The Audio Mirror Wave Tube DAC Review. Stunning HiFi.

The Audio Mirror Wave Tube DAC has me in Disbelief.

By Steve Huff

Ahhh, my fave component of a high end audio system…The DAC. I have tested and heard many of them. In fact. well over 100 (yes, one hundred) and in all price ranges from the lowest of prices ($50) to some in the very high end lane ($100k). I have truly heard so many of these boxes due to a few reasons but mainly because I do reviews here and due to this I get to hear a ton of them. Also, because I have heard what a truly special DAC can do for my system I know that these converters can sometimes bring huge shifts in the way my system sounds. The DAC I will be talking about today is one that does just this. It was and is a system transformer for me. Not all DACs can do this.

What does a DAC do within an audio system? The job of the DAC is to convert digital signals to analog so they can be played through our speakers. Not al DACs are created equal, even those using the same chips. Implementation is key with a DAC and while tech has evolved greatly over the years when it comes to these things, it appears some are creating these boxes that really can deliver an all out analog vibe from your digital music.

Back when I was I was a teen in the 80’s I listened to my albums every day and enjoyed the warmth and humanity of the vinyl experience. It’s been tough to find this sound within a digital streaming setup but it is possible, with the right DAC and setup. Beauty, emotion, connecting with the music…feeling it in your heart, soul and mind. Digital music does not have to sound sterile, flat, hard, grey or edgy and most DACs I have heard that can get to this level cost a ton, even up into the $100k+ lane.

The DAC here, the Wave Tube DAC is in no way one of the “cheap” varieties as with the Wave you may have to decide between a DAC or a used CAR, unless you are loaded up with cash and if so… then hold on, strap in and get ready for a ride. This is the DAC you may have been searching for all along. Seriously.

Sure, I have heard those $50 dac deals at Amazon (don’t do it) and even the now $100k+ Nagra HD DAC X graced my system for months in 2025. Up until now, the all out finest DAC I have heard for sound quality for my likes has been the $48k Nagra Tube DAC. The Nagra would be my top pick out of all I have heard and I even sort of preferred it to the much more pricey HD DAC X, but I did have the older version of the X. I wondered if the Wave could change my mind here, and best the Nagra. Hmmm, that’s a tall order indeed.

The Nagra tube DAC is gorgeous and is aesthetically perfect for my eyes. Looks, sound..it has it all for a mere $48k with power supply. 

Now before I continue let me say that I am 100% aware that all of this talk of $50k and $100k DACs is crazy talk for normal folks like you and me. The few that can own pieces like this are very few in the grand scheme of things and they are indeed a “niche” product, at least I think so. I can’t afford a $50k DAC but I still love hearing what they can do and I love seeking out audio products that can do amazing things for less. As in, I hoped one day to find a DAC that bested that $50K Nagra DAC in sound but cost way less. Have I succeeded here?

This Wave Tube DAC is the flagship top of the heap DAC over at Audio Mirror. The retail price of the Wave DAC is $22,000 and this is the best DAC Audio Mirror offers. Yes indeed, there are others offered there that are lower on the price totem pole so go with what you have a budget for.

I cannot and will not complain about cost as all audio companies offer something in the upper range, for those who want that bit of “extra”, and believe me, many do and many do seek out “the best” within this hobby, which again is quite small compared to other hobbies. Even so, I get emails all of the time … “What is the best you can buy, money no object”.

I was READY!

I was super excited to get the Wave DAC in to test it out as I have never heard an Audio Mirror offering.  I have heard amazing great things about their Tubadour line with many praising them on audio forums. They currently offer the Tubador IV, V and VI ranging from $5k to $9,990 and all have been very highly reviewed and praised by actual owners and the press as well. I have never heard the Tubadour line so lucky me, I get to jump right to the top of the mountain and hear the best on offer.

BTW, I do feel lucky to be able to hear this type of gear and in this case, it was something else indeed.

ALL DACS are not the SAME but MAYBE THEY CAN BE?

I have said this before but in my experience all DACs I have heard up to $500 sound very similar if not the same. DACs that cost $500 to say $2500 usually have a similar vibe as well but with differences, sure… but overall the same level of depth, width, etc. This goes for most built in DACs as well, those built into an integrated amp. Not all, but many.

Most DACs in the $2k and under range all have some of that digital glare, hardness and edge from chips such as those from AKM and SABRE, even if it is ever so slight. Some may never notice until they hear the system without these nasties and this is normal as we do not know what we haven’t heard or experienced. These DACs can sound spectacular but it does get better indeed, especially if one truly is seeking analog style performance from their digital music..or “The Best” analog conversion.

