The sweet spot in the Aqua DAC lineup
Review sample supplied by Hexagon Audio
Retail price: 6.860 euro
As regular readers know, I was so hugely impressed with the Aqua Formula xHD DAC that I made it a permanent part of my reviewing arsenal. Just recently, I also briefly reviewed the La Voce S3 DAC as part of the AudioAanZee Reference Flow mkII music server review. Following this, Marco Oudheusden of Hexagon Audio, distributor for Aqua in the Netherlands and Belgium, visited in person to deliver the La Scala mkII. Positioned between the top-of-the-line Formula xHD and the entry-level La Voce, the La Scala may well provide an ideal balance of virtues.
Left: tube output section, Right: discrete R2R DAC board
Technical details
Upgradeability – many manufacturers claim it, few really deliver. Aqua is among the few that really do make upgrades available in the form of circuit boards that can easily be retrofitted to older products. For example, Aqua’s proprietary Optologic D/A conversion system, one of the reasons why the Formula xHD DAC performs so well, is now available for the La Scala MkII DAC.
Just look at that very healthy-looking power supply section
The list of features is endless but highlights include proprietary FPGA-based digital decoding without digital filter, Discrete R2R ladder DAC, Jitter-free digital interface AQlink following I2S protocol, a fully-discrete Tube-Mosfet direct-coupled analog stage in pure class-A without negative feedback, and a modular design with an upgradeable multi-board system.
Interestingly, the La Scala is the only Aqua product to contain tubes. The DAC uses a Tube/Mosfet hybrid circuit, with a pair of specially selected ECC81 tubes. Rather than creating a product that sounds tube-stereotypically rosy and sweet, Aqua has voiced the La Scala mkII to sound articulate and open, in fact, it follows closely in the footsteps of the Formula xHD DAC.
Systems
I used the La Scala mkII DAC in two systems and in each case compared it with my reference in its price class, the Formula xHD DAC. The main system consists of Kroma Audio Carmen speakers normally driven by a CH Precision A1.5 amplifier fed directly by the CH Precision C1 DAC. As such, I don’t use an analog preamp and thus cannot properly assess the Aqua DACs as they have no volume controls.
As perfect timing would have it, the Goldmund Telos 590 integrated amplifier was simultaneously visiting for review and so I carried out the Aqua comparisons with the Goldmund amp. The digital source is an Antipodes CX+EX Music Server combo with Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cable. The power cable was a Belden with Oyaide C004 connector and the interlink was the Vermouth Reference.
The secondary system consists of Xavian Perla Esclusiva speakers fed by an Ayon Spirit III integrated tube amp. The digital source is an Antipodes EX Music Server with a Curious Cables USB cable. The power cable is the Vermouth Reference and interlinks used are the AudioQuest Water and the Vermouth Reference.
Do not stack the components
As can be seen in the images below, the very compliant Aqua component feet leave stains on the anti-resonant Nextel coating that turns out to be impossible to remove. I found this out the hard way and by only having the La Scala stacked on top of the Formula for a couple of days. And to think that there was even an A4 paper with a warning on it in the box that I chose to ignore…
While the Artesania Modular Rack’s Panzerholz is similarly affected, they do not leave permanent stains on the very hard paint coating of the white cabinet in the secondary listening room. So, make sure not to stack them on one another and that the surface onto which they are placed is non-porous.
Sound
The La Scala mkII has made a very favorable impression on me from the very first moments of listening. It seems to hardly need any time to warm up, a couple of minutes to allow the tubes to get going seems to be all that it takes for this DAC to shine with no obvious changes after further warming up. In fact, externally, the DAC does not get very warm at all and why should it? Excess energy dissipation is not by definition a sign of good audio quality.
Switching from the Formula xHD to the La Scala mkII there is a very strong family resemblance. The La Scala is every bit as refined, has just as much low-level resolution, is just as nimble and dynamic and just as airy in the treble. Slightly warmer and rounder and slightly less articulate, the La Scala is just a touch friendlier. In terms of transparency and linearity, the Formula xHD remains the King but the La Scala strikes back with a more spacious soundstage with deeper imaging and just the right amount of bloom in the midrange so as to add a touch of harmonic richness but not at all in an over-ripe manner and without adding any coloration. Vocals and string instruments, especially, obtain a certain quality that makes them appear more 3D and even more human and, in a way, emotionally even more involving. The La Scala mkII is indeed a touch warmer than the Formula xHD but from memory, it is not as warm as the La Voce and definitely more articulate and transparent.
