AQUA La Voce S2 DAC...In Da House!

A friend of mine bought a La Voce S2 a couple of weeks ago and loves it. He had a Schiitt Yggdrasil, sold it, bought a PSA DSD sold it and then got the La Voce. He loves it and says it blows the other DAC's out of the water. I would love to hear how it compares to my Luxman DA-06.

Glad to hear that you are enjoying it.


Larry
 
Mechnutt said:
A friend of mine bought a La Voce S2 a couple of weeks ago and loves it. He had a Schiitt Yggdrasil, sold it, bought a PSA DSD sold it and then got the La Voce. He loves it and says it blows the other DAC's out of the water. I would love to hear how it compares to my Luxman DA-06.

Glad to hear that you are enjoying it.


Larry
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Yeah Larry; I'm still waiting to throw my Ayre QB-9 DSD back in the loop...and my aural memory is short. But I would say, so far...the Aqua has brought out, the BEST; in each, of the 3 different systems I've tried it in.

1st the Luxman L-550AX IA
2nd the Wyred STP-SE/ARC VT-50 combo
3rd the C-J ET-3SE/2550SE pairing
 
CDLehner said:
Yeah Larry; I'm still waiting to throw my Ayre QB-9 DSD back in the loop...and my aural memory is short. But I would say, so far...the Aqua has brought out, the BEST; in each, of the 3 different systems I've tried it in.

1st the Luxman L-550AX IA
2nd the Wyred STP-SE/ARC VT-50 combo
3rd the C-J ET-3SE/2550SE pairing
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Just curious on the general sound of the La Voce. Is it neutral or warmer? I love the warmer sound and full midrange of my Luxman, but I am always open to upgrades. I am not a fan of the etched sound of Sabre based DAC's or DAC's like the Vega.
 
Mechnutt said:
Just curious on the general sound of the La Voce. Is it neutral or warmer? I love the warmer sound and full midrange of my Luxman, but I am always open to upgrades. I am not a fan of the etched sound of Sabre based DAC's or DAC's like the Vega.
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Definitely neutral! Like with the L-550AX. Now I love class-A...but the Luxamn can be, rich, overly-ripe, lush, etc. Sometimes, that's perfection incarnate; sometimes...it's a little too golden.

The La Voce S2 pairing...with the L-550AX; kept all the high-current drive, of class-A...but opened up the sound a bit, and made it sound more dynamic.

I'd say it, or the La Scala...would make a nice shoot-out; with your DA-06 (a DAC, I had on my radar...but was afraid it was too "Luxman"; and while that richness, has a double-edge sword, as I mentioned previously. For me, personally...I don't want to start off that way; at the source. I want the option, to add it later, if desired).
 
CDLehner said:
Definitely neutral! Like with the L-550AX. Now I love class-A...but the Luxamn can be, rich, overly-ripe, lush, etc. Sometimes, that's perfection incarnate; sometimes...it's a little too golden.

The La Voce S2 pairing...with the L-550AX; kept all the high-current drive, of class-A...but opened up the sound a bit, and made it sound more dynamic.

I'd say it, or the La Scala...would make a nice shoot-out; with your DA-06 (a DAC, I had on my radar...but was afraid it was too "Luxman"; and while that richness, has a double-edge sword, as I mentioned previously. For me, personally...I don't want to start off that way; at the source. I want the option, to add it later, if desired).
Click to expand...


Sounds like a DAC that I would like. Same for the Lux amp.
 
Mechnutt said:
Sounds like a DAC that I would like. Same for the Lux amp.
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Jack said:
Larry

Give it a bit, he may sell both of them to you.:rofl:
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Well...the Lux, good as it is; is for sale.

If you've been following closely; I've got 3 systems, for 1 room right now.

Having the Lux to pull out, when I wanted a change of pace...and some of that sweet, sweet class-A; is a LUXury, I can no longer afford (both financially, and "ergonomically"...need to simplify my life).

As for the La Voce...if I don't keep it, I can talk to Mark; see if there's an arrangement to be had.
 
I am set with my Pass amp although I would not mind upgrading from my X250 to an X250.5 or 250.8. I think my next upgrade may be my preamp. I have always been curious about CJ preamps. Almost bought a new CJ ET-3se but decided to go with a BAT VK-51se.