With the Wave, it is being said by some who own it on forums (I did some digging) that this DAC can out perform even the fanciest of Analog rigs. Hmmmm. Hardcore vinyl lovers would never agree but me, having no stake in the game says I would take the Wave DAC and a decent streamer any day over a vinyl rig. Mainly due to cost reasons to get into really great vinyl performance, maintenance and cost of the albums. With this said, the Wave DAC does sound amazing, but is it better than a great analog rig?

Does HIGH Price always mean “BETTER”?

Some say not to equate price with performance in audio but in the case of a DAC, the best I have heard, the ones that have been night and day and transformative have all been over $10k. I mean, the best to me means all out refinement, zero glare or edge, top tier imaging performance, full silence and full immersion with real bass performance, vs “one note” bass which I have heard often. 

Yea, DACs can do all of this, or at least help your system along and if everything else is in line with your HiFi such as room, speakers, amp, power, cables and streamer. If so, then a better DAC can really up the game. High prices do not always mean better (especially in speakers) but for DACs? In my experience, yea, the ones that cost more always seem to sound better.

At this moment I was listening at midnight and my thoughts were “HOLY SH*T THIS SOUNDS UNREAL” – T+A R300 speakers with the Dazzle and Audio Mirror Wave DAC. I had put 100 hours on the DAC by now and it was sounding like the most analog and holistically gorgeous DAC I have ever heard in my room. 

The High End DAC

DACs like the Nagra Tube and HD were and are spectacular but the price puts them out of reach for 99% of us, including me. They are but for a certain audience and that is that. The $14k Weiss 501 MKII is awesome and is also out of reach for me at retail price. That one, the Weiss, is super refined and smooth but you can get close to it with the $6k HIFi Rose RD 160 minus all of the DSP stuff. After I heard the Nagra DACs (or should I say that after they left the system) I have been seeking that sound ever since. I haven’t been able to find it, at least in the under $10k DACs I have heard. The T+A DAC 200 comes close under $10k but it’s not as full bodied or extended/open and luscious as the others.

The beautiful T+A Talis R300 is a stunning speaker and one I added to my reference setup, along with the Helios. Mine will be in silver. 

The Wave is not for all. 

When we get to some of these exotic $$$ DACs, well this is where things can get a bit strange. They can cost as much as a small house in a Rural USA town and many feel that all DACs sound the same. This is not in any way true of course. The subject of this review, the Wave DAC, is simply otherworldly and brings me back to those magical Nagra DACs but to be honest, I like the Audio Mirror more. Whoa, that’s a big statement but true, at least in the system I am listening to right now as I type these words. I can’t stop listening to the Wave and I also couldn’t stop with the Nagra. This is a sure sign you have something special.

When I listened to the Nagra I kept saying “I can’t believe this costs nearly $50k”. With the Wave I sit and say “Wow, this is so worth what it costs in the right system”.

They sound different but man this Wave DAC is simply pure magic in the system I have it placed in now. I can tell I have something next level as when this went in the system the performance, sound quality and immersion went up many levels from the $1800 Eversolo Z10 and $1800 Divinity DAC I had in before it. Those are $1800 pieces so sure, a $22k DAC should do this but this one was night and day. I didn’t have to sit and concentrate to hear the differences, they were immediate and easily noticed. Let me state that the Z10 and Divinity are wonderful DACs and if your system sits in the mid to high end range those will do just fine. If you have a system closer to $50-100k then the Wave is more in line with the rest of your system.

A big time audio dealer once told me he had a secret to building great systems. When I asked what that was he told me “Source is King” and to invest in your speakers, sure…but do not ever skimp on source or else the money you invested in your speakers may go to waste. He ranked the source (such as streamer/DAC or Turntable/Stage/Cart) higher than the amp saying a great DAC is essential to beautiful sound and he told me many DACs are made for big profit and others are made with passion. Always go with Passion he said. I agree and the Wave is made with such passion by Vlad who has been doing this for a long time. Audio Mirror is not a big corporate owned company, it’s run by a music lover who has been designing gear for decades.

Back on track. How was the Wave better than the $1800 DACs?

The Wave was immediately more refined, much better detail retrieval, much better separation of instruments, much better at digging out small inner details usually obscured by other dacs, zero hardness or edge, much more open, much larger soundstage (which is more like a soundscape) in width, height, depth and immersion that was a level 10 out of 10. The sound was just larger with more authority and was also more immersive indeed.

