Elementary? Call it exemplary. The Madison Wattson duo may look compact, but it’s the fast lane to Swiss high-end audio: spot-on timing, fine texture and authority without showboating.
Swiss high-end audio is costly—think CH Precision, Nagra, and Soulution — and exclusive as well: DarTZeel now sells to order with a sizeable deposit. Certainly not aimed at everyone, but for those who can afford it.
Since not many “can”, Wattson Audio, born with CH Precision DNA, offers a more attainable Swiss route. Compact and discreet—with no OLED theatrics or rainbow-lit buttons—the Madison streamer/DAC and amplifier duo will set you back €4,995 and €6,495, respectively. Not cheap. With fierce Asia-made affordable competition (Eversolo, HiFi Rose) performing well technically and sonically, how do you justify the price?
Time and space
A digital watch tells you the time; an analogue watch displays both time and space—or rather, the geometric representation of how much time has passed and what remains.
Turning a time machine into a timeless object of value and status was a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind: Swiss luxury watchmaking was born. The same happened with clothing, cars, and, of course, audio—where high-end prices have gone stratospheric.
Wattson Audio aims to make CH Precision technology more accessible (paradox acknowledged: high-end is, by definition, exclusive and expensive).
Madison LE
The LE is the “Lounge Edition” (not the Limited Edition)—a beefed-up take on the original Madison, unchanged where it matters.
Digital stages: Unchanged Melody
- Dual Wolfson WM8742 DACs (one per channel); PCM up to 32/384 and DSD256 over the network; 24/192 via S/PDIF; no MQA.
- Dedicated oscillators for the 44.1/48 kHz sampling frequencies and their multiples.
- SHARC DSP with internal upsampling and a short-tail/spline reconstruction filter for time-clean behaviour (minimal pre/post-ring).
- LEEDH Processing (digital volume attenuation algorithm) designed to minimise audible loss and preserve low-level linearity.
- Streaming: in-house engine on TI Sitara (ARM); Roon Ready (RAAT), Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect; UPnP/DLNA for Audirvana; Ethernet-only (no Wi-Fi).
- Control app for Android/iOS (functional, though).
Analogue—Where the LE begs to differ
Fully differential signal path with two pairs of op-amps per channel.
- Strengthened power reservoir/filtering and premium parts at critical nodes (e.g., coupling capacitors).
- Audible upshot: blacker backgrounds, freer micro-dynamics, and more authority when driving a power amp directly via XLR.
Trapezoidal art
A solid-billet aluminium chassis, milled to tame resonance and vibration, features a trapezoidal profile with a gentle slope. Painted in a matte, light-grey, unassuming finish, it is complemented by three grooves and the Wattson logo engraved on top, completing the design.
- Front—no touchscreen; a single volume knob framed by a vertical semicircle of amber status LEDs, plus four status LEDs (Power, Coax, Tos, Net) and a 6.35 mm jack for headphones.
Rear—RJ45 (Ethernet) and S/PDIF (coax/optical) inputs; XLR and RCA line outputs. No USB/HDMI by design. UPnP option connection.
First impressions (with headphones)
The Madison LE is primarily a high-quality streamer/DAC, not a high-current headphone amplifier. With Austrian Audio ‘The Composer’ (open-back dynamics), it delivered rich, dynamic sound: deep, rounded bass and restrained, almost crepuscular treble, however rich in harmonic nuances. The middle registers were near perfection: voices sounded authentic, natural, and human without any hint of mechanical reproduction.
With demanding ‘planars’ like HIFIMAN HE1000 (original), it runs out of headroom sooner. Wattson quotes ≈150 mW/32 Ω, ≈50 mW/150 Ω, ≈10 mW/600 Ω (≈2.2 Vrms / 68 mA at 32 Ω). Into 35 Ω (HE1000), that’s ~140 mW, which is short for musical peaks. Given 90 dB/1 mW sensitivity, ~316 mW is a sensible target for ~115 dB peaks. Power is not just higher SPL but also better dynamics and bass control (as evidenced by the notable Riviera AIC-10 BAL headphone amplifier, also distributed by Ajasom in Portugal).