I am always open to upgrading source components though.
 
Great news on the DAC, Chris. I'm so happy for you. Please keep the updates coming.
 
Mechnutt said:
I am set with my Pass amp although I would not mind upgrading from my X250 to an X250.5 or 250.8. I think my next upgrade may be my preamp. I have always been curious about CJ preamps. Almost bought a new CJ ET-3se but decided to go with a BAT VK-51se.

I am always open to upgrading source components though.
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My advice; if you go ET-3, SE is the way to go.

I had an ET-3; didn't blow me away. Now...IDK if it's system synergy, tastes change, etc; but the 3SE is a different animal IMO.
 
Chris, Do you have any follow-up comments about the LaVoce and your 6 pack of DAC contenders?
 
Not really, lol. I can give an opinion on each DAC; but the "competition", was clearly only between the Aqua and the incumbent Ayre.
 
Interesting, I just found this thread. I recently replaced An Auralic Vega which I had on loan with the La Voce, beats it for musicality and listening pleasure in my system.


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KLH007 said:
Chris, Is the Ayre still in your system, or has the La Voce replaced it?
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tapatrick said:
Interesting, I just found this thread. I recently replaced An Auralic Vega which I had on loan with the La Voce, beats it for musicality and listening pleasure in my system.


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I still have both...though I think, when all is said and done; I'm going to stick with the Ayre. It's no slouch, and they're different; just DSD support, footprint, gut. The La Voce is excellent...and very "musical", without being overly golden or colored.

Yes...while the Vega is great at what it does; I can see, how going from it...to the Aqua, you'd feel a fatter, richer presentation. The Vega...as are most ESS Sabre designs; for better or worse, very detailed...but also slightly (to more than slightly, in the wrong hands) etched.

P.S. If anyone has interest in my demo...let me know, and I'll pass it along to Mark. My hands never touched it, and it's Black with the Balanced output.
 
Thanks Chris, I forgot your need for DSD, for many of us it's not a concern yet.
 
KLH007 said:
Thanks Chris, I forgot your need for DSD, for many of us it's not a concern yet.
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It wasn't a deal-breaker; while I was auditioning the Aqua...I used my Aries Mini as a source, and it handled DSD duties.

But...it didn't hurt, to tip things the Ayre's way either.
 
I have a S2 La VOCE. Compared it to my Wadia 860x with Great Northern Sound Mod, as well as other models with the USA importer. And compared it to the MSB Analog DAC full stack and also against a PS audio direct stream senior DAC running Aspen and a few other older firmware.

Comparisons were made with red book, 24/96,24/192 PCM files.
Without power conditioning the La Voce loses to all of the above

certain quad rate DSD files with the PS AUDIO were very hard to beat but we are talking very few songs.

In the PCM world all things changed when the combo of MIT Z powerbar (or a z duplex 20a outlet) were used in conjunction with the Wells Audio power conditioner. Only the Wadia in this case emerged as the winner over La Voce . My thoughts are the internal electrical noise suppression in the La Voce is not anything amazing, but when the combo of this power conditioning was used you could hear the potentional of La Voce. I needed up preferring it to their other models.

The system was Chapman T-7 loundspeakers , Nordost white lightning speaker wire, E.A.R. 890 Tube amp using JJ 6550 tubes (affordable and surprisingly good in this combo), optical cable , Apple TV 3rd gen revision a1469, iPad Air 2 , Tidal Hi-fi. Volume control was done at the amplifier input potentiometer knobs . Power conditioning was MIT Z Duplex 20A outlet, Wells $6k power conditioner . DH Labs Red Wave power cable to wall to power the Wells , Shunyata Alpha 2 for the E.A.R. 890 amp, and the stock La Voce cable was actually the best choice for La Voce .

soundstage was amongst the clearest I have ever heard. An amazing poor mans audiophile giant killer system. Voices were believable to an extent when you could not imagine this was JUST a stereo. Class A amplification helped as well as the bass strong signature of the Chapman T-7 to make up for an 80wpc Tube amp.
 
Anyone tried the S3 upgrade to their S2 la voce? I have one gathering dust and have considered upgrading.


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