WAXWING Phono Preamp： The ULTIMATE VINYL UPGRADE!
United States of Analog | September 14, 2024
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
The host Bob is reviewing the Waxwing DSP Phono Preamp from Parks Audio, a digital sound processing phono preamp that costs around $500. He anticipates this will be polarizing to vinyl purists since it processes analog vinyl signals digitally, but he’s been enjoying experimenting with it despite going against traditional analog audio philosophy.
What gear, products, or brands are discussed?
- Waxwing DSP Phono Preamp by Parks Audio – $500 plus shipping, created by Shannon at Parks Audio. Functions as both a DAC and ADC (analog to digital converter). Very light and compact design with no front LED, just a logo. All controls are handled through an app.
- Host mentions his current phono preamps are around $150 or less [00:02:22]
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- Generally agrees that the shortest path between record and speakers is best, but enjoys experimenting with new equipment [00:01:12-00:01:24]
- Acknowledges vinyl has inherent flaws like “pops and clicks and warps and clicks and pops and scratches and surface noise” [00:02:54-00:03:02]
- Skeptical when people claim their turntables have no surface noise: “I don’t know if I completely believe that” [00:03:15]
- Says the Waxwing “goes a long way to solving some of the problems I encounter playing vinyl” and can “mitigate some of those vinyl catastrophes” [00:03:23-00:03:29]
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- Advocates for an audiophile world “with no audio gatekeeping” where “analog and digital live hand-in-hand without any hi-fi snobbery” that “encourages experimentation and fun” [00:00:33-00:00:48]
- Calls the Waxwing a “little fun factory” and says he’s been “having a ton of fun with this device” [00:01:53]
Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?
- Opening line: “I just listened to some vinyl through my DAC. I know, I’m a bad, bad man.” [00:00:00-00:00:05]
- “I should run for president” after describing his ideal audiophile world [00:00:52]
- Calls the Waxwing a “little fun factory” [00:01:53]
- Lists vinyl flaws repetitively: “pops and clicks and warps and clicks and pops and scratches” then admits “I’m not painting a very pretty picture” [00:02:54-00:03:05]
Summary
Host Bob opens his review of the Waxwing DSP Phono Preamp with a playful confession about listening to vinyl through his DAC, immediately setting a tone that challenges audiophile orthodoxy. He envisions an “imaginary world” free of audio gatekeeping where analog and digital coexist peacefully, anticipating that his review of a digital signal processing phono preamp will be controversial among vinyl purists who prefer the shortest signal path from record to speakers.
The Waxwing, created by Shannon at Parks Audio and priced around $500, functions as both a phono preamp with digital sound processing and an ADC/DAC combination unit. Bob acknowledges that while he generally agrees with the purist approach, he enjoys experimenting with new equipment that adds “a little kink into the works.” A subscriber recommended the device when Bob mentioned needing a better phono preamp than his current sub-$150 options.
Despite the potential controversy, Bob is enthusiastic about the Waxwing’s ability to address common vinyl playback issues. He candidly lists vinyl’s inherent problems—pops, clicks, warps, scratches, and surface noise—while expressing skepticism toward those who claim perfect, noise-free turntable performance. The compact, minimalist device can be hidden in a system since all controls are app-based, and Bob describes it as a “fun factory” that helps “mitigate some of those vinyl catastrophes” he encounters during playback.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this portion?
- Waxwing phono preamp [00:03:49-00:07:36]
- Puffin (previous device from same manufacturer) [00:04:04]
- TI-5102A DAC (internal component) [00:04:13]
- Josheli Labs Daisy DAC (custom-built) [00:06:30]
- Black Ice Audio tube amplifier [00:06:39]
What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?
- The Waxwing provides unprecedented control over vinyl listening experience [00:06:49-00:07:03]
- Despite being “heresy” to digitize analog signals, it works well without significant sound compromise [00:06:16-00:07:14]
- The device offers excellent value for the control and features it provides [00:07:17-00:07:24]
- Plans to create additional content exploring the device’s capabilities [00:07:26-00:07:36]
Were there any listening tests or sound quality observations described?
- Host reports the sound is not compromised “that much, if any, at least to my ears” when using the digital processing chain [00:07:10-00:07:14]
- Successfully tested with custom Josheli Labs Daisy DAC and Black Ice Audio tube amplifier [00:06:28-00:06:43]
Any audiophile tips, advice, or how-to content?
