DACs
Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC
£9,999.00
Discrete DAC with balanced XLR outputs, digital volume control, headphone outputs and Roon Ready Ethernet playback. An excellent partner for the Grimm MU1.
Description
Description
The Mola Mola Tambaqui is a standalone digital-to-analogue converter for upgrading digital playback in an existing system or building a streamlined digital-only setup. Its variable output lets it feed suitable power amplification directly; it can also work with your existing preamplifier.
Why pair Tambaqui with the Grimm MU1?
We recommend the Mola Mola Tambaqui as a great partner for the Grimm Audio MU1. Connect the MU1’s AES/EBU digital output to the Tambaqui’s AES/EBU input using a suitable 110-ohm digital XLR cable. The MU1 handles music-server duties and digital processing; the Tambaqui converts the digital signal to analogue for your amplifier. The DAC is purchased separately from the MU1. See the Grimm Audio MU1 for server and playback features.
Roon Ready is not Roon Server
Tambaqui can receive Roon playback over Ethernet, but it does not host the Roon Server. You need a separate server, such as the MU1, and a Roon licence for that route. Ethernet playback and an AES/EBU connection from MU1 are different signal paths; the AES/EBU route uses the MU1’s digital output processing.
Connections and format limits
Inputs include AES/EBU, coaxial S/PDIF, optical, USB-B, Ethernet, Bluetooth and I²S over HDMI. The HDMI-shaped I²S socket is not a television HDMI ARC/eARC input. Balanced XLR analogue outputs and both 6.3mm and balanced four-pin XLR headphone connections are provided. PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD up to quad speed are supported, with rates above 192kHz/24-bit and DSD restricted to USB and Roon according to Mola Mola.
Building the rest of the system
Tambaqui has no analogue line or phono input. For vinyl and other analogue sources, consider a suitable preamplifier such as Makua, or the Grimm MU2 with analogue inputs. The Perca stereo power amplifier is a compact partnering option for suitable passive speakers. We can help set output level and volume control for the chosen amplifier.
Specification
PWM DAC with 32-stage discrete analogue FIR output stage. Avoids 'sigma delta' tones and 'R2R' glitch and low-level linearity errors.
Asynchronous upsampling to 3.125MHz/32 bit. 7-th order noise shaper clearing 80kHz band. Each input rate has an optimized upsampling filter chain.
I/O
Optical (Toslink)
S/PDIF (Cinch)
AES/EBU (XLR)
USB type B
Ethernet (Roon Ready)
Bluetooth (SBC, AAC, APTX, LDAC)
IВІS over HDMI
Balanced output (XLR)
Headphone output (6.3mm Jack, Balanced XLR 4pin)
2 programmable trigger outputs (3.5mm Jack)
Processing balance and input gain offset
Selectable output levels
Phase invert
SUPPORTED FORMATS
PCM up to 384kHz/32 bits (>192kHz and >24 bits via USB and Roon only)
DoP and Native DSD up to quad speed (USB and Roon only)
PERFORMANCE
Full-Scale Output Level (XLR): 18dBu
Full-Scale Output Level (headphone): 18dBu
Signal to Noise Ratio: 130dB
THD, IMD: not measurable (estimated -140dB)
Bandwidth: Up to 80kHz (apodizing response)
Integrated jitter: <1ps from 10Hz upwards, <300fs from 1kHz upwards
Jitter rejection: >80dB at 1Hz after 20 seconds of loc
CONTROL
Front button source selection and volume setting
4 programmable presets
(Premium) Remote Control
Mola Mola Remote app
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
200mm (W) x 110mm (H) x 320mm (D)
5.2kg
