Is the RJ45 for the i2S bus ? Look forward to more as if runs on ... Enjoy !
Aqua Formula - settings new levels of R2R sonics and price performance
- Thread starter EuroDriver
- Start date
Is the RJ45 for the i2S bus ? Look forward to more as if runs on ... Enjoy !
yes, RJ45 = i2S bus.
it's getting a little warmed up and the nuance and tonal weight is coming in.....seems quite dimensional and holographic. it doesn't suck.
How does the Aqua transport compare to the USB input sound wise ?
A friend of mine had borrowed the Aqua Formula + matching Aqua transport combo for a week, but was less than impressed. He was only using his micrRendu + LPS-1 on USB side though (no upsampling), so that may have made all the difference in the world compared to SGM.
He has the dCS Puccini with Clock and looking for an upgrade. So far he liked the new dCS Rossini and Chord Dave the most.
A friend of mine had borrowed the Aqua Formula + matching Aqua transport combo for a week, but was less than impressed. He was only using his micrRendu + LPS-1 on USB side though (no upsampling), so that may have made all the difference in the world compared to SGM.
He has the dCS Puccini with Clock and looking for an upgrade. So far he liked the new dCS Rossini and Chord Dave the most.
not got that far yet comparing the transport to files through the SGM. I figure i'll play it for a week before I do any meaningful A/B's. it's fun listening to CD's I have not heard in a couple of years, and some new ones I've never listened to that I have accumulated. it does sound musical just on it's own as I listen. but then the dac is fully broken in and it's (the dac) sitting on a Herzan; significant issues.
as far as the Formula dac I only know it with the SGM, and it does take some time for the tonal weight and full nuance to come in. wonder if that Formula was fully run in? and I don't know the micrRendu at all. everything up-sampled to dxd through HQ Player on the SGM is likely a big deal.
Finally Geoffrey Armstrong and I got to spend some quality time with the Formula being fed with DXD 24 / 352 from HQ Player running Closed Form with NS 5 noise shaping. Alex at Alma Audio alerted us to the sonics of the Aqua running with the Closed Form Filter and we kiss him on both cheeks for his experimentation and post. The sonics of Redbook upsampled to DXD were excellent, more detail, body, tonality, density and dynamic contrast. The flow and energy of the music was foot tapping.
The sonics of native DSD 64 tracks from Channel Classics converted to DXD with Closed Form and NS 5 were simply stunning. I have heard Rachel Podger's Bach many times but the level of detail, nuance, insight and sheer beauty of the presentation were a real joy. There were melodic motifs in the playing that I simply did not know were there until today. Geoff and I did not want the music to stop.
The take away seems to be a hybrid DSD and PCM playback process seems to avoid the digital potholes and deliver an incredibly musical journey. It's IMHO and YMMV, you need to hear and judge for your selves.
The system that we used today was not mega buck amplification, but the level of musicality had us grinning from ear to ear. The Formula at Sound Galleries has a full week of burn in, so there is still a significant amount of improvement ahead
The sonics of native DSD 64 tracks from Channel Classics converted to DXD with Closed Form and NS 5 were simply stunning. I have heard Rachel Podger's Bach many times but the level of detail, nuance, insight and sheer beauty of the presentation were a real joy. There were melodic motifs in the playing that I simply did not know were there until today. Geoff and I did not want the music to stop.
The take away seems to be a hybrid DSD and PCM playback process seems to avoid the digital potholes and deliver an incredibly musical journey. It's IMHO and YMMV, you need to hear and judge for your selves.
The system that we used today was not mega buck amplification, but the level of musicality had us grinning from ear to ear. The Formula at Sound Galleries has a full week of burn in, so there is still a significant amount of improvement ahead
Hi Bill,
It was Duo's paired with Trio Bass horns, Bespoke TVC and a single digit k Euro EAR amp
I am looking forward to visiting your new sound room in the not too distant future.
To keep things in context, we are still loving GG DSD 512 with KR 242 or other top tubes. The emotion that DHT brings floats our boat too !
sad to report no progress.
been busy at work and battling getting sick for 10 days now (Doc says I have some sort of Bronchitis.....everyone seems to be sick here.....long cold dark winter), so right to bed when I get home. little listening or posting time. and my wife is making sure (meal ticket
). when I do listen it's play list from server, not transport use. and no choice to tear apart my gear to install the transport on top of the dac to allow it to benefit from the Herzan. then I'm traveling this weekend back late next week. at least it will be to a warm(er) place.I will do my best to get to it.
sad to report no progress.
been busy at work and battling getting sick for 10 days now (Doc says I have some sort of Bronchitis.....everyone seems to be sick here.....long cold dark winter), so right to bed when I get home. little listening or posting time. and my wife is making sure (meal ticket
I will do my best to get to it.