The Formula xHD remains the ultimate reference and I value its neutrality and especially in the context of the sonorous sounding Xavian setup the Formula xHD’s ultimate transparency and linearity made for a supremely synergistic match even if I was heavily seduced by the La Scala’s harmonically rich midrange. In the more accurate Kroma/Goldmund system I can swing both ways and would have a tough time deciding between the two DACs. Ultimately, I think it’s fair to say that the Formula xHD is so utterly precise that in some combinations it may be perceived as being a little bit too analytical. And that’s where the La Scala comes in, giving away very little, costing less and possessing of that midrange magic that only tubes seem to bring.
As a side note: Aqua will be issuing an upgraded output stage board for the Formula xHD DAC which, according to the manufacturer, will elevate the Formula xHD’s performance to an all-new level.
Update 04-11-2019: meanwhile, Aqua has released the V2 output board. Read the review here.
Tube Rolling
As the manufacturer has specially selected the tubes, it is not recommended to experiment with them but if you wanted to, you could. In this case, my experiment was fueled by a recent change in tube complement by the manufacturer. Up until recently, the La Scala was delivered with Telefunken ECC81 tubes but now they started using the Genalex Gold Lion ECC81. The DAC was delivered with the Genalex tubes installed but Marco was so kind to also include a pair of Telefunkens for me to compare.
The Genalex Gold Lion ECC81 tubes
Well, on this subject I can be very brief: the Genalex tubes are an easy and utter improvement over the Telefunken tubes. The new ones are much more refined and agile as well as more energetic, yet sweeter and airier and very liquid. On top of this, they provide wider soundstaging and clearer positioning of images therein. Yup, this is a very easy call, no ifs, and buts: the new tubes are simply much better.
Conclusion
The La Scala MkII DAC may well hold the sweet spot in the Aqua DAC lineup. It gives away very little compared to the Formula xHD, costs less, and adds an utterly seductive touch of tube magic. I hasten to add that the tubes don’t take away any speed or dynamics nor do they cloud any details but, still, their contribution is unmistakable and highly addictive.
External Links
Distributor for the NL/Belgium: hexagonaudio.eu/nl
Manufacturer: aquahifi.com
Read Also
Aqua Formula xHD DAC
Aqua Formula xHD v2 Output Board upgrade
Aqua LinQ Network Interface
I’m a happy owner of the aqua la sala mk2 version, not the optologic. I’ve tried brimar and mullard tubes. Brimar sounded quite warm but lacked in treble brilliance, the Mullards are my preferred tubes. Do you have a link to where I can buy some solid Genalex Gold Lion ECC81 tubes? I live in europe so preferably a european site.
Also Im still waiting for pink fauns scion roon endpoint or another similar device that can output i2s. I’ve read that your conclusion is that i2s usually sounds better with the aqua dacs.
Hi Rick, a good place to start looking for tubes within the EU is https://www.tubedirect.nl/. They have many tubes in stock and can also supply on request.
Indeed, I find that I2S so far always leads to the best sound. If and when Pink Faun release new products, chances are that I will be reviewing them here.
Hi again, Im looking for a power cord for my Aqua la scala dac. My experience is that my aqua dac is way more responsive to power cords than my Karan amp. Therefore I wanted to start with buying just one and go from there, today I use a old Audience “e” pc for the dac.
Usually I prefer a somewhat “organic”, “warm” and “dense” sound as opposed to a especially “delineated” one. However, I still crave PRaT, for example I’ve tried Luna XLR cables, they sounded quite wonderful, as in “organic” and such, however they where to “slow” for my tastes, too much of a “continuous flow” rather than enough bite. Another example of a similar nature is Phasure usb cable, quite marvelous but to “slow”.
Would for example the Mad Scientist new nitro power cord (according to the manufacturer its supposed to sound snappier, hence the name nitro, than the neo version) be a reasonable choice do you think?
Also the Mad Scientists usb, it doesn’t lack PRaT, right? I don’t wanna have to slow sounding cables.
Thanks a bunch!
