64 / 2.8 MHz, DSD128 / 5.6 MHz, DSD256 / 11.2 MHz, DSD512 / 22.5 MHz |
| Supported sample rates, kHz | 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352, 384 |
| Supported bit depth | 16 bit, 24 bit, 32 bit |
| Audio chipset | Xilinx Spartan7 |
| In the box | Power cable, Users guide |