This is purely subjective opinion. Aqua LaScala/ Atma-Sphere Class D

But one does not need to paint flames onto the Pinto. 

😂😂

@sbank I believe that you may be confusing two models. The current La Scala is the MkII, and I do not believe that there has ever been a MkIII. There is a La Voce S3, which is the latest in that line, but as you suggest the La Scala is widely considered to be a very clear step up in class.

In fact, when I communicated with Aqua before I completed by purchase of the La Scala, they told me that their production capability was "almost saturated by a big number of backlog orders for the Formula, La Scala, LinQ, and a much lower request for La Voce S3."

So, at the time, while the La Voce was back ordered, the company was prioritizing the models that were both very popular and of higher quality.

One other observation that I can make re: the La Scala is that it is somehow able to extract fine details, yet at the time sweeten poorly recorded material. That is counter-intuitive to me, but perhaps it is related to the tube output.

In any case, as mentioned above, I feel no urge whatsoever to make a change, and now pay virtually no attention to articles about other DACs.

She couldn’t believe how George Winston’s Steinway sounded. She said she’s never heard a Steinway reproduced that close before. BTW she has a Steinway Grand in her home.

This is very interesting to me, as when I was asked early on to describe the differences between my Aqua La Scala DAC and my previous Denafrips Pontus II, I said this:

...one particular thing that immediately grabbed my attention is how piano is reproduced. It was not something that was on my mind at all, so no expectation bias involved, yet across genres, all of the well-recorded piano music seemed much more natural and detailed than what I have previously experienced. It may well have something to do with the clock, and more accurate decays, as that is something that crossed my mind with the reproduction of other instruments, as well. But whatever the exact explanation, having had the experience, it seems that in retrospect I have typically been listening to piano as almost a generic, background instrument, lacking fine definition, and I now suspect that going forward it might be a particularly important and useful focal point when auditioning any DAC, and/or speakers.

FWIW, I listen to the La Scala with a C.E.C. TL-15 CD transport, and Circle Labs A200 hybrid integrated amp, through a pair of FinkTeam KIM speakers.

Aren’t all opinions purely subjective?

Purely? I wouldn’t say that. Opinions don’t appear in a vacuum. Some are well-supported by facts, while others are not.

For example, if one person were to assert that DAC A is clearly better than DAC B, while another were to assert the opposite, it might well be fair, absent any other information, to say that both opinions were purely subjective.

But if DAC A was cheap, measured poorly, and had never received a positive professional review, while B was much more expensive, built to a much higher standard, measured extremely well, and received glowing reviews, would those two opinions remain "purely" subjective?

Of course someone could form the opinion that a ’73 Ford Pinto is a superior car when compared to a ’73 Porsche 911s, but when the weight of the related facts reaches a significant level, the "purely subjective" claim is likely to lead to a false equivalency.