In comparison to the Wave I would give the Z10 an immersion score of 5 out of 10 and the Divinity a 6 out of 10. The Nagra Tube DAC a 9/10. All by direct comparison only, when you hear them back to back.

As a matter of fact, the system I am listening to right now as I write this is without question my all time fave system that I have ever placed in any of my rooms, ever. I may have said this before but it’s been a while and yea, it’s always possible to get “better” like when you hit the synergy jackpot and the planets align perfectly for you. This is one such setup.

This DAC is a huge part as to why and once you experience something like this it is very tough to go back. That’s the con of being an audio reviewer who truly loves this stuff. When the good stuff leaves you miss it and it’s hard to forget about.

The system as it sits now consists of the following:

The Dazzle Integrated amp from Kinki Studios and Vinshine Audio. ($8500 USD) – Detail, Power, Refinement, Effortless. This is becoming one of my fave integrated amps for so many reasons but do wish it had RCA sub outs and a cooler display. I will do an update mid 2026. 

The Audio Mirror Wave Tube DAC ($22k) – Unreal imaging, detail, soundstage and immersion. Very open, clean. Sucks you in for hours on end. Well, it did for me. 

Everoslo T8 Streaming Transport via USB to the Wave ($1300) – Does what I need it to do! Affordable but sounds so good and looks great as well. Add your DAC of choice. It does get better but expect to spend $3-$6k to do so. 

Fleetwood Sound Helios Speakers and Floor Stands ($6500) – So good, so immersive themselves. So HUGE in sound and uber real/live vibe. Puts you THERE. 

T+A Talis R300 Speakers ($10,900) – Aluminum Cab, All in house made Drivers, Germany made. Amazing Bass and one of the best stand mounts you can buy under $20k. 

Nordost Valhalla Speaker Cables  ($3k used) – My faves, the OG! Nuff said. I have tried so many and always stick with these. I prefer them to the V2 Valhalla as well. 

Puritan Audio PSM 156 NFR and the new Ground Master City Ultra for Power ($8500) – Next level power solution for high end systems. It just doesn’t get better for power conditioning and I have tried many up to $10k. 

This setup is simply sublime and full of magic in my 13X18 room no matter the speaker I am listening to. I feel the Audio Mirror and Speakers are the heart of this system. The sound is heavenly, divine, as immersive as I have ever heard and with the tallest, deepest and widest stage I have ever experienced with no fatigue. So nice.

It’s amazing what a single DAC could do within a system when everything meshes together in a holistic way. The Fleetwood Sound Helios and Talis R300 are my new reference small speakers after testing tons of small sized speakers to find what I liked best for my room and/or a small room as we may be moving in the spring and it would be a slightly smaller room for me if it pans out.

There were some great small speakers indeed but I dig the Fleetwood look, the sound and the old world build quality and charm. They know what they are doing over there and have a goal to bring real music listening back to people, in a passionate and holostic way.

The T+A are just simply some of best two way stand mounts ever, technically speaking and they are end game 100% for someone who wants a set of stand mount speakers. Of course there are also the Buchardt E50’s which are fast, smooth and also excellent stand mounts. The Triangle Magellan Duetto as well. Many great smaller speakers out there, so take your pick for your tastes and likes.

When I tested these two speakers (the T+A and Fleetwood) with other DACs they still sounded amazing. Nice and full and so open and immersive. With the Audio Mirror WAVE installed though, it’s simply next level for richness, an analog nature, nice body, superb inner detail retrieval, as immersive as 2 channel can get and a massive scale of sound.

ALL DACS SOUND THE SAME?

No, not true at all. Anyone who says this is lying or has never experienced this big change in what a DAC can do. Maybe they just look at “measurements” to judge gear. It is true but very bizarre indeed that many who trash DACs that cost more than a few hundred dollars never listen to them. Some people like to “measure’ a DAC and this in no way will ever tell you what a DAC will sound like. It’s not possible and to me it is silly.

Measure with the ears people, which is a lot of what Vlad at Audio Mirror does with his products when he designs them. It’s probably part of the reason that this DAC is so special. It was hand made, designed by one man who tweaked, tested and tested more util he was satisfied with what he created. Even he says his Wave DAC is many levels up from his Troubadour VI which is almost a $10k DAC.

NOTE: A DAC like the Wave or any of these pricey high end DACs really require a well tuned system and room for them to be worth it and to show what they can do. 

