Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

highstream said:

Yes, the upgrade to 11-P + shipping is $$$, but it offers a very substantial improvement in all respects but the one most important to me. Lukasz had said warm, but presumably that’s with the supplied tubes, not my combo.

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[Apologies, short detour from tubes discussion] I don't know anything about your Oppo, but, do you listen to discs, or do you stream? If you stream with a network, I can offer a cheap experiment if your network/switch can use SFP, in which case just pm me, so we don't derail the tubes discussion.

Blake said:

Both very good rectis... It's been a little while since I owned RGN2004 mesh, so my memory of that tube sonics is fading a bit

I'd just say, comparatively, that 5Z3 to me, had more emphasis on a more rounded, fuller sound, with really strong tonal qualities. Ultimately, I preferred 2004 mesh, but I can easily see someone preferring one over the other depending on music, personal preferences, and, most importantly, matching with the rest of the gear in the system.

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It’s very good description.

Blake said:

[Apologies, short detour from tubes discussion] I don't know anything about your Oppo, but, do you listen to discs, or do you stream? If you stream with a network, I can offer a cheap experiment if your network/switch can use SFP, in which case just pm me, so we don't derail the tubes discussion.

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My Oppo 203 (CD/DVD/USB) was modified by Ric Shultz (Tweek Audio) to beef up the power supply, which meant taking out the analog board. He also removed the optical line, as he said it was hurting the sound. That left Spidf, which I run to the GG (RCA), with some helper accessories along the line (see sig). Up to now, I've been using a music filled SSD plugged into the back port, and a USB flash drive into the front for mostly video. Of course, CD & DVD too, and a line to the TV. No networked streaming yet.

I'm not finding a 5Z3 or an adapter. I'll look again, but recollection is that I held back because Laszlo said he didn't make adapters for those. In any case, the market for the Fivre version seems to be cornered by our friend in Italy, with all the qualifications that apply. Since the goal is to tilt the tone from "neutral" to a little warmth, I suppose rectis are in play too. One of the problems pre the PT-14/2004, and then again with TP adapters alone without ground cables, was 60 Hz and 120 Hz hum through the speakers. Since those ground cables, there's nothing audible from the speakers, short of putting hear to them (I am still getting an audible hum from the GG alone, even a bit louder now with the 11-P, but haven't found the cause). After the QSA fuse, I've been letting the OEM fuse burn in before swapping tubes.

Rolled a few rectifiers and surprisingly the Hammond 5AR4 sounds really good with the PT35, it was too muddy and mellow with RK242, but it shows a very good synergy with the PT35 and sounds much better than sophia princess 274b mesh, Sophia was very good to match with 242 but it's too boring with PT35 now, Cossor 53Ku sounds really good with PT35 too, it sounds more balance, neutral and opened up, PT35/ PT14 are the most versatile output tube i have ever tried in the Pacific, so funny that i can get a few good combos with different rectifiers now

highstream said:

I've got a problem with my GG 2/3 that was recently upgraded to the 11-P engine (Poseidon) and want to ask for advice. Before the upgrade, with the E-11 version, the PT-14/Telefunken RGN2004 black mesh combo w/ TP adapters was very good and had a nice light touch of warmth. With the Poseidon, which in every other respect is great, that touch or warmth is gone, whether with the OEM fuse or a QSA red-black.* That seems to call for, unfortunately, another tube change. As has been discussed here and elsewhere, the PT-14/RGN2004 combo is very special. But I've got to be involved, i.e., engaged by the music, not just the sound. I haven't gone back to the WE300B, which are warm, but in other ways were far surpassed by the PT-14's. So I'm looking for ideas. Thanks,

* I discovered upon the 11-P''s return that I had put the QSA fuse in the spare fuse spot in the fuse holder, which apparently means that I had been using the OEM fuse all along. Embarrassing.

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First, I think the engine 11-p needs quite an extensive break-in period. With the Golden Gate I did not notice this as I had to slowly burn-in two types of DHT tubes, which takes a very long time. With the Atlantic TRP I did not have to be that patient. At first, the engine 11-p sounded quite 'hard' and 'etchy'. I could not stand the sound with the Siemens F2a which were my favorite with engine 53. After a couple of 100 hours, the Siemens F2a can be used and I like the sound. Engine 11-p has become much smoother, not hard and edgy at all. Very transparant, great bass, great imaging.

