Ferrum Audio Compilation 7: Sound System Headphone

Compilation 7: Equipment Tip Headphones

The investment tips in our popular annual compilation come directly from our consultants. Their years of experience working with our audiophile products are evident here. Through their own initiative – after all, even for their own needs, decisions aren't always final – and of course, through numerous conversations with our customers, they continually generate new ideas for excellent setups.

Unadulterated musicality & microdynamic precision

Some musical experiences only reveal their true depth in the right setting. When familiar recordings suddenly unveil nuances that have remained undiscovered for decades—a soft breath before the entrance, the decay of a cymbal in the room, or the subtle texture of a double bass—the potential of uncompromising headphone electronics becomes tangible. The compilation "Compilation 7: Headphones - A Recommended System" embodies the most intimate high-end hi-fi: undisturbed listening pleasure without room acoustic influences, characterized by absolute signal purity, tonal neutrality, and maximum control.

The complete system combines the craftsmanship and engineering expertise of the Polish audio manufacturer Ferrum Audio with Yamaha 's decades of experience in developing innovative planar magnetic drivers. The result is not a mere gimmick, but a sonically and technically perfectly matched reference system for listeners who value substance and musical truth.

"Headphone listening is focused high-end hi-fi – the conscious decision for undisturbed intimacy with the recording. The system blocks out everyday life and puts the music in its purest form at the center."

The system architecture in detail

1. Ferrum Audio Broen — Digital Streaming Transport

The Ferrum Broen acts as a high-precision digital interface. As a dedicated streaming transport, it delivers an extremely low-jitter, bit-perfect digital signal to the D/A converter. Thanks to the consistent separation of the network streamer and converter stage, sensitive audio signals remain free from high-frequency interference from the network electronics.

2. Ferrum Audio Wandla HP — DAC & Reference Headphone Amplifier

The Wandla HP serves as the heart of the system. Based on the proprietary SERCE signal processing platform and the flagship ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DAC chip, the device combines first-class converter precision with a powerful, extremely low-noise headphone amplifier stage. It lends the playback composure, effortless detail, and ample dynamic range.

3. Ferrum Audio Hypsos & Power Link DC — Reference-class hybrid power supply

Power supply is the foundation of audiophile performance. The Hypsos hybrid software-controlled power supply powers the Wandla HP via the proprietary 4-pin Ferrum Power Link DC cable. Thanks to Sweet Spot Tuning (SST) and continuous voltage sensing directly at the load point (4T Sensing), the system achieves noticeably greater composure in the background, a wider soundstage, and increased impulse response.

4. Yamaha YH-4000 — Orthodynamic™ High-End Headphones

The Yamaha YH-4000 is used as the sound transducer. With its planar magnetic Orthodynamic™ driver technology, it guarantees phase-pure, distortion-free, and masterfully balanced sound reproduction. Neither coldly analytical nor artificially warm, it brings the listener directly to the heart of the original recording. Thanks to its state-of-the-art lightweight construction and ergonomic ear pads, it offers excellent long-term wearing comfort.

Modularity & Future-proofing

A key advantage of the Ferrum philosophy lies in its sustainable modular design. Instead of closed systems that need to be completely replaced when requirements change, this chain can be flexibly expanded and kept up-to-date in the long term through software updates. Industrial-grade manufacturing quality from the factory near Warsaw, with its characteristic rust-colored front panels, underscores the durability of these components.

Technical specifications of the system components

1. Headphones: Yamaha YH-4000

Design: Open, over-ear

Driver principle: Orthodynamic™ (Planar Magnetostatic)

Frequency range: 5 Hz – 70,000 Hz

Impedance: 34 ohms

Sensitivity sound pressure level (SPL): 98 dB/mW

Weight: approx. 320 g (without cable)

Connections: 4.4 mm Pentaconn (balanced), 6.35 mm jack (unbalanced)

2. Digital Streaming Transport: Ferrum Audio Broen

Device type: Dedicated Hi-Res Streaming Transport / Digital Bridge

Network inputs: RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet, Dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac)

Digital outputs: Ferrum I2S (HDMI), AES/EBU (XLR), S/PDIF coaxial, TOSLINK optical, USB audio out

Supported protocols: Roon Ready, TIDAL Connect, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, UPnP / DLNA

Clock system: Ultra-low jitter femto clocking

Power supply: 22–30 V DC (optimized for Ferrum Hypsos via Ferrum Power Link)

3. D/A converter & headphone amplifier: Ferrum Audio Wandla HP

DAC chip / Signal processing: ESS Sabre ES9038PRO / ARM-based SERCE platform with custom digital filters

Maximum resolution: PCM up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD512, MQA full decoding

Digital inputs: USB-C, AES/EBU, S/PDIF coaxial, TOSLINK, HDMI ARC, Ferrum I2S

Analog inputs: RCA (phono), internally balanced processing

Headphone outputs: 4.4 mm Pentaconn (balanced), 6.35 mm stereo jack

Output power (headphones): up to 3.5 watts at 50 ohms

Preamplifier outputs: XLR balanced, RCA unbalanced

4. Upgrade power supply: Ferrum Audio Hypsos

Power supply concept: Hybrid system (linear control combined with switching power supply efficiency)

Output voltage: 5.0 V to 30.0 V DC (digitally adjustable in 0.1 V steps)

Max. current / power: 6.0 A continuous current / 80 watts output power

Technologies: Sweet Spot Tuning (SST), 4T Sensing (DC feedback sensor)

Operation & Display: OLED color touchscreen & rotary encoder

5. Connection cable: Ferrum Power Link DC

Cable type: 4-pin proprietary high-current DC connection cable

Functionality: 2 wires for direct current supply, 2 wires for continuous voltage sensing (4T Sensing)

Available lengths: 0.5 m