So before I talk about listening to the Wave let us talk about features, design and all of the tech stuff. 

The Audio Mirror WAVE DAC is made here in the USA by a guy who has been doing this stuff for 40 years. This DAC reminds me a bit of my Vinshine Audio Dazzle amp in looks except the Wave literally has a wave of metal across the front panel with curves and dips which give it a 3D tactile look and feel. It’s silver and it is quite large in size for a DAC. There is a small display in the front that will show bit rate and on the back it is kept simple. A USB in (which is the best input), Coax, Optical, AES and I2S. It plays all files, PCM or DSD, natively. There are two filters, slow or fast. Simple, easy and I love this.

I tested mainly with the USB input as even Vlad says to use the USB if you can. He also feels this is the best sounding input. I tested the Coax, AES and Optical and while all sounded end game amazing, the USB in was just a little more solid. The DAC has an attractive top plate as well with the Audio Mirror name carved into the metal. This is a hefty box with vibration isolation feet and a nice all metal remote that feels like luxury. That’s it. The design is simple and all you need to do is hook up your streamer and it’s ready to rock. No big menus to dig through and while there is a software based volume control you can defeat it by turning it all the way up, which is level 64 on the display. I would have preferred no volume control, as in a fixed output because the steps are quite dramatic anyway, going from soft to loud quickly. I just disabled it and it was as easy as that.

When you power up the WAVE DAC it will take a minute or so before it warms up. When it does it will emit a soft click which tells you the tubes have warmed up and it is ready to play. When I first installed it I thought it was broken as I was playing music and no sound was coming out. I then read it takes a minute to warm up before clicking on, lol. Also, speaking of tubes, yes..this is a full fledged tube DAC and it uses an interesting set of tubes.

1 x 6X5 or 6X5GT or 6Ц5С(Russian) rectifier

2 x 6С45П-E(Russian) gain stage

I do not believe I have ever heard of these tubes so I went online to see how easy it is to get a spare set. Ebay seems to be a good source for these so doesn’t seem to be hard to find, and they are cheap as well. No need to spend big money on new tubes. The stock tubes sound fantastic and I have read reports online from those who switched to some new tubes and preferred the stock. These tubes should last for thousands of hours of use.

With the Wave all hooked up I was ready for the first listen. 

OUCH! When I first fired it up I was a bit surprised as it sounded a little bit lean and a touch sharp, and I hate lean and sharp when it comes to audio. I let it play 24/7 for 3 days and went back in to listen again. Now it was completely different. No more lean, at all. No more sharp, at all. It was now sounding fluid, with a hair of warmth and now the sound was super refined, silky and a level 10 on the “OMG IMMERSIVE” scale. As if the heavens blessed the box with a light that allowed it to do some sort of magical conversion. The last time I heard this kind of sound was with those $50-$100k Nagra DACs, which also used tubes and were 2-5X the cost of the Audio Mirror. (After 100 hours it was indeed even better and sounding fuller and richer from out of the box).

The Wave DAC reminded me a bit of the Playback Designs Dream DAC which is a highly sought after high end DAC that comes in close to $30k. When listening over the next days and weeks I was always sitting in disbelief as to what the Wave DAC was doing and I should not have been like this as again, this thing costs $22,000! It should bring me heavenly sound, it should do something special to the system and it should not have edge, glare or issues. I guess I was surprised as I did not expect it to be at the same level of sound as the $50k and up DACs I have heard.

Listening to an old recording from Ray Charles “Come Rain or Come Shine” brought forth Ray’s voice into the middle of the room with such purity and beauty via the Helios or the R300. Helios a little more open and layered and the R300 richer, more body and a beautiful stage with body and depth. The background singers were set back to the sides with the piano softly being played and the horns just popping out into the room as if the band was here. Other DACs have done a similar thing, but the Wave did it a few levels up from any under $10k DAC I have heard. So refined, sweet, pure and open yet no fatigue at all. Dare I say, even an Analog kind of warmth was going on like I have heard from the finest analog systems. Rich detail bit with humanity and body.

Speakers

Now of course I also had new speakers in so I was wondering how much of this magical sound was due to the Fleetwood Helios and R300’s vs the Wave DAC. I placed in the Eversolo Z10 and the sound became flatter, sharper and more 2D vs 3D. Let me explain… before hearing the WAVE I would have never said the Z10 was flat or 2D. When in direct comparison the $1800 DAC could not even begin to do what the Wave was doing. Yes, the Helios were still sounding so so so good but not as open, large in scale or into the room like with the Wave. The imaging was not the same, nor the scale of sound.

