Auralic Aquila X3

£13,799.00

AURALiC developed an intuitive new software interface for AQUILA X3 and LightningCast, AURALiC’s next-generation multi-room streaming protocol. Contact us to place order due April 2025

In-Store Only: This product can only be bought in store.

Auralic Aquila X3

Auralic Aquila X3

Streaming Media Processor, a groundbreaking addition to its product line.

This release marks a significant step forward in both design and technology, showcasing a bold new design language and cutting-edge streaming innovations.

The AQUILA X3 features full-width enclosure with a sleek, modern appearance, a vibrant 14-inch touchscreen display, and a modular architecture that allows users to customise and upgrade their device over time.

At the core of the AQUILA X3 is AURALiC’s proprietary Tesla G3 streaming platform supported by Direct Data Recording (DDR), Galvanic Isolation and many other unique technologies.

AURALiC developed an intuitive new software interface for AQUILA X3 and LightningCast, AURALiC’s next-generation multi-room streaming protocol.

This advanced platform seamlessly integrates with leading streaming services, including Lightning DS, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay II and more.

Designed for flexibility and future readiness, the AQUILA X3 provides a wide array of connectivity options in its base configuration.

These include Ethernet and WiFi, two Toslink inputs, one Coaxial input, USB Audio ports (USB-B at the rear and USB-C on the front), HDMI eARC, USB 3.0 for external storage, and a built-in CD transport.

You can tailor the device to their specific needs with optional modules, choosing between digital and analogue output configurations or both.

Configurations Examples

Auralic Aquila X3 Analogue in and out

The analogue output module incorporates AURALiC’s latest proprietary Fusion DAC Gen II, Integrated LEO Clock, ORFEO Class A output module and ORFEO passive analogue volume control, delivering unparalleled sound quality.

Additionally, an optional analogue and phono input module allows for flexible signal processing, offering either an analogue-only signal path or onboard ADC functionality for recording and processing via the Tesla G3 platform.

For those seeking expansive storage, an 8TB of NVMe optional internal storage is also available

Powering this advanced system is AURALiC’s latest Variable-Frequency External PSU. Utilising Class AB regeneration technology with up to 400Hz user selectable regen frequency, the power supply generates clean AC power that feeds into linear power modules, eliminating EMI noise and contamination from the power grid completely.

This unique design results in a pristine power source and an exceptionally dark audio background, enhancing every listening experience

The AQUILA X3 is not only a technical tour de force but also a visual statement. For the first time in AURALiC’s product line, users can fully customise the aesthetic of their device.

Available trim

X3 trim

Colours include Jet Black, Space Grey, and Titanium Gold, while surface panel options span aluminium plastic, solid walnut wood, natural slate and marble.

These surface panels are designed to be easily interchangeable, allowing the Auralic AQUILA X3 to seamlessly complement any home decor, from traditional to contemporary.

This customisation ensures that each AQUILA X3 reflects the personal taste and style of its owner.

Xuanqian Wang

Speaking about the new product, Xuanqian Wang, founder and chief designer of AURALiC, remarked, “AQUILA X3 represents the pinnacle of both manufacturing and digital audio technology. We’ve pushed every boundary to create this masterpiece. Back in 2017, we required multiple separate enclosures to achieve this level of technology.

Now, we’ve integrated everything into a single, beautiful unit with even better performance and sound quality.

Auralic G3

Auralic Aquila X3 two

The AQUILA X3 is also the reason we made the decision to cancel the G3 product line.

With this newer style and exceptional value, we felt it was important to launch our new flagship under the ‘X’ series instead of adhering to the previous design philosophy.

AQUILA X3 embodies everything we envision for the future of AURALiC.”

Each unit is custom-built to order, with customers able to design and visualise their configurations using a tool on AURALiC’s website.

Technology Story

To achieve superior sound quality, the AQUILA X3 integrates several of AURALiC’s most celebrated technologies from the G2.2 series, including Direct Data Recording (DDR), Galvanic Isolation, ORFEO passive analogue volume control, ORFEO Class A output modules, and the Purer-Power low-noise design.

In addition to these established features, AQUILA X3 introduces groundbreaking innovations that merit a closer look.

Variable-Frequency External PSU

X3 Power supply

To meet the X series’ modular and future-proof design requirements and to allow for future upgrades, the AQUILA X3 is equipped with a power supply boasting a capacity of over 200 watts—more than quadruple that of the previous generation.

The power supply occupies its own dedicated chassis, with separate modules for the processing and audio circuits, each powered by independent regenerated AC circuits.

Modern energy grids increasingly rely on renewable sources like solar and wind power.

While environmentally friendly, these energy sources pose unique challenges for high-fidelity audio systems. Solar inverters, which convert the DC output of solar panels into AC power compatible with the grid, often introduce high-frequency harmonics during the conversion process.

These harmonics can cause electrical interference and disruptions to audio equipment sensitive to power quality.

Additionally, fluctuating solar irradiance levels can result in voltage sags or swells, further complicating grid stability.

Similarly, wind energy systems contribute to grid instability due to the inherent variability of wind speeds. These fluctuations can cause voltage and frequency deviations, introducing further challenges for maintaining clean power.

Compounding the issue, subpar inverters used by some homeowners to feed energy back into the grid can inject noise and contamination, negatively affecting power quality across the network.