Feel better soon , wishes for a speedy recovery .
Changing subject slightly, has anyone heard the new version Aqua La Scala with the discrete board v the Formula. I understand the Formula is more advanced, but how close is the actual performance in the opinion of anyone who has heard both.
A buddy of mine is considering buying it, and wanted to have an idea of where it sits in the range. He likes tubed DACs and R-2Rs, has owned the Kondo DAC and some Audio Note units as well.
Wonder also if it is better than the Big 7 in general sonic terms? Sorry, might be a long shot, but may give me some idea. Thanks in advance.
A buddy of mine is considering buying it, and wanted to have an idea of where it sits in the range. He likes tubed DACs and R-2Rs, has owned the Kondo DAC and some Audio Note units as well.
Wonder also if it is better than the Big 7 in general sonic terms? Sorry, might be a long shot, but may give me some idea. Thanks in advance.
astrostar,
I haven't heard the La Scala yet, but I have good experience with the Formula, and having just received the entry-level La Voce the other day, I'm starting to understand the Aqua line.
Both units are solid state, but one of the interesting things on the Aqua DACs was their tube-like way with things. That lower midrange bloom that's so very tubey, it's there in spades, on both units. Coupled with the SGM server, you get beauty *and* transparency! The R2R architecture guarantees the most natural sound, without fatigue.
cheers,
alex
I haven't heard the La Scala yet, but I have good experience with the Formula, and having just received the entry-level La Voce the other day, I'm starting to understand the Aqua line.
Both units are solid state, but one of the interesting things on the Aqua DACs was their tube-like way with things. That lower midrange bloom that's so very tubey, it's there in spades, on both units. Coupled with the SGM server, you get beauty *and* transparency! The R2R architecture guarantees the most natural sound, without fatigue.
cheers,
alex
Ah, the SS dac that sounds tubey
One of the Holy Grails
Like a supermodel drop dead gorgeous girl who REALLY can cook
One of the Holy Grails
Like a supermodel drop dead gorgeous girl who REALLY can cook
Slightly off topic... okay, a lot off topic, but last year we spent Christmas with some friends including an American supermodel who was modelling at the same time as Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. In fact, she knew all of them quite well as they often worked together, but moved to Europe and lost touch with most of them. She had a lot of great and crazy stories that weren't as hedonistic as I had imagined, which probably says more about me than it does them.
I asked her about the demands on supermodels and especially what they ate. She said her daily intake of calories was an egg, coffee and water. An egg. A single egg, and that's it. I was shocked, but even more so when she said she was constantly told she was too fat and needed to slim down. She said she still has friends in the industry and that one of her friend's daughters is a working model today. She said a very high-profile model who she wouldn't name eats like this: She goes to a fancy restaurant every night, orders what ever she wants from the menu, and when it's brought to the table lets it sit there without taking a single bite. In other words, she tortures herself mentally and emotionally, deriving satiation from food by never ingesting it, on top of regular exercise and yoga. I actually felt angry. Really, really angry. She said it's not uncommon, and the reason they take water everywhere with them is without it they'd literally be dead.
So... er, how about that La Scala thingy...?
With many, many apologies for the detour,
853guy
That story is beyond appalling
I'm surprised there are no models going on homicidal rampages at shows, seriously
Just eat that ******* steak, already
No LOL
I'm surprised there are no models going on homicidal rampages at shows, seriously
Just eat that ******* steak, already
No LOL
The Formula vs La Scala II Optologic comparison would be interesting as to how close the half as expensive La Scala gets to the flagship.
Among other things, the Formula has a better power supply for the digital section (and better transformers overall), better resistors for the R2R ladder and separate boards for each R2R ladder (the La Scala has all 4 ladders on one board). However, given that the Formula employs a solid stage output stage and the La Scala a tube/mosfet output stage, its hard to know whether the difference in the sound can be mainly attributed to the different output stages or the 3 elements above.
Srajan Ebaen reviewed both but I am trying to grasp from his La Scala II Optologic review (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/aqua3/1.html) as to what the difference really is, besides the La Scala being thicker, more opaque and the Formula being faster and clearer. I can't even read between the lines...
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