Combining warmth and an organic sound with an articulate sound with great PRaT is pretty difficult and not that common. A power cord gets its sound or character mostly from “filtering” effects and smear caused by the capacitance of the insulation and sleeve. As such, warm sounding cables will usually also sound slower than cleaner sounding ones. It is possible to find just the right balance but that requires a bit of experimentation. I haven’t heard the Nitor power cable but have used The First and that cable was certainly not slow. A very good cable for the Aqua DACs is the Furutech Alpha 3. That cable is no longer made but still available second hand or old stock here and there. It is quite articulate and snappy yet rich and full-bodied and only very slightly relaxed. The Mad Scientist Black Magic USB cable is not particularly slow sounding but it is not the tightest, snappiest or most articulate USB cable that I have heard. It is on the relaxed side of neutral so to say.
Hi, I bought an M-WAY 2DW Gold power cord a couple of weeks ago, I don’t have very much to compare it to. However, it seems to be what I was looking for. Warm and snappy. I guess that the Iego copper connectors are in part an explanation for that result.
I became interested in Iego after reading your articles about different connectors and their implications for sound.
Great review as always Christiaan. I was wondering if you had the chance to compare single-ended interconnects to XLR. I haven’t tried XLRs since my integrated only uses single-ended. I know results will always be system dependent but it would be interesting to hear your thoughts.
Hi Bensan, with the Formula xHD I have extensively compared the two outputs. They are driven independently (and differently) and they do indeed sound different. Personal taste and system synergy will dictate if you will find one better or the other. I believe I preferred XLR at the time for its output transformer-induced smoother sound but I would not call it “better” per se. Pls see that review for the particulars. With the La Scala, I have not compared the outputs directly but I have used one set in one of my systems and the other in the other system. I would suspect that the same differences apply as observed for the Formula but I did not notice them as such during these independent assessment. I found that the La Scala behaves consistently across the two setups and that seems to indicate that the differences are not huge. I wouldn’t worry about it too much as the DAC sounds great regardless of the output that is used.
If you were to pair the La Scala with a preamp, i.e., to get volume control, and drive ATC home floorstanders (e.g., SCM19A), what suggestions might you have?
Btw, what do you hear as the differences between the La Scala and the Stealth?
If you get an Aqua DAC then one of the standout qualities is the resolution and refinement. When getting an analog preamp, my quest would be to get one that most preserves those areas. That brings you to very expensive ones very quickly. Assuming you are looking for a cost-effective solution perhaps a Jeff Rowland Capri could be a good solution. See my review and the comments on it for the whole picture. Alternatively, you could get a second-hand one, for example, a Spectral DMC-30. If you’d like to explore tubes you could opt for an Audio Research Ref x.
Between La Scala and Stealth, these are more different than they have in common. La Scala is transparent and ultra-refined first and foremost and a little bit more nimble while Stealth is much more sonorous and full-bodied and warmer and more relaxed. Really, these are just two different beasts.
Christopher – Thanks for your thoughts and advice. Someone I just noticed is that you (apparently) haven’t reviewed the TotalDac dac offerings, such as the d1-tube-mk ii or the di-seven. The reviewers reactions to the tube version sound a lot like yours to the Stealth. Have they not been available to you?
The TotalDAC’s are interesting and really do deserve a review but that just has not happened yet. I should also cover some more recent dCS DACs as well as MSB. I guess there’s too much good stuff:-)
As I look around the tube dac market, there are some very good brands I hadn’t heard of or paid attention to, LampizatOr, for example. FYI, a guy in Hong Kong and some friends did some auditioning of many dacs and put together a scored preference list, totally subjective and unexplained, but a good reference for brands: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/best-dacs-comparison-test-result-my-subjective-opinion.25584/page-3 (post 50).
Hi Gene, that’s a nice overview. Reading some of the comments I came across the opinion that the C1 sounds bad on less than stellar recordings. I just want to clarify that as far as I am concerned, in principle, none of the current state of the art DACs add things such as sibilance or treble harshness and certainly not the C1. If this is perceived this way then one should look at the source recordings, the loudspeakers, the room, or personal preferences/expectations. There is nothing wrong with desiring a more forgiving sound (and I can absolutely relate to that, see my audio history) but this does mean than such components are to some extent sweetening or rounding off the signals, which the C1 does not do and neither do the Aqua DACs, except, perhaps the La Voce.