AURALiC has extensively researched solutions to these challenges, exploring methods such as advanced AC EMI filtering and battery-based designs.

Ultimately, the company developed a unique AC regeneration technology that ensures a pristine power supply for high performance audio equipment.

This technology begins by using a low-noise transformer to convert mains AC into DC voltage. A Class AB amplifier, driven by a low-distortion sine wave clock source, reconstructs a pure AC power signal.

The amplifier, designed with a high Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR) and limited bandwidth, filters out contamination while amplifying only the required signal frequency.

A coupling transformer further eliminates noise and unwanted harmonics, creating a power source that is immune to grid instability and contamination.

The regeneration frequency, which can effect the sound character, is adjustable via the AQUILA X3’s software, with options up to 400Hz.

This feature allows you to fine-tune the audio experience to their preferences.

By addressing the real-world challenges posed by modern renewable energy grids, AURALiC’s Variable-Frequency External PSU exemplifies the company’s commitment to

delivering exceptional performance in any environment.

Whether dealing with noise from a solar inverter or fluctuations caused by wind power, the AQUILA X3’s power regeneration technology ensures unmatched stability and purity for superior sound quality.

Lightning Cast – The Next Gen Streaming Technology

Developed by AURALiC, LightningCast is an open-source, next-generation multi-room high resolution streaming technology. Free for non-commercial public use, it focuses on delivering the best sound quality to audio systems while ensuring ease of use.

LightningCast is a new and unique proprietary technology and as such Auralic have created a separate document explaining this exciting new development.

Fusion DAC Gen II

Auralic Aquila X3 - Fusion DAC Gen II

The Fusion DAC, first introduced in the G2.2 series, revolutionised digital-to-analogue conversion by combining the strengths of discrete ladder and Delta-Sigma DAC architectures.

This unique approach bypasses many standard DAC chip functions, including the PLL, digital filters, and oversampling circuits, replacing them with AURALiC’s proprietary technologies for clock reconstruction, digital filtering, and oversampling.

This innovation ensures that only the precise switching network of the DAC chip is used for digital-to-analogue conversion, delivering superior accuracy and sound quality.

The Fusion DAC Gen II takes this concept to a new level, featuring significant advancements in performance.

AURALiC has engineered the Gen II hardware to achieve lower distortion and noise levels while extending the dynamic range, ensuring a cleaner and more immersive audio experience.

One of the standout features of the original Fusion DAC design was its Tone Mode Control, which offers users a choice between two predefined sound profiles: Clear, emphasising detail and clarity, and Mellow, providing a warmer and smoother sound.

With Fusion DAC Gen II, these two settings are retained, but the tone control system has been vastly expanded.

Users now have the ability to customise their own tone modes using two new parameters:

‘Richness’ and ‘Texture’.

‘Richness’ and ‘Texture’.

The ‘Richness’ parameter influences the tonal warmth and body, ranging from neutral to lush and full-bodied.

Meanwhile the ‘Texture’ control allows users to adjust the level of detail and clarity in the sound, from ultra-smooth to highly detailed.

Together, these controls enable users to create custom sound profiles that suit their personal preferences and listening environments.

Whether a listener prefers the analytical precision of Clear, the soothing warmth of Mellow, or a bespoke combination tailored to their unique taste, Fusion DAC Gen II offers unprecedented flexibility.

Integrated LEO Clock

Auralic Aquila X3 Integrated LEO Clock

Clocking precision is critical to achieving high-performance digital-to-analog conversion, and AURALiC has consistently led the way in master clock technology.

The original LEO Master Clock, introduced in 2017, set a new benchmark by directly driving the DAC rather than relying on a  10MHz external clock for PLL-based frequency reconstruction.

This direct approach significantly reduced jitter and enhancing timing accuracy, delivering industry-leading performance.

The LEO clock is so precise that existing benchmarks aren’t detailed enough to accurately represent what it can do.

Instead, they use Allan deviation to describe the resolution, which is like looking at phase noise closely enough to detect shiqs of +/-1Hz or even +/-0.1Hz.

The LEO Clock achieves the same exceptional performance as the original, boasting an Allan deviation of 2E-12 (at 1 second), which is equal to a 10MHz rubidium atomic clock with phase noise of +/-1Hz at -110dBc/Hz, or an amazing 500 =mes less jiper than an 82fs Femto clock oscillator.

For the AQUILA X3, AURALiC took on the ambitious challenge of integrating the LEO clock—previously housed in a standalone unit—directly into the DAC module.

This required overcoming significant engineering hurdles to maintain the clock’s renowned precision and performance within the compact confines of the module, while also enhancing reliability and durability.

Remarkably, the integrated LEO Clock retains the same exceptional performance as its standalone predecessor.

Furthermore, by eliminating external clock cables and connectors—common sources of jitter and signal degradation—the new design delivers a cleaner, more stable transmission path, making it both more robust and reliable for long-term use.

Priced from £13799.00

Brand

Auralic

AURALiC, High-Performance Innovation That Brings All Your Music to Life. They design and build products that enhance the recorded musical experience all over the world. Digital sources that combine features and technology to provide their customers with accessible, high levels of sonic performance. AURALiC brings together, in a trusted, mature ecosystem, advanced technologies in innovative ways for the purpose of listening to music at high levels of performance through the use of accessible, feature-packed award-winning products meant to be the cornerstone of any high-performance audio system.

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