151 PowerDAC mini

About the 151 PowerDAC mini

The Wadia 151 PowerDAC mini is a unique integrated amplifier and DAC combination that uses a digital volume control and a PWM amplification stage to drive speakers directly from digital inputs. It accepts four digital inputs: USB (up to 24-bit/96kHz), two coaxial S/PDIF, and one Toslink optical (all up to 24-bit/192kHz). The device upsamples all incoming data to 24-bit/384kHz and converts PCM audio to PWM for amplification, resulting in a clean analog output after a simple low-pass filter. It delivers 25 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 50 watts per channel into 4 ohms, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 103 dB and distortion under 0.11% at rated power. The amplifier is compact (2.7 x 8 x 8 inches), weighs 6 pounds, and includes an LED backlit display, volume control, mute, phase, and input buttons on the front panel, plus an IR remote control. It is designed for high-resolution digital audio playback with a focus on midrange clarity and musical involvement, suitable for small rooms and desktop listening setups. The 151 PowerDAC mini was introduced around 2010 and is