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Aqua La Scala Optologic Mk2 on the cheap, used and sub $3000?

I’ve had a great time with a borrowed Aqua La Scala Optologic in my system. Played with the Antipodes CX / Ex combo (also borrowed) the sound was sublime, palpable and emotionally connected me to the music. Given the evolution of digital and the significant depreciation involved, I’m a real fan of used at the moment.

I picked up a good deal on a 1TB Innuos Zen MKiii. With my current Ayre Codex, it’s decent, but nowhere in the same league as the Aqua. The Aqua design appeals for a couple of other reasons:

1) I believe R2R is a better way forward on PCM, it just sounds right!
2) I’m heavily invested in high Rez (SACD) and I require that ability
3) I firmly believe the more you transform the bits, the more damage you can do the the SQ. Therefore I don’t want to have Roon convert DSD to PCM on the fly. For me, The DAC needs to handle DSD natively.

If it wasn’t for the DSD, a MHDT Orchid modded by Grannyring, or the Tubadour iii SE are highly regarded music makers and easy choices. What then with R2R and native DSD at a more economical used price point? (The La Scala sells for approximately $4k)

Sure there is the Aqua La Voice S3, for the $1000 less used, I’m told the La Scala is the better value in spite of the cost differential. Part of the cost of the Aqua line is on the ability of the boards to be upgraded, the other is labor costs in Italy verses the Orient. Too bad these other guys don’t offer DSD!

I’ve heard the Lampi Amber 3 might be a good choice, though I’ve also heard it’s a little more forward particularly with PCM. Getting the overall timbre color and tonality correct (the meat on the bones if you will) is really important to me, if the DAC gets this right, usually lesser recordings are more listenable. So what else is there?


ianderson

Showing 4 responses by grannyring

grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,438 posts
 
Mojo plays my DSD recordings every time. Never an issue and it always sounds wonderful. By play I mean, as I have already said, music plays through my speakers 🤓. The resulting sound is all that matters. Wether the dac is tube, SS, NOS, DSD, R2R etc... is not as important as the resulting sound of your system to your ears in your room. Yes I have Roon and highly recommend it!

Ian, a good audio friend has had both the Mojo and La Scala Opto latest version in his system. For him, the Mojo Mystique 3 was the better performer. He sold the Opto and well as the LaVoce S3 in favor of the Mojo. While he was very impressed with the Opto, he found the Mojo more “right” sounding in the frequency extremes. He preferred the overall musicality and solidity of the Mojo. He did love the mids of the Opto!


grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,438 posts
 
Having owned the Amber 3, a highly upgraded Orchid, and listening to the AM and can tell you a used Mojo Audio Mystique V3 dac is easily the best dac I have ever heard. My friend also purchased one and found it substantially better than the Aqua La Voice S3. He also had the the latest La Scala and prefers the Mojo.  The Mojo is special and yes an NOS dac. 

I purchased mine used here for $2600.  Mojo is selling used Mystique 3s for $3500 when traded on on a new Evo dac.

As good as the Amber 3 is, I found the Mojo dac far more compelling sounding than the Amber 3 in my system. As Ben of Mojo says it’s  the “harmonic coherency of his dacs or putting everything in its proper time and tune” that makes them sound so special. My system never sounds loud anymore even when turned way up! The sound just swells and expands, but it never sounds loud. Always composed, in control, and so natural. What a treat. 
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,438 posts
 
The Mojo plays his DSD  files and they will sound best thru this dac. So it does play his recordings and plays them sublimely. No need for a DSD dac and the bottom line is the OP’s DSD recordings will simply sound better on the Mojo dac. That is what we are all after ..... the resulting sound and not the technical gymnastics.

The Amber 3 does DSD and was my previous dac. My library also has many DSD recordings and they sounded better through the Mojo dac. Just my experience. 
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,438 posts
 
The Mojo will play DSD recordings is my point and you know it. No, not in DSD format, but will play them and beautifully. Yes my quote is correct. The Amber was too vivid for me and while great HiFi, it lacks the realism and top to bottom coherence of the Mojo. Not even close.  Over time the vividness, especially DSD, was not enjoyable. Sure it could do all the Aphile sonic gymnastics and impress for a week, but over time I simply could not enjoy my music as much. I found myself not listening to music as much.

The longer I own the Mojo the more I like it and I find myself listening to more music! 

Not a good idea to pull out one sentence and try and suggest something when it clearly lacks the completeness of my combined posts and time with the Amber. 
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