Even streaming from Spotify (the track below) connect premium into the Eversolo T8 that went to the Wave I was treated with one of the most immersive, 3D and an all out gorgeous imaging performance with the Helios speakers. One of the best I have heard. Vocals were floating dead center and so real, detailed and rich into the middle of the room. The stage had depth, width and height. When going back to the Z10 DAC, the stage flattened in comparison and I heard some edge vs the Wave (which has none) 

Listening to the track below, from Spotify connect no less, I couldn’t believe it. At the 1 min mark you will hear some deep bass that rumbles and later some drums with reverb trails that should have impact, slam and that sound should linger into the room. When the guitars kick in it is like a wash of sound as I never heard. This is with the Talis R300 from T+A and the Wave DAC with Dazzle. Just wow, and EXPERIENCE indeed. The Wave DAC brought it to life and even made Spotify Connect sound downright heavenly. The Helios didn’t match the R300 here as they lack the deep low bass to pull it off.

I also swapped speakers to my mighty Icon 12’s which are big, juicy, warm and heart tugging. With the Everoslo Z10 they sounded flat out fantastic. Great bass, impact and dynamics. Hmmm. I placed in the Wave again and WOW WOW WOW! Now it seems as if the music was being created in the air, in the room. The soundstage went wall to wall, for to ceiling and the depth was instantly apparent.

There was no denying the fact that the WAVE was doing something very special here and I was starting to get a bit bummed out as I knew it would be hard to take this out of the system and go back to the other DACs I had on hand. Once you hear this level of “wow” and then go back it can take a while to forget about the “wow”. I can not afford a $22k DAC in any world I live in but I was starting to think of ways that I could keep this one as I did not want this to end.

So yea, this DAC was making things better and this is what I call “Magic” within an audio system. It’s rare I hear this kind of magic but I have heard it before. When I did, the system as a whole was much higher in price (retail cost) than it sits right now.

LISTENING 

So what makes the Wave DAC so special? Besides the tank like build, all of the inputs we could want and having a remote I do like the design as well. The build is easily worthy of “high end status” as well.

Here is what the Audio Mirror website says about the technical and sound details of Wave Tube DAC:

“All format PCM and DSD native reproduction. All format inputs COAX, Optical, AES, USB and I2S. Software based volume control with option to bypass. When VOLUME is turned all the UP, it is bypassed. Two separate filters for PCM and DSD(over USB). When I2S is used, there is no DSD filter. Option to invert the phase of the signal.

Dual parallel DAC chips. No capacitors in the signal path. USB is self powered and because of that you can use USB cable providing only the signal, but not power, which allows for better sound.

Very elaborated tube based power supply including special filtering, dual choke, separate DC filament power supply for all tubes. Super high-end components. All silver wiring. Special design IV conversion. Tube gain stage is based on Russian super tube 6С45П-E. This tube outperforms any 9 pin tube(including 417, D3A) normally used in gain stages. 3 transformers, 6 dual regulated digital power supplies, 4 regulated analog power supplies.

Sound: This is the hardest part, because it is a personal opinion, not necessary to align with others.

Well the sound is immersive. Feels like you are in the studio. You hear some tiny, in the background details and sound you’ve never heard or expected to be recorded. Very lively and spacious sound with big body and very refined mids and highs.

One more thing that might sound ridiculous or offensive to vinyl lovers and audiophiles. It outperforms vinyl sound!

I know how crazy it sounds. I was and still am a vinyl guy, but I have to admit – it sounds amazing and I prefer it over vinyl in 80% of the time.”

While many audio manufactures toot their own horns often I agree with Vlad as I hear the same things.

I started by loading up my usual Tidal playlist which is public on Tidal @HiFiHuff

I fired up the new live album from Depeche Mode and the song “My Cosmos Is Mine”. I had goosebumps as soon as the vocals kicked in and the sound was so surreal and yea, I was transported to Mexico City as I closed my eyes and soaked it all in. I called in my wife Debby and had her sit in the sweet spot and I fired up the song again and asked her to listen to it in its entirety and tell me what she thought. She listens to every system I have and all pieces I review.

We love listening to music and I am also lucky as my wife enjoys it as well. She listens to all system that come through here. 

When she was done she said “the music sounds like it’s just coming from the room itself and it fills it corner to corner and sounds so real”. That was about it, lol.

