This is purely subjective opinion. Aqua LaScala/ Atma-Sphere Class D

I’ve never heard of Aqua LaScala, but you seem to have some nice gear in general.

Had a Music Teacher over tonight. She teaches Piano on the side. She couldn’t believe how George Winston’s Steinway sounded. She said she’s never heard a Steinway reproduced that close before.

Getting piano and vocals right is a great sign. The rest gets easier from there.

Aqua makes some really nice DACs. I picked it over the Bricasti. I am glad I did. I’ve been putting together this system for years. And now I can say it’s really coming together. The depth of the soundstage is great. Space between instruments  excellent. All instruments are accurate a sound as they should. Acoustic  guitars are really fun to listen to. Spectacular detail and micro detail. 
  Have a few more pieces to sell and then can round off my system. 

Some Hi End Class D amps seem to be getting rave reviews lately.  I’ve only been able to hear mid Fi Class D, which while it has come a long way from the early days, wasn’t lighting my fire.

She couldn’t believe how George Winston’s Steinway sounded. She said she’s never heard a Steinway reproduced that close before. BTW she has a Steinway Grand in her home.

This is very interesting to me, as when I was asked early on to describe the differences between my Aqua La Scala DAC and my previous Denafrips Pontus II, I said this:

...one particular thing that immediately grabbed my attention is how piano is reproduced. It was not something that was on my mind at all, so no expectation bias involved, yet across genres, all of the well-recorded piano music seemed much more natural and detailed than what I have previously experienced. It may well have something to do with the clock, and more accurate decays, as that is something that crossed my mind with the reproduction of other instruments, as well. But whatever the exact explanation, having had the experience, it seems that in retrospect I have typically been listening to piano as almost a generic, background instrument, lacking fine definition, and I now suspect that going forward it might be a particularly important and useful focal point when auditioning any DAC, and/or speakers.

FWIW, I listen to the La Scala with a C.E.C. TL-15 CD transport, and Circle Labs A200 hybrid integrated amp, through a pair of FinkTeam KIM speakers.

@mahler123 what is mid-fi class D? Just wondering, is it LSA, Marantz, NAD and the like?

I was very close to pick La Scala MKII to replace my Musician Pegasus, but in the end went with Lab12 Dac1 Reference because it's cheaper and to my ears identical in sound quality to the La Scala (though no DSD playback so that might be a deal breaker for some people). I am a full-time trained classical pianist and I am very particular about how piano and string instruments are reproduced. Dac1, La Scala, and Weiss Dac 502 MKII were the DACs I listened that I thought sounded most natural for piano. I would be happy with any of these three as my final DACs.

OP The folks at A-S and at Aqua are making wonderful gear. When I listened to the La Scala I was shocked. I had listened to other tubed DAC's but none with the clarity and soul of the La Scala. Almost sold my Simaudio 680D to finance a change. Sat and listened to my 680 with my X200 and smiled. 

You have some very nice kit. 

@auroravengeance just put the Lab 12 on my list for a system I am building for the recreation room. 

@juanmanuelfangioii I would consider Peachtree Novas and TEAC AP series as mid-fi class D.

Something like HifiRose RA180 I would consider as high end class D. 

@juanmanuelfangioii

By midfi I am referring to AVRs in the $1-1.5K range, as contrasted with something like a dedicated Class D Power Amp from the likes of Mark Levinson that go for around $10K.  I am unfamiliar with the components that the poster above lhas listed

@jerryg123 You won't be disappointed with it. Pair it with a neutral sounding speaker like ATC/Cabasse/Harbeth plus a smooth-sounding class A amp and you will get an absolutely realistic and musical sound that is so addictive. 

After listening to R2R/FPGA Dacs, it's very hard to get back to 'veiled' sound of D/S DACs. I just listened to Soulnote S3 recently and just could not get used to the sound. 

@auroravengeance thank you. Giving TMR a shot at this business.

@mahler123 thanks was curious and it is interesting. 

LaScala commenters, are you referring to the mk2 or mk3? 

I've heard multi-day comparisons in a friend's very revealing system(flagship Zu's, Merrill monoblocks) vs. a top Meridian dac and the Yggy OG. In the end all 3 listeners preferred the LaScala, which I think was mk2, this was about 5years ago. 