I’ve found that the la scala works well with warm and full-sounding cables such as anti-cables power cord (probably better still with some screened power cords for a lower noise floor and improve harmonics) and acoustic revive USB. Furthermore, nos tubes sound way better than contemporary ones, but I’ve gotten the best results with Valvo nos from the 60’s lots of resolution with a touch of organic tone. My British Mullard’s from the same decade have a magical midrange but you lose too much resolution.
In conclusion, so far I’ve gotten best results with highly resolving NOS tubes to not loose Aquas abilities in regards to transparency but combine it with tonally warm and full sounding power cords and USB cables. In total, this makes it sounds a little bit more relaxed and organic but still with great resolution. Well worth investing some time to testing different combinations, it makes an already great DAC sound more intimate.
Many thanks for your comments Rick!
I’ve made some changes regarding cables to my Aqua la scala and it now sounds quite a lot better.
Power cord: Pink Faun PCX-2.
Digital cable: Pink Faun il-2 coax.
Tubes: RCA nos.
Both pink faun cables complement Aqua very well, they sound calm and organic, especially the power cord is quite important. Anti-Cables power cord which I used before doesn’t handle high frequencies very well which makes the DAC sound a little bit bright at times.
RCA sounds very full and that works well with the transparent Aqua DAC.
Thanks for the update, Rick.
Hi Christiaan,
How would you compare La Scala with Bryston BDA-3? Especially as a substitute for Weiss DAC-2 and in terms of matching with LM 150ia.
I have Furutech FP-TCS31 power cable with FI 28-38 (G) used with Weiss providing a nice tubey touch and wonder whether or not it would sweeten La Scala too much.
Thanks for you valuable comments in advance,
Onuralp
For the differences between the Bryston and the Aqua, please read my reviews. They should tell you all you need to know. The La Scala is not too sweet itself, IMO. It is a tube product but it’s not rose-tinted in any way. If you like the Furu cable with the Weiss, it will probably also work with the La Scala.
Congratulations, nice review and being a happy owner of the Dac Aqua La Scala I can only confirm impressions, they are the same that I had when I listened to it for the first time. With regard to the valves I still have the original Telefunken and I wanted to understand in which parameters the GeneLex improves the sound and, always kindly understand if it is worth spending something more for the NOS and if possible what to choose. Thanks
Hi Max, I’m not sure if I understand correctly but are you asking about my experience with NOS tubes in relation to the La Scala mkII DAC? If so then I can be brief: I’ve done no further experimentation with this DAC. If it concerns NOS tube in general, then my stance is that, yes, they can yield spectacular results but, no, I don’t prefer them because they are no longer made, in low supply and you never know what state they are in. I prefer to have piece of mind knowing that the tubes I use are standard and can always be renewed by the same types. But that’s just me:-)
Hi Christiaan,
Could you please characterize the sound of the Aqua DAC in comparison to the better Wadia DACs, especially to a 27ix V 3.0?
Thanks and best regards
Balázs
Hi Balazs, there are no similarities, they are very different. Wadia 27 (version number is largely irrelevant for its character) is more robust and more impactful in the bass but also drier (not really fluid) and darker from the upper midrange and up. Resolution in the treble can appear relatively low but is the price to pay for the otherwise magnificent Wadia traits. For a Wadia, it is relatively smooth but it’s still very different from most other DACs, it’s just typically Wadia. If you love it, nothing else will do. If you don’t like it, none of the Wadias will do. Only Wadia 521 is smoother but it remains Wadia-typical. Aqua La Scala is fluid, smooth, extended, more neutrally-balanced, very high-res, and more open and airy. The La Scala is not lean but compared to the Wadia, it will appear so. In terms of expression and dynamics, both are great.
Thanks a lot, Christiaan, for the nice description. Is the comparison of the latest edition of the Aqua Formula DAC against the Wadia 27 something different, than against the La Scala?
Aqua and Wadia just sound very different, regardless of the models.
Thanks, Christiaan. Just a last question please: how would you describe a JR Aeris with PSU in comparison to both Aqua and Wadia 27/521?