Wattson Music Controller
The Wattson Music Controller app is basic: source/volume control and a three-preset equaliser (Free Field / Near a Wall / In a Corner).
Control it instead with Roon and Audirvana Studio, or Qobuz/Tidal Connect. You can also try BubbleUPnP or mConnectLight (free) as simpler alternatives.
Roon and Audirvana
The Madison LE works flawlessly with Roon, Audirvana Studio (EISA 2025-26 “Music Playback Software”), Qobuz and Tidal Connect, and is instantly recognised by all these softwares. Subjectively, Roon carries more top-end energy; Audirvana (trial offer) sounds more linear.
DSD128 files play well with both. However, Roon plays DSD256 files natively on the LE; Audirvana downsamples to PCM 176.4 kHz because it uses DoP (DSD over PCM), which for DSD256 would require a 705.6 kHz PCM carrier, whereas the Madison tops out at PCM 384 kHz over the network. In practice, Qobuz/Tidal reach a maximum of 24/192, and DSD256 libraries are scarce; therefore, this is negligible, as otherwise, Audirvana sounds excellent and costs significantly less than Roon.
LEEDH
LEEDH is a digital-domain attenuation algorithm (also used by other brands). It aims to minimise audible losses and preserve low-level linearity, running in the DSP ahead of the DAC.
If it feels slow, that’s the anti-zipper ramp doing its job, compounded by network/app latency; the front-panel control feels snappier. Also avoid double attenuation (LEEDH plus streaming-app normalisation).
Madison Amplifier
- Build & design—The same Spartan aesthetic as the LE: solid-billet aluminium chassis, chamfered edges, trapezoidal profile for rigidity, RFI shielding and natural heat dissipation.
- Dimensions: 216 × 300 × 87 mm, 6.0 kg; 36 V DC / 350 W external PSU in a separate brick.
Front—Single button: long press to power; short press to toggle RCA/XLR and Mute.
Rear—Quality binding posts; RCA/XLR; DC input; three toggles:
• Output modes: stereo, vertical bi-amping, mono
• Speaker impedance: 8 / 4 / 2 Ω
• Gain: 20 dB or 26 dB
Plus Ethernet for firmware updates (not for audio). - Technical spec—Low-feedback Class AB, fully discrete, symmetrical/dual-mono with bipolar output devices; 2 × 50 W/8 Ω, 2 × 75 W/4 Ω, 2 × 120 W/2 Ω; 1 Hz – 400 kHz (-3 dB); SNR-A >120 dB; THD+N <0.05%; 100 kΩ input impedance.
But who better than Alexandre Lavanchy to introduce the Madison AMP?
Hands-on
With the LE connected to the AMP via Nordost Valhalla cables (XLR) and the latter connected to the speakers with short, inexpensive Inakustik cables, the sound improved with the output impedance set to 4 Ω and the gain to 26 dB. The Sonus faber Concertino 4G and Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2 are small monitor speakers, but they thrive on power: two mono amplifiers would be the ideal solution. Another alternative is to opt for high-sensitivity speakers (DeVore Fidelity, Blumenhofer Acoustics, etc.).
The Wattson Amplifier sounds like the natural extension of the LE: serene, composed, linear, with an exquisite “valve-like” acoustic glow.
The Wattson Amplifier sounded like the natural extension of the LE: serene, composed, linear, with an exquisite “valve-like” acoustic glow; and it proved to have more energy in the treble and better bass control than the LAB12 mighty, living up to its solid-state nature.
Elementary, my dear Wattson LE
A line Arthur Conan Doyle never actually wrote, as such—elementary, dear readers. If I had to choose between them, I’d pick the LE, not for its ergonomics but for its musical poise and empathy with valve power amplifiers. However, as a duo, this trapezoidal pair remains the only truly accessible way into Swiss high-end audio.
Visit them at Ajasom—or, if you’re near the Alps in Switzerland, take the chance to listen. It all relates to enjoying Nature and listening to the Sound of Music.
For further information, contact AJASOM