Ehrmantraut Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 Item Condition: AUS stock Excellent condition 2/3/23 Shipping Options: Pickup available and you can audition.,Shipping is included in price. Suburb or Town: Teneriffe State: QLD Payment Method: Paypal EFT Cash on pickup Reason for selling: Downsizing One of the best DACs at any price point - Mar 2023 - all original packaging/receipt - stock tubes (so not opened!) La Scala MKII Optologic DAC New Optologic Conversion System A never ending story: upgrading to the Optologic DAC Again, La Scala D/A converter proves that an instant classic does not mean a product whose destiny is to become obsolescent, like most of the products in the high-end world. After the first appearance in the flagship Formula DAC, the proprietary D/A conversion system developed by Aqua is now available for La Scala MkII dac. So, current Owners, have the opportunity to upgrade their unit in order to reach to the revolutionary Optologic D/A conversion system. The already extraordinary sound quality of this icon is now improved in every aspect: time coherence, microdynamics, timbre, and without losing that magic atmosphere for which La Scala is widely renowned. La Scala MkII keeps the VALVE / MOSFET hybrid circuitry, with now a pair of specially selected ECC81 tubes - a High-Frequency triode - for its extremely low noise and superb transparency. FEATURES the new Optologic Conversion System • High performance proprietary FPGA-based digital decoding without digital filter • Galvanic and magnetic isolations between the FPGA and R2R ladder converter • Discrete R2R ladder DACs with low noise precision resistors • Jitter free digital interface AQlink (I2S protocol), uncompromising digital connection to La Diva cd transport • Zero S/PDIF Jitter design, digital receiver stage PLL (phase locked loop) technology • High-performance AQ Discrete Regulator (MOSFET, J-FET, BJT) for analog and digital DAC’s power supply • Valve-Mosfet direct coupling analog stage in pure class-A without negative feedback • MOSFET Virtual battery circuit for analog anode supply • Soft-start power up for extended tube life • etherCON RJ45 (AQlink) input connection, employs CAT6 cable can connect both RJ45 and professional etherCON RJ45 • 2 separate low noise power transformers, one for the analog and one for the digital section • MODULAR DESIGN with upgradeable multi board system • Regulated DC filament supplies with soft start for tubes • Fully discrete analog stage, not even a single Op-Amp is used • Proprietary USB Firmware / driver : Apple MAC OS - Linux OS : USB asynchronous native support, no need to install drivers software • Fully upgradeable asynchronous USB module with resolution 44.1kHz to 384kHz PCM up to 24 bits, DSD64, DSD128, operates with computers running OSX 10.7 and above, WINDOWS 10 , 8 , 7 and XP ASIO - WASAPI bit perfect high-speed • Digital phase selector on front panel • High-quality parts selected for sound quality: - 105° long life capacitors - low noise Metal Foil ultra-precision resistors - double metallized film pulse capacitor - ultra-fast diodes - halogen free cables • Aluminium anti-resonant cabinet with Nextel • Designed and handmade in Italy • Input: - RJ45 AQlink (I2S serial bus) - PCM 24 bit / 384kHz – DSD64, DSD128 via DoP - BNC coax (S/PDIF) 75 ohm - PCM 24 bit / 192kHz – DSD64 via DoP - RCA coax (S/PDIF) 75 ohm - PCM 24 bit / 192kHz – DSD64 via DoP - AES/EBU balanced 110 ohm - PCM 24 bit / 192kHz – DSD64 via DoP - USB port - PCM 24 bit / 384kHz – DSD64, DSD128 via DoP - AT&T (ST Fiber) - PCM 24 bit / 192kHz – DSD64 via DoP (optional) • Analog output: - RCA single-ended - XLR balanced with transformer • 5-year warranty SPECIFICATIONS Digital to analog conversion type Proprietary Optologic D/A conversion system Pure R2R ladder - FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) based without digital filter Supported Native Sample Rates AQlink / I2S serial bus - USB PC Audio : 44.1kHz to 384kHz PCM up to 24 bits DSD64, DSD128 Supports DSD via DoP on all inputs DAC architecture Multibit sign magnitude R2R ladder (upgradable) Asynchronous USB (High Speed) USB Audio Class 2 with Type B connector Digital Receiver PLL (phase locked loop) technology 128 or 256 FS internally selectable AQlink (I2S bus) CMOS level Oversampling factor 1x Digital inputs - RJ45 AQlink (I2S serial bus) - PCM 24 bit / 384kHz – DSD64, DSD128 via DoP - BNC coax (S/PDIF) 75 ohm - PCM 24 bit / 192kHz – DSD64 via DoP - RCA coax (S/PDIF) 75 ohm - PCM 24 bit / 192kHz – DSD64 via DoP - AES/EBU balanced 110 ohm - PCM 24 bit / 192kHz – DSD64 via DoP - USB port - PCM 24 bit / 384kHz – DSD64, DSD128 via DoP - AT&T (ST Fiber) - PCM 24 bit / 192kHz – DSD64 via DoP (optional) Analogue Outputs UNBAL 2 RCA Output 2.2 V RMS BALANCED ( passive transformer's symmetrical ) 2 XLR Output : 2.2V RMS Output Impedance 100 ohm RCA - 600 ohm XLR Load Impedance 10 kohm (min.) RCA - 600 ohm XLR Frequency Response 20Hz to 22kHz +0.5dB/-0.5dB Phase Response Linear phase THD + N <0.1% 1KHz -20dB Front Panel Power, input selector, Phase Invert switch Power Consumption 100-115V / 220-240V; 50 or 60Hz - 58VA Dimensions ( W x D x H ) 450 x 370 x 100 mm Weight 9 kg Front finish Satin Alu Silver or Satin Black Case finish Grey Nextel powder coated 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Audiophile Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 (edited) I absolutely love my Aqua La Scala DAC. Heard a bundle of other high end DACs. My major complaint is most are etiher they are too clinical, analytical and fatiguing, or they employ unnecessary filtering and suck the emotional life from the music. I like the La Scala DAC for its organic non fatiguing and engaging sound. It does employ tubes as part of the output analog stage. Here, I found you could create another infinite array of different sounding DAC depending on which tube you used. Cristian Anelli (Milan, Italy) , is Aqua Acoustics owner and chief product engineer. Lovely guy, I have exchanged dozens of emails with him regarding the La Scala DAC and he has guided me with regards to suitable choices of tubes to roll based on their measurements. I started the Aqua owners forum on SNA, to further detail my tube rolling adventures as well as other improvements to the La Scala DAC. Selling cheap, Neil. Retail is $11.9K. My mate and I both own current Aqua La Scalas. This is his system.. Edited August 29 by Silver Audiophile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Audiophile Posted August 29 Share Posted August 29 @captain.j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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