Excellent DAC, the GoldenSound edition features are great, I particularly enjoy the Spatial Enhancement and Impact+ modes with my ZMF Atrium. Build quality is excellent and fits well with the rest of my Ferrum Stack.
Ferrum Audio
Ferrum WANDLA 2.0 DAC - GoldenSound Edition
Regular price
$3,695
Sale price
$3,695
Regular price
$3,695.00
Unit price
per
Bestseller
Ferrum Audio
Ferrum WANDLA 2.0 DAC - GoldenSound Edition
Ferrum WANDLA 2.0 DAC - GoldenSound Edition
Regular price
$3,695
Sale price
$3,695
Regular price
$3,695.00
Unit price
per
Pre-pay to reserve
Back-order items usually ship within several weeks
No Fee 365-Day Returns*
Don’t love it to start? Don't worry, you have 365-days to return with no fees*.
Breakthrough technologies make this DAC a can't miss!
Connectivity
More information
Connectivity refers to the method in which the headphones connect to the audio source. Headphones can be either wired or wireless.
Connectivity refers to the method in which the headphones connect to the audio source. Headphones can be either wired or wireless.
Wired
Portability
More information
DACs and amplifiers can either be carried around or meant for static desktop use
DACs and amplifiers can either be carried around or meant for static desktop use
Not Portable
Description
The Ferrum Audio WANDLA 2.0 GoldenSound Edition is the most refined version yet of one of the most compelling DAC/preamp platforms in personal audio. It starts with the original Ferrum WANDLA, a fully balanced desktop DAC/preamp known for its transparency, flexibility, and system-building potential. From there, the story becomes more specific. In collaboration with Cameron Oatley, better known as GoldenSound, Ferrum created the WANDLA GoldenSound Edition, a version that introduced exclusive sound-shaping features designed to give listeners more control over bass impact, harmonic character, and spatial presentation.
WANDLA 2.0 GoldenSound Edition builds directly on that collaboration. It takes the GoldenSound Edition features Cameron helped bring to the platform and refines them into a more flexible, more developed, and more complete listening tool. The result is not a departure from the original WANDLA or a reset of the GoldenSound Edition. It is the strongest expression yet of that combined vision: Ferrum’s high-performance DAC/preamp platform paired with GoldenSound-driven tuning features that make a meaningful difference in real-world listening.
Key Features
- Fully balanced DAC/preamp based on Ferrum Audio’s WANDLA platform
- GoldenSound Edition collaboration with Cameron Oatley, aka GoldenSound
- Gen 2 Impact+ with seven selectable profiles for bass weight and dynamics
- Gen 2 Tube Mode with five tube-inspired harmonic profiles
- Gen 2 Spatial Enhancement with headphone and speaker modes plus Transient Compensation
- Elevated digital headroom for greater immunity to intersample overs
- Hardware-level output voltage adjustment for better amplifier matching
- ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DAC architecture
- Optimized digital inputs including USB-C, I2S, ARC, AES, coaxial S/PDIF, and optical S/PDIF
- Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA line outputs
- Digital and analogue volume control
- Ferrum Power Link compatibility with HYPSOS and 4TSD voltage sensing
- Remote control included
The WANDLA Lineup Explained
The original WANDLA is Ferrum’s core DAC/preamp platform. It established the foundation with balanced architecture, optimized digital inputs, high-end conversion, and the kind of clean, composed presentation that works across a wide range of systems.
The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition took that base platform and added a new layer of functionality developed through collaboration with Cameron Oatley, aka GoldenSound. That version introduced three exclusive features that made the product stand apart: Impact+, Tube Mode, and Spatial Enhancement. Each one was designed to give listeners more control over how the system feels, not just how it measures.
The WANDLA 2.0 GoldenSound Edition is the latest evolution of that same idea. It keeps the original WANDLA strengths, keeps the GoldenSound Edition identity, and further refines the three signature GoldenSound features with more profiles, more adjustment, and more useful control across different headphones, speakers, and recordings.
What’s New in WANDLA 2.0 GoldenSound Edition
The biggest Gen 2 improvements are centered on the three features that define the GoldenSound Edition experience: Impact+, Tube Mode, and Spatial Enhancement. These were already the reason the GoldenSound Edition felt distinct from the standard WANDLA. Gen 2 simply makes them more capable.
Impact+ now offers seven distinct profiles, giving you more ways to tune low-end presence and punch depending on your system and the music you listen to. Tube Mode now includes five tube-inspired harmonic profiles, so you can move beyond a single warmth setting and choose the character that best fits your chain. Spatial Enhancement now adds Transient Compensation, along with separate headphone and speaker modes, for a more natural and convincing sense of depth and imaging. Ferrum also notes that Gen 2 adds elevated digital headroom, hardware-level output voltage adjustment, and continued support for HYPSOS pairing through Ferrum Power Link.