- The app connects via Bluetooth and contains extensive adjustment options [00:04:24-00:04:29]
- Multiple gain settings available for different cartridges [00:04:45-00:04:48]
- Settings can be saved and shared between users [00:04:48-00:04:50]
- Device can measure turntable speed and check cartridge azimuth [00:06:07-00:06:15]
Any memorable quotes or strong takes?
- “I know it shouldn’t work but it does” [00:06:43-00:06:46]
- “For the first time, felt like I was playing vinyl. That the vinyl wasn’t playing me” [00:06:49-00:06:54]
- “I know, I’m a bad, bad man” [regarding the digital processing chain] [00:06:35-00:06:39]
- “I know that the Waxwing for many sounds like heresy” [00:06:16-00:06:21]
Summary
This portion focuses on the technical features and capabilities of the Waxwing phono preamp, which the host describes as an evolution of the previous Puffin device. The unit features comprehensive digital processing capabilities controlled via a Bluetooth smartphone app, including extensive EQ options, noise reduction (“magic” feature), record grading functionality, and the ability to emulate different audio equipment like tube amps and tape decks. The host emphasizes the device’s versatility in measuring turntable performance and managing cartridge settings.
Despite acknowledging that digitizing an analog vinyl signal might be considered “heresy” by purists, the host strongly defends the Waxwing’s approach. He argues that the slight compromise in maintaining a pure analog signal path is more than offset by the unprecedented control the device provides over the vinyl listening experience. The host particularly appreciates features like automatic pop and click reduction and the ability to grade record condition.
The host’s overall verdict is highly positive, describing how the Waxwing made him feel like he was “playing vinyl” rather than “vinyl playing him” for the first time. He views the enhanced control over the listening experience as well worth any theoretical audio compromises, and plans to create additional content exploring the device’s extensive feature set in greater detail with different audio components.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion:
- Waxwing phono preamp by Parks Audio [00:08:06, 00:10:30]
- The Puffin – an earlier, more mechanical version mentioned as comparison [00:08:50]
- Generic mention of tube and solid-state phono preamps [00:07:52]
What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion:
[00:08:30] The host calls the Waxwing “novel” with “real advantages” and emphasizes it’s “a hell of a lot of fun.” [00:09:29, 00:09:31] He believes the $500 price point is justified for the features and flexibility offered. [00:09:09-00:09:16]
Final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider:
Consider/Buy – [00:09:29] The host states “I think there are real advantages here” and acknowledges he hadn’t spent that much on a phono preamp before but sees value in this one. [00:09:21-00:09:29]
Final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers:
- [00:10:13-00:10:18] The host suggests spending hours experimenting with the Waxwing and taking albums off the shelf to test the grading feature
- [00:10:01-00:10:10] Encourages viewers to “have some fun” and “experiment with audio” rather than being overly rigid about purist approaches
- [00:09:21] Acknowledges that $500 might be too much for some people’s phono preamp budget
How did the video wrap up:
[00:10:29-00:11:00] Standard YouTube outro encouraging viewers to click on the next suggested video, thanking them for watching, and signing off with “We’ll see you next time in the United States of analog.”
Memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions:
- [00:09:31] “And the wax wing is a hell of a lot of fun.”
- [00:09:58-00:10:09] “I’m just saying, let’s have some fun once in a while. Let’s loosen our… Well, I don’t want to get graphic here, but let’s just loosen some things in our body and have some fun. Experiment with audio.”
- [00:10:22-00:10:26] “You’re going to have a closer relationship to your vinyl than ever before. That’s what I love about it.”
Summary:
In this final portion, the host provides his comprehensive evaluation of the Parks Audio Waxwing phono preamp, positioning it as a uniquely flexible device that allows users to adjust sonic characteristics from warm to airy to neutral. He presents six key advantages using his “golden workbook” format, highlighting its novelty, user control, effective grading and “magic” features, simplified setup compared to the previous Puffin model, perfect cartridge matching capabilities, and reasonable $500 price point for the features offered.
The host acknowledges potential pushback from audio purists regarding the digital processing in an analog system but advocates for a more experimental, fun-focused approach to audio. He emphasizes that the Waxwing will encourage users to spend hours re-exploring their vinyl collection and develop a closer relationship with their records through the grading and adjustment features.
The video concludes with the host’s enthusiastic endorsement of the Waxwing as both sonically advantageous and genuinely entertaining to use. He invites viewer discussion about digital components in analog systems while maintaining his position that audiophiles should occasionally prioritize enjoyment and experimentation over rigid adherence to purist principles, wrapping up with a standard YouTube outro directing viewers to additional content.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
