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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 5 responses by ianderson

ianderson OP
91 posts
 
@hudsonhawk where “While this is accurate, to my understanding no DAC can truly handle both PCM and DSD natively”

I agree with @nquery

You’re right only in the context of a single DAC engine. However there are DAC’s that do both natively, what you’re looking at is 2 DAC’s built in. There has to be a detector that sniffs out the incoming signal and and determines if it’s DSD, or PCM. Usually this is done in conjunction with a FPGA chip which will process the DSD directly, else it will send the signal to the R2R circuit.
ianderson OP
91 posts
 
“Check out the new Rockna Wavelight“

ive heard very good things about the Rockna gear. Unfortunately there is precious little used in the market place yet. If one comes up, I’d be happy to take a run at it. 
ianderson OP
91 posts
 
@three_easy & @enqery. Good pointers on the Lampi Atlantic TRP with the early version R2R DAC. I’ll have a look out for one of those too. Thanks!
ianderson OP
91 posts
 
@nquery “Holo Spring 2 LIII DAC is R2R and does native dsd well and works best in NOS mode. (The new Holo May is above the price point and won't be found used for a while)”

I think your Holo Spring is a very good suggestion, (at least as a good starting point) while the May version as you say is to new to see them on the open market yet used. However the Kitsume L3 would on paper seam to be a good one to try.

Has anyone compared the Holo to the Aqua La Scala? For me, DSD is off the charts musical bliss on the Aqua. Yet PCM is also beautiful, particularly higher Rez, even Redbook is great, if anything it errors on the slightly warmer side of neutral. This means lessor recording are still pleasantly listenable. I score high marks for that! 

@grannyring I’m with you on the sonic gymnastics - for me, it tires my ears. This is why I’m heavily invested in analog, be it Vinyl or Tape, I can get lost in it for hours on end and all it does is pull me further into the music. I’m looking for Digital to do the same thing.
I think you’ve heard the Aqua La Scala Optologic? Did you compare it directly to the Mojo Audio? If so, was the Mojo the better performer?

i just wish more folks would cater to us DSD guys and add this functionality to their marvellous R2R DAC's like the Mojo Audio Mystique! 
ianderson OP
91 posts
 
Granny - thanks for that perspective, and an important one at that. When you say your buddy Ian liked the extremes better, can that be described a little please?

Based on the comment about missing the mids of the La Scala Opto, would it be fair to say the mids on the Aqua are slightly better?

Lastly, It is said by many others that DSD sounds a little more like analog. When I played the Aqua La Scala with DSD, it was just a little more organic the the High Rez PCM version. I have Muddy Waters Folk Singer in 24 bit PCM and DSD, and the DSD is better to my ears and system. 

This is my worry that I will loose a little of the DSD magic by not having a DAC that doesn’t play DSD natively. Curiously, if you were measure DACs you’ve heard on a 1-10 scale, where would you put these:

- modded Orchid
- La Voice
- La Scala
- Mojo
- Holo Kitsune (if you’ve heard one)
- any others you feel relevant to my quest 

Thanks to all that have offered help with this!
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