GoldenSound Edition Features
Impact+ is the feature that gives the GoldenSound Edition more low-end authority without reducing it to a simple bass boost. The goal is not just more bass. It is more convincing bass weight and dynamic presence. In Gen 2, Impact+ expands into seven selectable profiles: Reference, Ref+, Smooth, Kick+, DD-Comp, DD-Comp+, and Sub-Bass. That makes it easier to tune the presentation around the specific headphone, speaker, or recording in front of you.
Tube Mode brings tube-style harmonic richness to the WANDLA platform without requiring you to add a separate tube stage. The original GoldenSound Edition introduced this idea as a way to add a touch of sweetness and body. Gen 2 develops it further with five tube-inspired profiles based on well-known tube types, giving you more control over how much harmonic character you want and what kind of flavor it brings to the system.
Spatial Enhancement is one of the most distinctive GoldenSound Edition features because it is aimed at improving dimensionality and separation while keeping the presentation believable. Gen 2 expands that control with independent toggling, dedicated headphone and speaker modes, and Transient Compensation, which is designed to make the spatial effect sound more natural and more realistic.
Why This Version Matters
WANDLA 2.0 GoldenSound Edition matters because it gives you more than just a clean DAC/preamp. It gives you a more adaptable front end. Some systems need a little extra body. Some headphones benefit from better low-end punch. Some recordings open up when spatial cues are handled more carefully. The GoldenSound Edition features are valuable because they let you address those variables inside the DAC/preamp itself, without having to rebuild the rest of your chain.
That is what makes this version special. It combines the original WANDLA’s strong technical foundation with features that came from a creator-led collaboration and have now been refined into something even more useful. It is still recognizably WANDLA. It is still recognizably GoldenSound Edition. It is just better developed.
Core WANDLA Platform
Underneath the GoldenSound Edition features, WANDLA 2.0 remains a serious Ferrum DAC/preamp. It uses the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DAC, a fully balanced modified IC preamplifier stage, optimized digital inputs, digital and analogue volume control, and balanced XLR plus unbalanced RCA outputs. It also uses Ferrum’s SERCE digital audio system module and supports pairing with HYPSOS through the proprietary Ferrum Power Link connection. Ferrum’s Gen 2 materials also call out elevated digital headroom and hardware-level output voltage adjustment as part of the package.
Key Features
| Product Type | Fully balanced DAC/preamp |
| DAC Chip | ESS Sabre ES9038PRO |
| GoldenSound Collaboration | Exclusive GoldenSound Edition features developed through collaboration with Cameron Oatley, aka GoldenSound |
| Gen 2 Impact+ | Seven selectable profiles for bass weight and dynamics with adjustable strength |
| Gen 2 Tube Mode | Five tube-inspired harmonic profiles with adjustable effect level |
| Gen 2 Spatial Enhancement | Headphone and speaker modes with Transient Compensation |
| Digital Headroom | Elevated digital headroom for greater immunity to intersample overs |
| Output Voltage Adjustment | Hardware-level switching between higher and lower output voltage settings |
| Digital Inputs | USB-C, coaxial S/PDIF, optical S/PDIF, AES, ARC, and I2S |
| Line Outputs | Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA |
| Volume Control | Digital and analogue volume control |
| HYPSOS Support | Ferrum Power Link compatibility with 4TSD voltage sensing |
| Included Accessory | Remote control included |
What’s in the Box
- Ferrum Audio WANDLA 2.0 GoldenSound Edition DAC/preamp
- Power cord
- Remote control
- USB cable
- AC/DC power adapter
Our review
Video review
Reviews
Pre-pay to reserve
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 6 reviews.
