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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
nquery
103 posts
 
The op clearly states he absolutely requires DSD support so the Mojo wouldn't work.
That said, op also desires R2R so the Amber doesn't fit that bill either.
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 had considered it but ultimately decided I wanted a more open ("forward"?) sound than what I have ever heard from NOS R2R.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@nquery  I think the Atlantic TRP does however check all the boxes you noted above though.
nquery
103 posts
 
@three_easy_payments I haven’t heard the TRP so it might sound less forward than the Amber. But I am unclear how the TRP checks the R2R box? Correct me if I am wrong, but it is similarly DS chip based ?? And even bought used it is >> than op price point of $3k. (Not trying to be argumentative ... )

[EDIT: I now see that the early TRP was originally R2R but Lampi has sinced moved to the 53 Digital Engine for most of their lower end dacs. Is the consensus that the newer 53 digital engine sounds more forward than the prior R2R boards? Because from my reading it seems almost all who have heard both find the 53 chip board better sounding than the R2R board for PCM.
I do see an older R2R Atlantic TRP currently for sale for $4300)]
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@nquery  Ah yes, I see you are correct...they did make the change to engine 53.
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. 
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