As an addendum, for the past few days I’ve left both DACs fired up and have continued to switch periodically from Schiit to Aqua, Aqua to Schiit and so forth (I’m currently listening to the Beethoven Cello and Piano sonatas with Simone Dinnerstein on piano) and I’ve noticed a potentially very interesting thing about La Voce in so doing. This is something that I’ve only seen mentioned in the review of the Aqua La Scala II DAC on The Ear website; namely that La Voce too seems to have a different sonic character depending on input. Whereas my Gumby has no XLR input to test this theory with (I’ve been using a Canare impedance converter from XLR to BNC out of my AES converter), my Aqua DAC does. So previously I had been switching back and forth between the XLR input of my Aqua and BNC input of my Gumby. (It is pretty well accepted that BNC or RCA on Gumby sound better than USB and that is immediately apparent to me, even when using Recovery re-clocker or my ifi USB 2.0 with split USB cable etc). In any case, Aqua’s XLR digital input sounds a bit warmer and more expansive than it’s own BNC input (using same impedance converter with BNC cable) and the leading edges of percussion and stringed instruments are not quite as intense. In other words- it may be slightly warmer and less forward with perhaps a touch less impact, but a spacier stage. (Incidentally, The Ear guy preferred the balanced input on the La Scala to BNC and settled down with that one and I think I will too). It’s a small difference, but one that seems consistently audible despite varying program material. Thus, we come to the (hopefully) relevant upshot; La Voce sounds closer to Gumby when you use La Voce’s BNC input! When you use XLR digital input, then La Voce is immediately warmer and more rounded than Gumby. The delta is greater. On the whole, regardless of input, I am still preferring La Voce’s expansiveness and slightly airier/bigger-boned and maybe even more grainless presentation of voices and strings and piano, though Gumby remains punchier, with more mid bass drive and a slightly more upfront character. Image outlines with Gumby are also more exactly drawn. For example, with Gumby driving, Center stage is definitely right friggin’ razor sharp smack dab center stage! La Voce is not quite as sure where the EXACT middle is:)
In any case, I should have been comparing BNC input to BNC input all along, but who knew the XLR and BNC inputs on La Voce would sound different!? Oh yeah-- that reviewer from The Ear did! :) That guy has a good ’Ear.’ I’m here all night folks! Here all night! ;)
I mention this because it may be well to keep this sonic input difference in mind when you read comparisons of DACs like the Aqua to the Schiit gear. This may also be how one guy hears it ’like so,’ and another hears it as ’less warm’ or more this way or that way. Then of course, this being the interweb, they call each other’s mommas names. Inputs here can and do make a difference especially in such subtle back and forth comparisons and it seems this might even be enough to sway someone one way or the other, especially on short-term listening, Now my apologies if you know this, and I certainly had an idea about it, but this particular DAC-off drove this point home for me much more poignantly; hence this addendum! Sir yes sir! Just trying to serve my community and be the best Audiogoner I can be, sir! Now what was that about my momma!!???
In any case, I should have been comparing BNC input to BNC input all along, but who knew the XLR and BNC inputs on La Voce would sound different!? Oh yeah-- that reviewer from The Ear did! :) That guy has a good ’Ear.’ I’m here all night folks! Here all night! ;)
I mention this because it may be well to keep this sonic input difference in mind when you read comparisons of DACs like the Aqua to the Schiit gear. This may also be how one guy hears it ’like so,’ and another hears it as ’less warm’ or more this way or that way. Then of course, this being the interweb, they call each other’s mommas names. Inputs here can and do make a difference especially in such subtle back and forth comparisons and it seems this might even be enough to sway someone one way or the other, especially on short-term listening, Now my apologies if you know this, and I certainly had an idea about it, but this particular DAC-off drove this point home for me much more poignantly; hence this addendum! Sir yes sir! Just trying to serve my community and be the best Audiogoner I can be, sir! Now what was that about my momma!!???