Final late-night experiments
Although it falls entirely outside of the context for this review, it’s worth noting two things. First, the Vermeer has nothing to gain by using an external preamp. Second, the Tambaqui perform best when used with an analog preamp. With its volume control disabled and its output level set to 6V, and used with the Audio-GD Master 1, the DAC gains fluidity and refinement while retaining all of its precision and transparency. I have no doubt that the Mola-Mola Makua preamp will do the same while further upping the performance. While I don’t feel that the match with the Stillas mandates this, it does work much better with the Magico S1 mk2’s. In fact, when compared under identical circumstances using my regular setup, the Tambaqui shares a lot of similarities with the considerably more expensive Aqua Formula xHD while seriously challenging it in certain aspects.
In Closing
As mentioned in the initial Stilla review, Aequo Audio is working on a visually striking new speaker, the fully passive Adamantis. Positioned neither below nor above the Ensis or Stilla, it is in a different category altogether. Without the ARPEC system and associated onboard amplification, these speakers will require more care in positioning and a serious external amplifier. But implementing all of the knowledge gained in the acoustic field and being cast from a new and proprietary Nano-Tech-based material called Diluvite, the Adamantis promises unprecedented low resonances and a level of sound quality that belies their price tag. Alas, the pandemic has caused a big delay but the development is ongoing. Ivo and Paul can’t make any hard promises but as things are progressing now, they have high hopes of being able to present a functioning model in the course of this year.
The quest for creating the ideal cabinet- and driver material is also ongoing at the company’s Diluvite Nanotech Composites branch that focuses solely on developing and marketing the Diluvite material to serve numerous applications, among which the fabrication of proprietary tweeter diaphragms.
The Aequo Audio Auditorium in Eindhoven is open by appointment for prospective buyers who are interested in hearing a pair of Aequo Audio loudspeakers in an inspiring environment.
Conclusion
In many ways, this review is a carbon copy of the initial Stilla review. Not only are the two models very nearly identical in build and looks, but they also sound very nearly identical. Just like the Hybrid Stillas, the fully-active Stillas have staggeringly deep, solid, and linear bass, with room-filling soundstaging and absolutely superb focus and imaging.
While the distinction between the Hybrid and Fully-active Stilla models may seem relatively insignificant at first glance, it is actually a very big deal. The extra 2000 euro not only buys you two very high-quality built-in amplifiers, but it also eradicates all worries about amplifier-matching, while creating extra space in your living room environment, and saving you many multiples of the Active’s surplus charge that you would normally spend on a stand-alone amplifier.
Try out Roon for yourself
External Links
Aequo Audio: Aequoaudio.com
Mola-Mola: MolaMola.nl
Vermeer Audio: Vermeer.com
Aequo Auditorium: Auditorium-Eindhoven
Diluvite Nanotech Composites website: Diluvite.com
PRESTIGE AUDIO DIFFUSION
Aequo Audio: Distributor for France & Monaco / French part of Belgium / French part of Switzerland
Mola-Mola: Distributor for France & Monaco / French part of Switzerland
Vermeer Audio : Distributor for France & Monaco / Belgium / Luxembourg / French part of Switzerland
Contact : Marc Loubeau
Tel : +33(0)6 49 89 68 88
Email : contact@prestige-audio-diffusion.fr
Website: www.prestige-audio-diffusion.fr
« jPlay is a very comprehensive iPad remote control app for jRiver Media Center »
Hi Christiaan,
Thank you for the review. It’s always a joy to read and come back to hifi-advice.com. Unless you have a mix of JRiver and JPLAY, please note that the app to control JRiver is called JRemote in both Apple and Android versions. JPLAY being an other software for playing music.
Note:
JRiver is even calling JPLAY a hoax on their site! Every audiophile can confirm that is not true. I’ve been a JRiver Media Center user for over ten years and can confirm the software is great for managing files indeed but unfortunately, the company has an attitude towards competitors and even clients. JRemote app was developed by an outsider but stalled at one point probably due to disagreement. I just noticed now there is a JRemote 2 for Android available for again a substantial fee ( instead of offering free upgrades like everyone else does). I did not try this version but just wanted to inform readers if they are tempted to try JRMC and control from any device with JRemote.
Whoops, slip of the keyboard. Thanks Paul, now corrected. Yup, the River Media Center software suite is really great, and the library tools, in particular, are very powerful but I agree that Jim has some weird idées fixes.
The JRemote iPad app could indeed use an update, for instance for the progress bar & App Switcher Bar overlap but so does Roon and even so, JRemote is still more comprehensive than the UPnP competition.