Foggie

Sorry for ruffling feathers. Do I have the experience with atmos like you, no not at all. I've heard it, researched it on a basic level as well as the various other "sub" topics. My OP wasn't to poo-poo it for others that enjoy it as I stated. Really trying to compartmentalize multi-chnl and stereo Hifi as separate entities and stand by that. I just don't have a desire for multi-chnl audio (other then HT) simple as that. My digital is well sorted, but if someone where to give me $$ with a choice to add to my rig, I'd get a vinyl rig before multi channel. I understand acoustics pretty well and this is kind of out of context to what I meant (my fault), it was a generalization, e.g. venues (amplified) aren't using "10-12" surround speakers. I get it, you and many others are totally all-in with atmos, and that is cool. Same as being all-in with Hifi. Enjoy it, have fun.

Or some just don't like it or want it 🤷‍♂️. Just another point of view here 🙂👍 I grasp it, but don't want drums above my head, bass 2in from my nose, sounds coming from everywhere. Its great to have choices and respect those who get into it, but like anything, atmos isn't the greatest thing ever made. Getting bombarded with immersive everything, isn't making it more interesting (for me), it's actually exhausting to be honest. In a way immersive is coming off much like MQA. Not the technology, just the hype, discussions etc.. Feels like its being forced on us and possibly by some music delivery companies requirements ($$). A shiny new toy, format 🙂 Its technically cool and what can be done with it is also cool, but that's where it ends for me. It's another (surround sound) effect and IMHO is for home theater or HP. Another format to get people to spend $ on another version of dark side of the moon. No thank you - redbook, highres, dsd, mqa, dvda, blueray etc... It just never ends. There is a slew of sub-topics WRT economics, mixing etc.. and I'm just providing another prospective and again in no way criticizing it as a choice for anyone. If it makes one happy, great! 👍 The stereo mix is the most important to me 100% because I want to listen to music first and foremost (like the way you hear it), not really into the audio gymnastics / cool effect factor. My .02

Aqua also handles native dsd, at least that is what I am seeing (La Scala MKII optologic)

This is encouraging (at least to my OP) in that it would appear this would work with the Aqua LinQ HQPe module - similar to how roon handles HQP. I don't know how difficult Euphony/Stylus is to get up and running but I do have a spare SSD I could pop into a wkst and give the trial a try.

@davide256 + @Yiakubou Yes the LinQ is running NAA but it also contains HQPe core module its called (two indiv modules) - so roon sends it to LinQ and it does its thing > HQPe core module to the NAA module (so you can upsample pcm > dsd or whatever one wants). My roon is on a dedicated Linux server box. I do have a separate / dedicated HQPe wkst I was using to send to opticalRendu, so roon > HQPe wkst > OR > DAC. I'm not using that now since I got the aqua stack (which FWIW is freaking unbelievably good)

I have no experience with Euphony and wondering if its implementation/support of HQPe is similar to how roon handles it? More specifically, I'm using an Aqua stack (La Scala opto MKII + LinQ along with the HQP modules) and if I wanted to try euphony would it recognize the LinQ / be supported?

The target for Linux (ubuntu svr) isn't the small % of us audio nerds and the indiv that use it have been using it for a long time day in and day out so its all second hand to them. In most of our environments, it is an appliance that runs in the background 24/7 and we don't typically interface with it until some maintenance or issue pops up. I feel your frustrations when those situations arise that require you to get reacquainted with all the commands and the endless google searches on "how to's". It definitely is a love hate. Its sorta the use it or lose it

Thanks for chiming in. It seems like a simple solution (product) that should exist that once tripped (power outage) a "power strip" stays off until you "reset it". It rarely happens here but if / when it does, I'd like to something in place.

I understand, it was tongue 'n cheek comment since there was / is a thread on preamp / no preamp (DAC direct) - which of course goes off the rails and some take an absolute hard line etc... There is no right/wrong answer

Why on earth would anyone want that. Prob should start a new thread on why a Pre is better that using a DAC volume control 🤣

Can you provide the board version/rev of current design?

How is one to tell difference between this latest deluxe and the previous deluxe from a 1-2 yrs ago since its the same casework?

The OP should do search as this topic has been beaten to death previously. Each system, room, components, ears etc.. will all vary greatly and really something that needs to be tested individually. Also, all newer'ish Lampi's are no longer NOS like they used to be with 2 dedicated circuits for PCM +DSD (similar to T&A), I "think". I believe since engine 53 and later renditions, they are chip based SDM. I'm not 100% sure, so correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks, but not sure I quite follow - is the "No Volt Release" something you buy / install? I don't know of any audio components equipped with such a switch\option.