Mola Mola

✓ Imagine a sleek, compact design that oozes class. ✓ Imagine an amplifier design that packs enough power to comfortably handle even the most demanding of loudspeakers. ✓ Imagine a complex yet agile and easy to use fully transparent line stage. Imagine every possible Phono EQ setting available from the comfort of your listening chair. ✓ Imagine a highly acclaimed discrete DAC boasting the best specs and sound around. ✓ Imagine, combining all of the above!

 

Kula is an a la carte modular design creating a fusion of highly technical previous accomplishments. The chassis itself is borrowed from the acclaimed Makua preamp, as is the line stage section and its optional phono stage with independent adjustable settings and up to 6 separate inputs. The optional DAC section which also is available in the Makua, is identical to the world-class Tambaqui stand-alone unit and features 5 digital inputs including Roon endpoint and Bluetooth. Additionally, the Kula incorporates a Mola Mola exclusive amplifier which boast an output of 150 Watts @8Ω, doubling into 300 Watts @4Ω. Clearly enough power to drive any speaker with ease.

I/O

3 balanced and 3 unbalanced inputs, selectable by switch and software 2 Pairs of Furutech binding posts. Directly connected to the amplifier PCB using Kubala·Sosna cable.

 

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Kaluga

Kaluga is based on world's most sought after class-D technology: Ncore®. Unprecedented low distortion, noise and output impedance combine into what scores of enthusiastic users unanimously describe as “no sonic signature at all”. Just music, glorious music. For instance, the two supposedly unassailable strongholds of class-A amplifiers are linearity and output impedance, at high frequencies. Plotted on next page are the output impedance as a function of frequency and the output spectrum in a high power (400W), high frequency IMD test. In both cases Kaluga outperforms any power amplifier, regardless of technology, operating class or asking price, of which such test results are available.

 

The amplifier board is a Mola Mola specific design. The audio circuitry is trimmed to the bare bones and board-to-board connectors are eliminated in favour of soldering star-quad cables directly into the circuit board for the cleanest, lowest impedance connection possible. The input stage is implemented on a separate circuit board that uses the same discrete buffers as those found in the Makua. The output filter sports monolithic capacitors whose dielectric stability is reflected in an impressively neutral and poised rendition. The days of compromising power efficiency for audio performance are finally over: the Kaluga delivers definitive audio performance with power efficiency thrown in as a bonus.

PERFORMANCE

400W/8 ohm, 700W/4 ohm, 1200W/2 ohm

Gain: 28dB

Unweighted Signal/Noise Ratio: 128dB

Distortion (THD, IMD): <0.003 % (all frequencies and power levels)

Input Impedance: 100kohm

Output Impedance: <0.003 ohm (DF>4000), all frequencies

 

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Makua

With the knowledge in hand to design minimally invasive electronics without needing to be minimalistic, we decided that our preamp should be complete, very complete. The basic Makua is an extremely transparent gain stage and a programmable routing matrix. The chassis has ample room to fit optional extras, most notably a DAC and a phono stage. The 6 preset buttons are programmable via RS232 or Bluetooth to access any combination of channel, processing and routing. In a system with mainly digital sources, the preset buttons would be programmed to select between them. Vinyl lovers on the other hand might want to use several buttons to select the same turntable but with different EQ settings to suit their large collection of historic LP's.

 

Mola Mola’s Tambaqui DAC is the perfect upgrade for owners of complete high-end systems who want to retain the characteristic sound of their existing preamplifier whilst lifting their digital sources to another level. The converter is a two board stack. On the first board, all incoming digital audio is upsampled to 3.125MHz/32 bits and converted to noise shaped PWM. On the other board are two mono DACs, in which a discrete 32- stage FIR DAC and a single-stage 4th order filtering I/V converter, convert the PWM into analogue with a breathtaking 130dB SNR. This is near the theoretical limit for 24-bit files and far beyond that of even quad-speed DSD. Uniquely, distortion remains below the noise floor even for full scale signals.

 

All five inputs are switchable between XLR and floating RCA connections, and all can be assigned as either phono or line. All stages in the Makua use discrete amplifier modules in a little known topology called "single-ended driven differential". Compared to doubly executed signal paths, this structure prevents noise from propagating all the way through. The Makua is amazingly immune to influences like mains quality and choice of interlinks. The relay-based volume control directly controls the gain of the output stage. Dynamic range and linearity of this arrangement is much greater than those of stepped attenuators. Operation is smooth and entirely glitch free.

 

I/O

Maximum input/output level: 20dBu (7.75Vrms)

Unweighted noise voltage at unity gain: 1.9uV

Input impedance: 100kohm

Output impedance: 44ohm

Distortion at maximum signal level (THD, IMD): not measurable, estimated around -150dB

Bandwidth >200kHz

 

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Tambaqui DAC

✓ Processing balance and input gain offset ✓ Selectable output levels ✓ Phase invert ✓ Bluetooth (SBC, AAC, APTX, LDAC) ✓ 2 programmable trigger outputs (3.5mm Jack) ✓ Front button source selection and volume setting and 4 programmable presets

 

Mola Mola’s Tambaqui DAC is the perfect upgrade for owners of complete high-end systems who want to retain the characteristic sound of their existing preamplifier whilst lifting their digital sources to another level. The converter is a two board stack. On the first board, all incoming digital audio is upsampled to 3.125MHz/32 bits and converted to noise shaped PWM. On the other board are two mono DACs, in which a discrete 32- stage FIR DAC and a single-stage 4th order filtering I/V converter, convert the PWM into analogue with a breathtaking 130dB SNR. This is near the theoretical limit for 24-bit files and far beyond that of even quad-speed DSD. Uniquely, distortion remains below the noise floor even for full scale signals.

 

With the addition of a lossless digital volume control and headphone outputs, it is also the ideal control hub of a minimalist audio system for music lovers who have moved on to a digital sources only system. This DAC, combined with a pair of Mola Mola Kaluga monoblocks constitutes the finest digital replay chain available, irrespective of price.

 

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