Aqua Formula - new upgrade, retrofittable!

[Sablon Audio]

Larry, out of interest do you use rca or xlr output?

Recommend SR Blue fuse, as others have done also, and it is located inside that little green box on pcb next to iec inlet internally. You should achieve similar gains to the new analogue board.

 

[LarryK]

Larry, out of interest do you use rca or xlr output?

Recommend SR Blue fuse, as others have done also, and it is located inside that little green box on pcb next to iec inlet internally. You should achieve similar gains to the new analogue board.

I’m using the RCA outputs, as I did before. My preamp only has balanced for the output to the amp, inputs are mainly RCAs.

I’ll listen for a while and then upgrade the fuse. Thanks for pointing out where the fuse is located.

 

[Sablon Audio]

Thanks for clarifying Larry. My reason for asking is that Aqua upgraded the transformers which convert RCA to XLR output, so it seems that the other aspects changed have been pretty worthwhile in their own right.

 

[Rhapsody]

Thanks for clarifying Larry. My reason for asking is that Aqua upgraded the transformers which convert RCA to XLR output, so it seems that the other aspects changed have been pretty worthwhile in their own right.

Hi, do you happen to know the fuse size 5 X 20mm? in the xHD? ???amperage?....thx

 

[Sablon Audio]

Sorry I don’t know Bob (and this will also vary according to regional voltage) but would recommend taking a value @30% larger than fitted as the SR fuses can blow quicker than generic ones with start up surge.

 

[Rhapsody]

Sorry I don’t know Bob (and this will also vary according to regional voltage) but would recommend taking a value @30% larger than fitted as the SR fuses can blow quicker than generic ones with start up surge.

Thank you!

 

[Blue58]

Hi, do you happen to know the fuse size 5 X 20mm? in the xHD? ???amperage?....thx

Hi Bob, I used this one.

SYNERGISTIC RESEARCH QUANTUM BLUE 20MM FUSE | T1.6A | INTERNAL FUSE

 

[Rhapsody]

Hi Bob, I used this one.

SYNERGISTIC RESEARCH QUANTUM BLUE 20MM FUSE | T1.6A | INTERNAL FUSE

Thank you, appreciate it!

 

[Blue58]

Thank you, appreciate it!

That’s for 230v, so perhaps a 3a for 115v

 

[Rhapsody]

That’s for 230v, so perhaps a 3a for 115v

It is actually strange because I just opened up my xHD and it has a T1H fuse. Usually the 110V version would be higher, so not sure. I am going to replace my stock 1 amp with a Beeswax 1 amp and see how it works.

I did confirm with AQ/Christian that the 1amp fuse was the corret value for the US version.

 

[LarryK]

Larry, out of interest do you use rca or xlr output?

Recommend SR Blue fuse, as others have done also, and it is located inside that little green box on pcb next to iec inlet internally. You should achieve similar gains to the new analogue board.

Ah, yes, I see the little green box.

 

[LarryK]

It is actually strange because I just opened up my xHD and it has a T1H fuse. Usually the 110V version would be higher, so not sure. I am going to replace my stock 1 amp with a Beeswax 1 amp and see how it works.

I did confirm with AQ/Christian that the 1amp fuse was the corret value for the US version.

As a former beekeeper, that's one use of beeswax I never dreamt of! Beeswax burns like the dickens if ever ignited, wax fires are incredibly difficult to extinguish. A few decades ago, one beeswax supplier lost their entire warehouse due to a wax fire. Is there a real sonic benefit to beeswax over the standard liquid? What is the common fluid used in fuses?

 

[spiritofmusic]

Larry, reach out to Blue58. Barry has good experience of the Beeswax fuse, moved to the SR Blue.

 

[Rhapsody]

Just want to give an appreication hand clap to Crisitan at Aqua Formula in Italy for the AQ very attentive customer service. I had an issue with a broken bnc connector on my xHD. Within about 3 days from when I first asked Cristian about it I had a new board Fedex'd that I recevied today. That's 3 days from mention to AQ in Italy until the new board arrived in NYC.

Special customer service- thank you AQ!!!

 

[joaovieira]

Did you notice any substancial change on the bass with the new board?
Is it like we have a week bass and it gets more real with the new board?

 

[LarryK]

Did you notice any substancial change on the bass with the new board?
Is it like we have a week bass and it gets more real with the new board?

I never thought the DAC had weak bass. There is so much to bass reproduction, starting with the speakers and speaker placement and whether or not you run a sub.

Can you suggest a track that you think the DAC has disappointed you in terms of bass performance? I’ll listen to it and give you my impressions.

 

[joaovieira]

Larry, thank you for your answer.
Acctually is my system that is under suspicion.
A friend came at home and he thinks the system has weak bass. I am trying to figure out if it’s my system with weak bass and his with correct bass, or my system with controled bass and his system with uncontroled bass.
So I am investigating all parts of my system to try to understand it better.
Someone told a few posts up on this discussion that the bass was deeper and better with the new analog board. So that is why I asked.
I am still waiting for the new board.

 

[spiritofmusic]

If this helps, I've heard the Formula XHD at Blue58 early on when it was installed, and a few months later as it opened up. I'm also due to hear it once the new board installed.

FWIW, the bass is the area that I noticed most as changing over 2-3 visits covering several months. Last time I heard it, it was way more convincing in the low end.

Stay in there.

 

[joaovieira]

If you want to try a song, please try Cecille McLorin Salvant on What’s the Matter Now.
The drums on the very start in my system is controled and ok for me. On my friend’s system I heard this music the first time and it shocked me unexpectedly

 

[joaovieira]

If this helps, I've heard the Formula XHD at Blue58 early on when it was installed, and a few months later as it opened up. I'm also due to hear it once the new board installed.

FWIW, the bass is the area that I noticed most as changing over 2-3 visits covering several months. Last time I heard it, it was way more convincing in the low end.

Stay in there.

Thank you, spirit.
My dac has now more than 1000 h of play. I don’t have the XHD upgrade.
Waiting for the analog board.