I’ve had the Ferrum WANDLA in my system for about two weeks now. I placed the order with Headphones.com back in January, but given its immense popularity, it took about three months for them to restock. The silver lining to the wait? During that time, Ferrum announced the GoldenSound Edition Gen 2, and I was thrilled to find out the firmware upgrade to access the new features was completely free. I always try to temper my expectations when it comes to the "sound" of modern digital-to-analog converters, knowing the margins of difference can often be razor-thin. What initially drew me to the WANDLA wasn't just the promise of audio nirvana, but its incredible versatility. I wanted to drastically streamline my front end. Thanks to the WANDLA's massive array of inputs—specifically the inclusion of HDMI ARC—I was able to replace three separate units with this single, elegant box. I now run a headless Mac Mini (serving as my dedicated Roon Core) directly into the USB and my TV into the ARC port, feeding my Pass Labs X2.5 / X250.5 amplification and JMLab Micro Utopias. It stripped all the "fat" out of my system architecture while maintaining a flawless, bit-perfect streaming experience. First off, the user experience is phenomenal. It is one of the rare high-end audio components that actually behaves like a modern, intelligent device. It automatically wakes up when it detects a signal and flawlessly switches to the active input. You can also set an auto-standby timer to shut it down after the signal stops. The touchscreen interface is incredibly smooth, and Ferrum thoughtfully embedded text descriptions for each menu option directly into the UI, meaning you don't have to keep a manual on your lap to understand what you are adjusting. The Gen 2 firmware update is where things get truly interesting. It introduces a "Digital Input Trim," which is brilliant for cleanly adjusting the headroom of incoming hot digital signals by the decibel to prevent clipping. But what I was most eager to test was the overhauled Tube Mode. Gen 2 expands on the original even-order harmonic distortion by allowing you to select emulations of five specific tube types (like the EL34, 300B, and KT88). The differences are noticeable but tasteful and subtle. It never dips into artificial or "gimmicky" territory. I need more time to assess exactly which profile is the absolute sweet spot for my speakers, but having that flexibility in the digital domain is fantastic. The physical build quality is rock solid and appropriately dense; it looks and feels like a top-tier component. And while I am not currently utilizing the analog inputs, I love that the WANDLA acts as a true preamplifier, giving me the option to seamlessly integrate a turntable down the road. Lastly, a massive practical bonus: the WANDLA uses a universal 100-240V power supply. As someone planning an eventual permanent relocation to Japan, knowing I can take this unit with me and plug it straight into the wall without needing a bulky step-down transformer is a huge relief. If you are looking to declutter a complex digital chain without compromising an ounce of resolution or daily convenience, the WANDLA is in a class of its own. Highly recommended.
So it is destined for the Hypsos/Oor stack with the Eversolo A8 as the streamer, connecting to the Wandla GSE via I2S. Haven’t done that yet because first I want to test it with signature Pro iCan and Susvara to compare the real tube mode on iCan with the simulated tube mode on the GSE . Haven’t done yet either but right now it is connected to the iCan with an iPads Pro as the streamer. I am listening with Sennheiser HD800§ headphones it sounds great! During the holidays is a good time to go slow. 🙂
Great DAC that has added a nice fuller sound to any headphone AMP I have plugged it into IMO and has just made listening to music even more enjoyable than I thought possible. I also like the added features of the Golden Sound Edition that I feel are useful to adjust the sound to what you more prefer and just fun to experience. Love it
Absolutely stunned with the WANDLA. I used it initially with a Burson Conductor 3X Reference, bypassing the Burson's DAC, and I was already quite impressed with how revealing I found the sound. The OOR was back-ordered but I got lucky and it came in sooner than expected. I really appreciate the synergy between the OOR and WANDLA. I am hearing details in the recordings that were already there, but until I heard them on this new stack I never really noticed them. A new level of enjoyment of my music has been unlocked!
In short: The Ferrum WANDLA GoldenSound Edition is a versatile beast of a DAC that combines technicalities with fun new features! It is the best DAC that I have had the pleasure of listening to, and if you would like to read more about my experience, my thoughts are found below :) --------------------------------------------------------------- After more than a month of use, these are my genuine and honest subjective impressions: - It is very resolving without sounding digital or fatiguing. Comparing to the closely priced ADI-2/4 Pro SE which also uses the same ES9038Pro, the Wandla sounds much more natural and better defined in the bass, mids, treble, transients and spatial characteristics. - I continue to get impressed with the sound presentation, as it shows clearly the space where recordings seem to have taken place, which is something that I thought it was exclusive to Chord DACs... About the new features: - Tube Mode: it is fun! Specially when listening to vocals but I really enjoy the separation between instruments, so I use it occasionally when I would like a sweater sound in the midrange. - Impact+: it does kick! If your headphones are linear in the bass, they will respond well to this feature! If they are not, the bass lift will be welcomed for sure. - Spatial Enhancement: it does work in both headphones and speakers! It is noticeable and not that subtle. It is probably one of the most clever implementations around after trying several ones in hardware and software. It is not perfect but it gets close! Different intensities in the HP mode would be an awesome addition! (my wish) - Extended Digital Headroom and Board Revision 4: somehow the board revision 4 sounds a bit more alive from my memory of the previous board 3 of the Wandla that I used to own. Not sure if the extended digital headroom in the GSE is also playing its part here. - No MQA: I never used MQA so... I am glad the DSP is being used to focus on the other features. - Hypsos: in my system without power conditioners, Hypsos did make an impact in the sound of the Wandla, making it a bit more dynamic and improving the sense of ease to deliver the subtle nuances in the recordings. I also tried the Hypsos with the RME, and to my surprise, there was not much of an improvement. Conclusions (so far): The WANDLA GSE is a lovely and resolving DAC that adds a bit more customization to the sound of your setup than the regular WANDLA. It is not cheap but its versatility and sound quality is better than the previous DACs that I have used. Happy to recommend it! ;)