What I heard was the same as the way this DAC did imaging and soundstage with the Helios, R300 and the Icon 12 were simply like nothing I have heard before. This DAC allowed the speakers to shine and there was depth, texture and the spatial rendering was next level.

The Helios played this track with the largest stage and bass was excellent but the 3D immersion was off the charts. Goosebumps all day long.

The T+A R300 played with a smaller stage, just not as high as the Helios. The bass though, was deep, impactful and made the track sound richer and stronger though less airy than the Helios.

The Icon 12 made my room into a convert venue. Big, warm, juicy and with soft details that emerged organically.

I wondered…Hmm, maybe it’s the way this track was recorded. I placed the Eversolo Z10 back in and the sound was great again but easily heard the change. It was flatter, soundstage shrunk, sound was a bit harder and I lost the full immersion. The vocals still sounded big and almost surreal but with the Wave it WAS surreal. It was as if I was there at this show.

At this point I was still sad because I knew I could not afford this DAC. At the same time it confirmed to me yet again just how important a DAC is for a streaming system. My system is set up solely for streaming as I gave up vinyl a couple of years ago after spending a boat load of money on a table, cart and phono stage only to be disappointed in the sound vs my Streaming. Add to this that I am not a fan of spending $100 on an album that sounds great when I can listen to almost any recording ever made with a push of a button and discover so many new artists at the same time, all for $15 a month.

With the Wave and the $1300 Eversolo T8 Streamer (Buy one at Amazon) I was hearing music in all new ways and it was incredible. I also know that a better streamer would really be the “Icing on the Cake” and I feel a Lumin U2 or HiFi Rose RS130 would be the perfect streamer for this setup. I wish I could have bought one or the other to test here in this system but if I cannot afford a $22k DAC how can I afford another $6k for a streamer? For now, the Eversolo T8 was doing great and at $1300…it makes it hard to spend more.

BTW, I mention how I cannot afford this level of audio only because I want you to know I am a normal dude, not a wealthy audiophile who has unlimited funds to buy whatever I want. I wish I was and did, really I do. I would also give to charity and help those in need as that’s how I am but nope, I am not even close to being wealthy. I write about things like this only when they are transformative in a system, and this is one such case. But in all reality, as much as I want this DAC I know I am not the target audience for it when it comes to cost, though I am 100% the target when it comes to passion.

Oh yes, I also had the Virtual HiFi Vipers playing with the Wave and yes indeed, they sounded so dang good. These sound great with all music, are tiny and are nice conversation starters as well. Be sure to se my review of them over at YouTube. 

When I sit and take everything into consideration such as the build, sound and price I can easily say that this Wave Tube DAC is 100% my favorite DAC that I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. I can not say it is the best, as I haven’t heard them all but it’s the best I have heard until now but I dig the sound of this DAC as it clicks every box in the “wish” category I have for a DAC. 

Audio Mirror is the real deal. I listened night after night, deep into the wee hours and each time I would leave the room wondering how I could find a way to buy this sample. What could I sell to get it? It was constantly in my head as anytime I swapped back to another DAC I was let down and only because I was listening to the Wave. If I never heard the Wave I would not have known better and thus, would be completely happy with what I had. I have the audiophile disease, yes. I always want what I cannot have. I want to try it all! I guess that is why I sit here and write for days on end, it’s in my blood, my bones…music and listening. It soothes the soul for me. Keeps me grounded, calm, cool, and happy. Music is like therapy to me.

YOU ARE HYPING STEVE! 

This review sounds like a lot of hype I agree. But I have no other way to talk about this piece as what I say is what I feel 100%. When something is this good, I get excited by it as it’s a rarity for one sole audio box to do what this one is doing. Vlad outdid himself here and this has made me a serious fan of Audio Mirror. Another thing is that this DAC is also made here in the USA which many people are always asking me about. Here ya go, made in Minnesota.

TESTING WITH OTHER SPEAKERS 

I placed in some Buchardt E50’s and again, best I have heard them with the Dazzle and Wave. Placed in the Duet 15 Horns and again…I was hearing the depth and spatial qualities with the stunning detail retrieval. I threw in the T+A R300’s which are also stunning speakers made in Germany with an all aluminum enclosure. Much better than with the Z10, which sounded a bit bright with the R300. I am buying the R300’s for my system but this was budgeted for months ago, two new sets of stand mounts for the system and future reviews. I did not budget for a $22k DAC but now I am wondering if I should have, lol.

