MOLA MOLA Tambaqui

Don´t forget to mention the packaging and the feet! This was the first note scribbled down on paper about the Tambaqui. I spent over a week with this DAC and during this period the notes swelled up to a small novel so it was quite easy to extract this text from them. So let me start with the packaging and the feet.

I love reviewing the stuff like this Mola Mola: it is lightweight, compact, and delivered in a neat plastic case lined with thick and dense foam. Unlike other high end electronics the Tambaqui does not require several people for unpacking and transport, and you don´t need a garden shed to dispose the packaging. And what about the feet? There are none. The Tambaqui has two metal profiles running along its depth on which it rests. I see it as no issue, audiophiles tend to place the equipment on aftermarket feet anyway and even if not, the metal profiles provide the same service as any feet.

Well, enough on the packaging and feet, let´s take a closer look at the device.

The DAC can be controlled in three ways. First, there are four microbuttons on its curved faceplate with which the basic functions can be accessed. Second, one can use the provided remote controller (a standard Apple wand) or buy Mola Mola´s own remote for extra. The second solution is more stylish yet rather expensive. Third – and the most elegant and convenient solution – is to install a Mola Mola App on your smartphone which is what I did. Pairing the app with the DAC was a matter of seconds and the rest was super-intuitive. In fact, from the moment the app was downloaded till it was up and running less than 2 seconds passed (on Samsung phone). I did not have to wait watching pairing LED blinking or desperately search for devices to see each other and setting all the parameters of the Tambaqui was a breeze. I used the phone as a volume control (which Mola Mola claims is lossless) afterwards.

The Tambaqui shares its topology with the DAC that Mola Mola uses inside the Makua preamplifier. It means that 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 the PWM is converted into analogue. The DAC claims amazing 130dB signal-to-noise ratio, which is near the theoretical limit for 24-bit files and far beyond that of even quad-speed DSD, and excellent jitter values (<1ps from 10Hz). It is of interest that the Tambaqui leads the chart of all DACs measured by The Audio Science Review server.

The Tambaqui weighs only 5kg and its curvy aluminum chassis is not stackable. The digital inputs include Toslink optical, coaxial RCA S/PDIF, AES/EBU, USB-B, Ethernet RJ-45, all Bluetooth protocols and I2S HDMI. The output is only available on balanced XLR connectors and I wished there had been also an RCA analogue output. Fortunately there is a headphone output, either on 4-pin XLR or on 6.3mm jack.