Another friend upgraded from an Aqua La Voce and while the latter was also really good, the difference was clearly noticeable (at twice the cost). They would definitely be on my short list if looking in those price ranges. Cheers,

Spencer

I've not heard the Atma-Sphere amps yet, but the other GaN amps I have heard (Technics G2700M2, Technics R1000, AGD Adion monoblocks) are all exceptional.

@sbank I believe that you may be confusing two models. The current La Scala is the MkII, and I do not believe that there has ever been a MkIII. There is a La Voce S3, which is the latest in that line, but as you suggest the La Scala is widely considered to be a very clear step up in class.

In fact, when I communicated with Aqua before I completed by purchase of the La Scala, they told me that their production capability was "almost saturated by a big number of backlog orders for the Formula, La Scala, LinQ, and a much lower request for La Voce S3."

So, at the time, while the La Voce was back ordered, the company was prioritizing the models that were both very popular and of higher quality.

One other observation that I can make re: the La Scala is that it is somehow able to extract fine details, yet at the time sweeten poorly recorded material. That is counter-intuitive to me, but perhaps it is related to the tube output.

In any case, as mentioned above, I feel no urge whatsoever to make a change, and now pay virtually no attention to articles about other DACs.

@whipsaw thanks. Yes, I was conflating the LaVoce and LaScala.

I’m also a believer in the La Scala having used the Optologic MKII version for some time now. I run this between my Naim source and Audio Research gear and have been very satisfied with this combination.

I too have moved away from the stock tube set changing to NOS Tele’s purchased from Brent Jesse. This change seemed to bring even more presence and detail forward while tightening up the bottom end. It’s a great dac for the money!

What speakers,and cables 

"What speakers,and cables"

Not sure if this was directed to me specifically- but I use Dynaudio Sapphire speakers. All cables are either Canare or Belden from Blue Jeans Cable. My system components are listed under my user name.

Seeing lots of positive reviews over the newer GaN amps. Might have to check them out soon. 

"This is purely subjective opinion."

Aren't all opinions purely subjective?

@hilde-45  my opinions are simply the ones you should believe always!  LOL  And yes they all are until proven otherwise.  I did like what you said!

Aren’t all opinions purely subjective?

Purely? I wouldn’t say that. Opinions don’t appear in a vacuum. Some are well-supported by facts, while others are not.

For example, if one person were to assert that DAC A is clearly better than DAC B, while another were to assert the opposite, it might well be fair, absent any other information, to say that both opinions were purely subjective.

But if DAC A was cheap, measured poorly, and had never received a positive professional review, while B was much more expensive, built to a much higher standard, measured extremely well, and received glowing reviews, would those two opinions remain "purely" subjective?

Of course someone could form the opinion that a ’73 Ford Pinto is a superior car when compared to a ’73 Porsche 911s, but when the weight of the related facts reaches a significant level, the "purely subjective" claim is likely to lead to a false equivalency.

Well with all the great reviews the Atma-Sphere Class D has received. And the great reviews the Aqua LaScala Op Mk2 has received as well as the Innous Phoenix USB, and Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8, not to forget the Atma-Sphere MP-3 I guess my opinions aren’t just mine. So let’s get back to why this thread was started. And to talk about our opinion on these products. I personally like to hear what others have to say. Thanks. 

 

Of course someone could form the opinion that a ’73 Ford Pinto is a superior car when compared to a ’73 Porsche 911s, but when the weight of the related facts reaches a significant level, the "purely subjective" claim is likely to lead to a false equivalency.

But one does not need to paint flames onto the Pinto. 

But one does not need to paint flames onto the Pinto. 

😂😂

I have the La Voce S2 and it's fantastic. I can't imagine how much better the La Scala is.

@holmz thanks it’s taken my years to slowly acquire a nice system like I have. Need to sell a few more pieces of gear and maybe get a Linq to go with the system. 

@jerryg123  what is your take on the difference between the two? They are both on my short list.  I'm presently using a Cambridge Audio Cxnv2 with Modwright Truth Mod and really like the sound.  My system is primarily all tubes. 

@pstores , did you mention which speakers you’re using?  Thanks.

How World the PS Audio DirectStream MK2 Dac sound in comparison with the La Scala ? Is it totally different sound signature?