The best immersion kind of sound I was getting was with the Helios and the R300. Oh, of course the Icon 12’s. It all sounded so good though. 

THIS DAC DOES SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER HEARD BEFORE

Every night when I would sit back and settle in for a 3-4 hour listing session I would enjoy the sounds of this DAC. I will do my best to try and put into words what the Wave does vs other DACs I have had in.

1. It has a way of doing immersion like I have not heard until now. What I mean here is that each instrument is in its own space and some are much more easily heard in the soundstage. Nothing here is meshed together as each sound, each instrument and each voice sits in its own space. Speakers that do this are also needed but the Wave really delivers here. The Playback Designs DAC does this as well (Dream DAC) but it costs more and the sound is slightly different.
2. Dynamics are off the charts here as well. Those moments from soft to loud can be dramatic. Listening to some old 50’s jams with orchestral music was stunning as I was hearing these songs in an all new way.
3. Voices are as real and dramatic as I have experienced. The realism with this DAC is really special and it feels as if I am in the studio hearing every breath, every bass line, every lip smack and even sounds in the background that I never heard with other setups.
4. The depth is nice. Many DACs can do a wide soundstage but how many can do wide, tall and deep in a way that fills every inch of the room in front of you to where it seems like a wall of sound but within the wall each sound is in it’s proper place. Your speakers must be up to it and with the Helios it was stunning with some music like that Depeche Mode track I spoke about above as well as Jazz, Classical and well, most well recorded music.
5. The clarity is next level. Sometimes too much clarity can suck the soul from the music. The WAVE is very clean and clear but it also has a dose of humanity and life in there as well so it never gets close to being sterile. Sometimes I hear some warmth. I feel it is reproducing the track just as they were recorded.
6. After about 100 hours of burn in, the DAC really came into its own with an analog vibe that still brought out all I have spoken about here.

Now yes, of course… other DACs can do similar things but I have yet to hear one that does it like the Wave and I have not found one that does what it does for less, which is unfortunate but hey, there has to be a flagship in everything and this is one such case. You get what you pay for.

WHO IS THIS FOR? It is a $22k DAC! 

This DAC is for those who seek the best from their already high end systems. Those who do not mind spending to get the “best”. It is for those with higher end systems, speakers, amplifiers, etc. It is NOT for someone who uses say a Klipsch Heresy and a Onkyo receiver, obviously. Not that those are bad, it’s just I wouldn’t spend $22k for a DAC for this system and neither would you : )

This is a DAC for those who want that extra cherry on top, the extra life and details to be exposed. It’s for those who seek immersion within the music yet also allows the emotion to shine through. I suggest this DAC if you have revealing speakers and a great amp. This DAC is for the type who finishes off their system with nice cables. It all matters in a high end revealing system.

This is the problem with higher end audio as once you hear it, well, it’s tough to go back. Truth be told, I would be better off if I never heard all of this gear as I would have more money in the bank, I would be happy with a much simpler setup as I would have never been able to hear the things I have heard. Being a reviewer of audio gear brings moments like this, when you get something in and truly know it’s something special but then you look at the cost, even with a discount for being in the industry…and you get bummed as these things are not for mere mortals. They are for those with plentiful cash, of which I do not have at this time. Then again, if I let this one go…I will never get a chance again like this to acquire one. Yea, being an audio reviewer who actually 100% loves this stuff can be quite dangerous. Can you read between the lines here? Yea, I would buy this DAC in a heartbeat if I could.

CAN YOU PAY LESS AND GET SIMILAR?

Well, you can pay less for a different Audio Mirror DAC such as the Troubadour VI which is an R2R non oversampling DAC that comes in at close to $10k. They also sell the IV and V for less but I have not heard those. Even the designer says the Wave is many levels up. If you can get as good or better for less I am not sure how this could be. There are many drool worthy options under $22k that are quite good though, make no mistake. Also, there is no “best” for all, just not possible.

The Weiss 501 MKII, the Chord DAVE, the DCS Bartok, the DCS Lina and various others from other brands. The May KTE, the T+A DAC 200 and even the Fezz Tube DAC are quite nice indeed and could be end game for normal folks. Just not the obsessed.

These all cost less, sure, but are they as good? Well, they are different indeed and sound nothing like the Wave. For this, it’s always a game of audition, test, try if you can. Most manufactures and shops offer a trial period to help find the best for you.

COMPARED TO?