The Aquas are NOS Ladder DACs and these sound different by nature. They are purer and cleaner than most any other DAC and that includes the Aeris, even with PSU. However, the Aeris has certain other qualities, see the Aeris + PSU review. Please refer to the Wadia 521 review for the specifics of Wadia 521 versus Rowland Aeris
Hi Christian,
Have you experimented with (additional) vibration control on the La Scala, and if so, what was your experience?
Thank you.
Best regards,
Tony
Hi Tony, Not with the Scala, but I have experimented with different placements and various footers for the La Diva M2 See the review for details.
Hi Christian,
Thank you very much. Your related insights are helpful.
Having recently auditioned a La Scala, I have placed an order for one. My previous stand-alone DAC (ownership) experiences were limited (a Pontus II and Merason), but the La Scala is clearly a significant improvement, and I look forward to its impact on my evolving system.
Cheers,
Tony
If you need to read a review about Audio, you should come here. Simply as that.
Congratulations for all this reviews. At the same time, your sound taste is similar to me: Neutral.
In the next 2 or 3 months…i´m going to buy this Scala Dac. Is there any possibility for you to test this DAC but with a neutral ECC81 tube? (Genalex is more soft and warm).
Thanks for the great feedback, Vincent!
For the sake of consistency and so that buyers know what they will get, I generally review components with their standard tubes. I did describe the difference between the new Genalex and the Telefunken tubes that were used prior. Although some more tube rolling with the La Scala would surely be interesting, honestly, I can’t justify spending the time to re-review a DAC just for that purpose.
Dear Christian,
I am writing again to you from Argentina, since I plan to acquire La Scala Optologic shortly, and I want to ask you the following question: to listen to CDs through La Scala I will have 2 options:
1-Krell KPS 20i per coaxial output.
2-Goldmund Mimesis 39 for AES/EBU output.
Both are integrated compact, NO CD transport.
What would be the best option for you?
From already thank you very much!!!
Carlos
Hi Carlos, alas, this is impossible for me to say as I have not heard the Krell in ages and only used it as an integral player, and I have not at all heard the Mimesis 39.
What I will say is that the success will be much more dependent on the sound of the player than on the interface format. What I know of the Aqua DACs is that their inputs all sound very similar. But even as a transport, CD spinners will have their inherent character. Then again, both players you mention has a Philips swing-arm mech and therefore likely also have similar servo sections and as a result, may sound more alike than different. Nevertheless, only a home demo will tell.
Also please keep in mind that audio components’ capacitors age and this will usually have the effect of making the players sound smoother and more fluid (which can be desirable depending on the rest of the system) or slow and undynamic, which is generally undesirable.
Hi Christian
Thank you for this thorough review. A great read and guide to use. Much appreciated!
I purchased an Aqua La Scala Optologic and as always look at further improvements. I use it with a Lumin U2 mini transport with Plixir seperate power supply. Connected the streamer and DAC with a Curious Evolve USB cable.
2 questions I ask myself
Would a better i.e. USB cable make a tangible difference? Should I give AEB a try?
The Lumin streamer being the weakest link, I am looking at upgrading to either Grimm, Innous or Antipodes at a later stage. A dealer said that an Aqua Link is a no brainer to put into the chain… What are your thoughts?
My system consists of Vitus 025 amp and Vimberg Mino speakers – connected with Tara Labs the2 speaker cables and I use Shunyata Alpha power cords. The Minos make every change audible, they so transparent and eg the Tara Labs speaker cords were a massive upgrade from Chord Epic cables. I could not believe the difference a cable makes.
Any suggestions or guidance is much appreciated. I love the Aqua DAC, a massive improvement from the previous PS Audio DSD with bridge2.
Thank you!
Hi Christof, good to hear you enjoy the report:-) USB cables can have a large effect on the sound but it depends on which direction you want to pull the sound. For ideas, please see the various cables on this site. I have also reviewed the Curious Evolve. AES/EBU will usually sound different than USB. It’s up to you to decide which one sounds “best”. Indeed, at its price bracket, the LinQ remains the best network endpoint I’ve heard. And the bonus is that you can use AQLink (I2S) between it and your La Scala which I feel is better than AES or USB connections.
I decided to audition and then buy a Aqua La Scala after reading your review. Spot on as always!
That’s great! Thank you for the feedback:-)