Elementary my dear...

Swiss brand Wattson Audio's flagship streamer is small, beautifully formed and sounds sublime. David Vivian is impressed

- David Vivian

Whether intentionally or not, some hi-fi components simply exude industrial chic. It isn’t just a good looks thing. Myriad factors play their part on the short journey from packaging box to kit rack shelf: size, form, tactility, design honesty (only subtle frills, if any at all), functional transparency and perceived tech density – all contribute to that can’t-wait-to-plug-it-in frisson.

In the case of the Wattson Audio Madison streamer/DAC the feel-good vibe is further finessed by its Swiss provenance. On a psychological level at least, that country’s reputation for watchmaker’s precision, meticulous attention to detail and flawless quality control weigh into the mix as well. Working out of Yverdon-les-Bains, in the heart of the Swiss Romandie, Wattson Audio styles itself as a company still steeped in the initiatives of its founding operation – Engineered SA – set up 20 years ago to explore: “numerous electronic and software concepts in high-end audio” ranging from analogue tubes and transistor circuits, to all classes of amplification, A-to-D and D-to-A conversion as well as signal treatments, interface models and digital modulation.

It counts its ‘network streaming solution’ as a particular highlight, describing it as a constantly evolving platform that invites smooth integration of new features and support for the latest formats and points to the adoption of its streaming interface for several elite products in the wider high-end market.