I have heard some crazy good DACs over the years and below are some of my all time “end game” faves:

1. Chord Dave – Yes, the DAVE does detail but the Wave does it with more humanity. The DAVE is a pure reference DAC and comes in at around $15k but it doesn’t do depth or detail in the same way as the Wave. The Dave is a bit analytical but doesn’t bring more detail than the Wave. The Wave is just more human but both are stunners.
2. Weiss 501 MKII – Another awesome DAC that sells new for $14k. It is much smaller, lighter and yet it also sounds so good. The Weiss has a different type of sound though. It is fatter, more direct and not as spatial as the Wave or Dave or Nagra DACS. Still a great sound that is more juicy and plump vs what the Wave brings. The Weiss is ultra refined in sound. No digital nasties at all.
3. Nagra Tube DAC – This is absurdly priced new at $48k with power supply and no, it is not worth $48K to me but I am not a wealthy guy. Up until now, the Nagra Tube DAC was my all time fave for its design, build, looks and sound. Even so, the WAVE…well, I prefer it The Nagra is warmer though doesn’t do the details in the same way as the Wave.
4. Nagra HD DAC X – Now priced at around $100k again, no…in no way would this be worth $100k to me but I did buy one used once for under $30k and loved it as it is a crazy good DAC. It is also great with detail, space and soundstage but has a thicker sound in the mids vs the Wave. The HD DAC X is one of the best there is but the Wave stands toe to toe here with the Nagra being a bit more smooth/refined. I guess you have to get something for that extra $80k, hehe.
5. Playback Designs DREAM DAC – I lusted after this one for a while and at close to $30k yea it is stunner indeed. If I had $30k to blow on a DAC 6 months ago it would probably have been this one but damn… the Wave DAC stands with it IMO.
6. DCS Lina – Love this DAC and it has that DCS vibe going on as they use their ring DAC tech. Detail, body, rhythm and it comes in for less than the Wave but again, it’s a different vibe. It’s also immersive and has a natural sound. Not as “immediate” as the Wave and I think this comes from the tubes in play.

CONS OF THE AUDIO MIRROR WAVE DAC?

The con could be the price as it is not for everyone at $22k but I can not knock it for the price. It will be well worth it to some and those who enjoy it will get immense happiness from it as I know I would and am. Yea, deals can exits in the $20k price realm if the product performs to levels you have never experienced before. This DAC surprised me as I had no idea what to expect but yea, it’s so good for the right setup.

So cons…I would have preferred this DAC to just have a fixed output rather than the software volume control, which is not very refined or needed IMO. I also do not know what DAC chips are used here as the other AM DACs are R2R I believe. Personally I do not care as all that matters to me is the performance and this one performs.

CHANGES

I have been redoing my entire setup for 2026 and so far have the amp (Dazzle, no regrets), the Speakers (Helios and R300, amazing duo) and the power conditioning (Puritan PSM 156 NFR, best I have found over the years). I have yet to finalize my streamer and DAC for 2026 and if I had the money to buy this it would be mine. The thought of sending it back sucks, but such is the life of a reviewer. Who knows, maybe I will somehow manifest this DAC to stay ; ) We will see how that works.

CONCLUSION

Yes indeed, this is the best DAC I have ever heard and I found something that I like more than the Nagra Tube DAC, which to be fair is a quite old design by now. The Wave is a stunner but will cost you $22k to experience for yourself. I love this DAC but it may not be for everyone as sound is a personal thing. I used to love big warm sound, fat sound, juicy sound. I got that from the Icon 12 and various amps and sources. Now I am craving details when done right, such as the way the WAVE does them. It can sound so gentle, so pure yet can also deliver the grunt, energy and raw emotion and do awesome with live performances. It’s not fatiguing, in any way. I have listened for 6 hours and still had to pull myself away.

With the Fleetwood Helios, T+A AR300, Icon 12, Dazzle Amp and the  Puritan power products I have assembled my fave system ever in my 13X18 space with this DAC in place. If you have the budget for the Wave and have a high end system of your own I highly recommend giving it a listen. You may be as smitten as I am with it. The owner of Audio Mirror, Vlad, is a great guy as well and truly knows his stuff.

A truly top of the summit DAC that will cost you, but much less than what this DAC competes against. Dare I say this DAC can save you tens of thousands of dollars? Sure if you are seeking a high end DAC for your high end system, it nay get different but doesn’t get “better”. Vlad himself says this DAC competes with others costing up to 3X as much. I believe him.

CHECK OUT THE WAVE TUBE DAC HERE AT AUDIO MIRROR – They sell DIRECT.