MHDT Orchid or Lampizator Amber 3?

@grannyring 

My main dac is presently an Aqua La Scala MkII Optologic with a pair of NOS Mullard 6201 tubes installed. It replaced a Nagra Classic dac which replaced a Totaldac D1-Tube-MkII which replaced a Chord Dave. All have been fed by an Innuos Zenith MkIII via a Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cable. I’ve run it single ended and balanced and the balanced outputs sound ever so slightly better.

The Amber 3 and the La Scala are both terrific, the La Scala is overall more refined. A more elegant top to bottom presentation but there are some areas where the differences are negligible or even in the Amber’s favor(like bass and layering). The Aqua build quality is off the hook good, both dacs have a proven upgrade path.

If you were demoing the La Scala and the Amber 3, single ended, at home and didn’t own either it would be difficult to justify the price differential.

I have heard the S2 and S3 LaVoce.  Great dacs!  I actual like the Brimar tube a little better in my system with the Amber. Thanks for the tip! 

The S2 was not great, the S3...I don’t want to offend anyone but its kindof average sounding. I like most of the dacs discussed in this thread better but everyone should trust their own ears.  I’m not sure I understand the logic of having that dac on the market at that retail pricepoint. For a company capable of building the La Scala and the Formula, it just doesnt make alot of sense to me. A company’s entry level product ought to be a gateway drug. 

My audio buddy owned the La Scala MKIII Opto and sold it as he preferred the LaVoce S3 in his system. Just goes to show how real personal preferences and system synergy is.   No kidding, he loves the S3! The La Scala just could not please him over the long run.  He upgraded tubes, but still liked the S3 more. 

He had the very latest MKIII from the factory which sounded better than an earlier version of the MKIII.  He mention to the manufacturer how both MKIII units sounded very different. The builder said they had used better solder and certain parts were upgraded.  Well my friend heard the difference! Still liked the S3 more than the latest La Scala.

Hmmmmm, it would be interesting to know your buddy’s system, soup to nuts, from the wall to the ear. You are correct though, its all a matter of what sounds right to the individual. 
I’ve had some great dacs and someone somewhere has declared each of them as end game pieces. That’s why I always try to be objective that every person must make up their own mind and decide what works best in their circumstances: the room, the room, the ac, the cables, the electronic chain, the room....I’m not one of those chasing the latest greatest but I know what I prefer.

I know what music I enjoy sounds like. I had to make a decision a long time ago as I had aspirations of being a professional musician. I got that out of my system pretty quickly as the best in the business had holes in their shoes. Not for me, so I guess I wasn’t driven enough to be a musician if it meant living hand-to-mouth.

Anyway, I guess I’m also a bit of a tube guy as well. Other than my Innuos, every piece of gear I have uses tubes. I keep trying though and the Nagra Classic Dac/Classic integrated got very close for me. Peace.