I have a Mola Mola Makua with DAC. I also have Lumin X1 and Antipodes K50 server/player. My experiences have been the MM DAC presentation is influenced by cabling and input. My Makua was preowned but had recently been updated by Mola Mola to Roon Ready DAC prior to my purchase. The ethernet Roon Ready input, for me, is robust but not bloated bass and body response, while retaining detail and space. I commonly alternate listening via the Roon Ready input as well as AES/EBU and USB from K50 players and X1 using Roon, and Lumin app. Antipodes recently updated their software, with this recent change one of GUI control, not sound quality changes. I have been using the K50 server and player options more since this change to become more familiar. With it, I primarily use Roon with Squeeze player and Squeeze server and player more than Roon server and player from K50. Roon Ready on Makua though is very good, and easily could live with it alone. With the X1, I sometimes use Roon, but generally use the Lumin App, which, for me, seems to be a bit more detailed and transparent. I am using fiber to my X1 while using RJ45 from K50 Directstream RJ45 output to my Makua for Roon Ready. I am using the Makua as preamp for the X1, rather than Leedh Processing for direct to amp. Both are very good, but when I first tested, I preferred the Makua for this. I really like both the Mola Mola and X1, and though truly do not need both, I have loathe to part with either. However, that leaves me with an abundance of riches for listening configurations. I experienced very long break-in improvements with the X1 and subtle but noticeable improvements with the K50. With the Makua Tambaqui DAC, it had some playing hours on the DAC before I received it. Moreover, I jumped the gun and tried a couple different ethernet cables very early on to the MM DAC, rather than waiting for it to run in my system without changes, so cannot give you proper feedback on break-in on the Mola Mola. I have read a few prior users for Tambaqui saying they thought the MM was lean in presentation. That is not at all the case for me. I would suggest you get some playing hours on the unit and then evaluate if you wish to wish to test separate isolation feet. The previous owner only used the MM rail supports. I initially stayed with the rail supports only. I later tried some Herbie's spare footers I had on hand, but removed them. I did purchase some Iso-Acoustics Indigo Oreas and tried those under the rails. I preferred the sound presentation with 3 of these under the MM body, and preferred it. I did swap with other isolation feet under other components, but changed presentation not to my liking, so returned those to original configurations and used Oreas under the body. If you add under the body, be aware there is some venting under my MM, and suggest you not block those. In summary, I am very pleased with the Mola Mola, and believe you can "tune" the presentation a bit with choice in power cord, ethernet, USB, and AES/EBU cabling, feet under the unit, and choice of Roon Ready or player output to DAC. I find the MM does an excellent job with rebook CD quality resolution. I have some DSD and DXD downloads, but now with the MM, no longer plan on ordering more of those. I perceive some improvements with 24/96 and 24/192 over 16/44 but well recorded 16/44 sounds very good. I do not use upsampling on Roon nor via Lumin App on X1. I predict you will be very pleased with your new Tambaqui.
