One way to enhance your system to upgrade your digital conversion to current specifications is to add a stand-alone Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC). This can be used for multiple reasons including some, or all, of the following:
After long listening tests we have decided to stock the following units which we feel offer exceptional value and performance, for their price points:
The La Scala DAC is not a product designed to become obsolescent as is the case with most of the products in the high-end digital world. After its first appearance in the flagship Formula DAC, the proprietary D/A conversion system developed by Aqua (Optologic), is now available for the La Scala Mk 2 DAC. The La Scala Mk 2 keeps the Valve/MOSFET hybrid circuitry, now utilising a pair of specially selected ECC81 tubes - a High-Frequency triode - for its extremely low noise and superb transparency. The sound is exceptionally precise in imaging, high resolution of fine details such as chord sustains and decays, very fast transients and dynamics. Tonal balance is accurate with little hint of colouration.
A natural partner with the Aqua La Diva Mk 2, or any other high quality CD transport, for physical replay.
Current MK 1 Owners, can upgrade their unit in order to reach to the revolutionary Optologic D/A conversion system. This upgrade improves every aspect: time coherence, micro-dynamics, timbre, and without losing that magic atmosphere for which La Scala is widely renowned.
Inputs:
Analog outputs:
Aqua Acoustic Quality La Scala MK2 Optologic DAC in silver or black £7,460
The Formula xHD (revision 2) is the flagship DAC from Aqua Acoustic takes things up a level from the La Scala Mk 2 Optologic DAC by using better components which are summarised below. The soundstage is slightly larger in all dimensions, with an increase in the precision of imaging which is already very precise in the La Scala, and transients are delivered slightly faster.
The sound is very much the trademark Aqua Acoustic, retaining the qualities we admire in the La Scala, notably highly accurate tone and timbre to the instruments and voices, texture and detail, precise rhythmic timing and 3-dimensional soundstage – but the Formula xHD just does it better.
DAC:
Processing capability increases from:
The Output stage is transformer based and true-balanced within the Formula xHD, with the output stage itself being a sizable unit utilising many, very high quality, discrete components. The La Scala uses a simpler hybrid valve/MOSFET direct coupling analogue output stage, using discrete components.
Features include:
- Tantalum, solid-polymer OS-CON and double-metalized MJP capacitors
- low noise Metal Foil ultra-precision resistors
- double metallized film pulse capacitor
- ultra-fast diodes
- halogen free cables
Outputs
Aqua Acoustic Quality Formula xHD Rev. 2 in silver or black £14,980
The quality of the La Diva/La Scala now is already stunning... The effect is just what I was trying to achieve when I started to upgrade the system 4 years ago. This journey is made easier in that the source sound quality is so high, even at this early stage of running in. I cannot believe how good the PMC Cor amp and PMC 25/26 speakers sound. The increase in dynamic range alone is massive... I seem to now have a subwoofer added to the speakers.
- Mr BD from North London
We have been enamoured with the fully balanced AADAC since it arrived. The sound quality of this unit is totally seductive offering a large and large soundstage, excellent image separation, fine detail and micro dynamics delivered with finesse. Bass is full bodied and extended, along with class leading dynamics and depth of image. The compact 22cm wide unit has been designed to match the style of the other Audio Analogue products and looks striking. A worthy partner with and CD transport but a natural partner for the AAdrive shown under the CD player part of this section.
Digital Inputs:
- 2 x Coax
- 1 x Toslink Optical
- 1 x AES/EBU Balanced
- 1 x USB B
- Antenna for Bluetooth aptX
Sample Rates:
- SPDIF (up to 24bit/192KHz)
- Toslink (up to 24bit/96KHz
- AES/EBU (up to 24bit/192KHz) digital inputs
- Bluetooth aptX® high quality audio wireless input (up to 16bit/48KHz)
Audio Analogue AA DAC in silver or black £3,750
I think the AAdrive and AAdac are both something of a high-end star combination, in the making. They deserve to be at the front end of some extremely high-grade audio.
It (Audio Analogue) can do to digital what it does so well to Analogue shouldn’t be a surprise. However, the fact it does it so well, making this one of the go-to front ends to beat at the price still comes of something of a surprise, in part because the AAdac, in particular, takes on an extremely contended market. And wins.
Finally, the AAdrive and AAdac combination taken together is worthy of note, as they represent one of the best ways of making a good sound from CD for the high-end enthusiast without £50k to burn.
- Alan Sircom Hifi+ March 2021
The M-DAC Plus is the evolution of the multi award winning M-DAC which took the world by storm. In our listening tests we found this to be a compelling listen at an attainable price. We compared this against DACs costing multiple times its price but the M-DAC Plus did not disappoint. It delivers a very credible holographic soundstage with natural tone offering outstanding value for money.
This is a small form factor unit only 29 cm wide making accommodation easy and provides many features.
Digital inputs:
- 2 x Coaxial
- 2 x Toslink Optical
- 1 x AES/EBU, 1 x USB for PC and 1 x USB for iPod/iPhone/iPad
Digital Outputs:
- 1 x Coaxial & 1 x Toslink Optical
Analogue Outputs:
-Both XLR and RCA
Sampling rates:
- 24-bit / 192kHz (Optical, Coaxial and AES)
- 32-bit / 384kHz (USB)
- 2.8MHz (DSD64), 5.6MHz (DSD128), 11.2MHz (DSD256)
Audiolab M-DAC+ in silver or black £800
4 Zephyr House Calleva Park | Aldermaston | Berkshire RG7 8JN
Demonstrations by appointment Monday – Saturday: 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Telephone or Zoom consultations are available and can be booked at mutually convenient times
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