Golden Gate with engine 11-p and PT14 and RGN2004 mesh plate are a great combo, but maybe not warm enough to your taste. Well I agree with Bobofei86 who advised to use the Cossor 53KU (big bottle GZ37). These are indeed warm sounding, very smooth, great deep bass and still transparant. More easy going than the RGN2004 mesh, less exciting as well. Or Brimar 5R4GY. That one is also very British warm sounding. Now personally, I would not try to counterbalance one sound with the opposite other. Maybe it is not directly 'warmth' you are looking for, maybe it is a bit more smoothness but still very transparant. In that case something like the Western Electric 422a or 274B might work. But that will be an expensive experiment.

I agree the moment you change something in the DAC, for instance a new digital engine, you have to start all over to find out the specific sound you are after. I am also still working on it... but is part of the fun as well. Good luck.

Thanks. The 11-P now has toward 450 hours and the OEM fuse a little over 200 and is still sounding rough. With the QSA fuse (~350 hours) it was smooth, refined, wide and deep soundstage, dynamic, focused, clear and the perspective moved forward over time (it was a good lesson in burn in because it sounded very smooth after 24 hours).

It was either Mark Coles (Sablon) or Dave Cahoon (ZenWave) who noted that with time and better equipment preferences for warmth tend to drift closer to neutral. For my tastes, I’ve found there to be a fine line. To paraphrase a former Supreme Court justice’s comment about porn, you know it or, more specifically, feel it when you hear it.

The fat bottle Cossor is hard to come by, especially in a single, and doesn’t come cheap. The Brimar is way too warm for me.

highstream said:

Thanks. The 11-P now has toward 450 hours and the OEM fuse a little over 200 and is still sounding rough. With the QSA fuse (~350 hours) it was smooth, refined, wide and deep soundstage, dynamic, focused, clear and the perspective moved forward over time (it was a good lesson in burn in because it sounded very smooth after 24 hours).

It was either Mark Coles (Sablon) or Dave Cahoon (ZenWave) who noted that with time and better equipment preferences for warmth tend to drift toward neutral. For my tastes, I’ve found there to be a fine line. To paraphrase a former Supreme Court justice’s comment about porn, you know it or, more specifically, feel it when you hear it.

The fat bottle Cossor is hard to come by, especially in a single, and doesn’t come cheap. The Brimar is way too warm for me.

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out of curiosity why don't you try the OEM fuse and compare the sound to your special fuse. Personally I cannot get excited about using aftermarket fuses

That’s what I’m currently doing by burning in the OEM fuse. I know that there are some well-respected audiophiles who have steered clear of aftermarket fuses, which I think is both a conceptual and sonic mistake.

highstream said:

That’s what I’m currently doing by burning in the OEM fuse. I find that there are some rightfully well-respected audiophiles who have steered clear of aftermarket fuses, which I think is both a conceptual and sonic mistake.

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I use Silver QSA fuses in every components and I love them. I’ve tried the red and black/red. The difference between the levels is quite significant.

Same here and I have used QSA silver in my PAC for few years, but I tried to put a few silver grade products (fuse and power socket) in my system and the result was not as good as matching silver with black red, red or purple, always need to strike the balance and component dependent,

Anyway, once you like the tone and signature offered by QSA then it’s all about the mix and match, sorry that I went to far away from the tube rolling topics

I found Cossor 53ku may suit my system better than TP adapter + RGN2004, but my tubes and devices just arrived a week ago and I will give 300 hours to run in first before I make the call to pick the primary rectifier

Bobofei86 said:

Same here and I have used QSA silver in my PAC for few years, but I tired to put a few silver grade products (fuse and power socket) in my system and the result was not as good as matching silver with black red, red or purple, always need to strike the balance and component dependent,

Anyway, once you like the tone and signature offered by QSA then it’s all about the mix and match, sorry that I went to far away from the tube rolling topics

I found Cossor 53ku may suit my system better than TP adapter + RGN2004, but my tubes and devices just arrived a week ago and I will give 300 hours to run in first before I make the call to pick the primary rectifier

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Look forward to it.

Pick your flavor as I see it It’s all good

The only reason fuses came up was coincidental to my apparently having mixed up the placement of the QSA and OEM fuses in the fuse holder when I had the GG E-11 version, and then the first few days with the 11-P. Given that my experience with the QSA's is they have a bit of warmth, it was a surprise when that wasn't the result with the 11-P after a good 300 hours. Before upgrading, I was worried about losing the tonality arrived at with the E-11 and PT-14/2004 combo, so asked Lukasz about it, to which he replied, "11P is the ultimate digital engine which we can create without going top the crazy pricing of the Horizon DAC. It is warm, lovable and seductive." If the latter is true with the factory supplied tubes, my magic ingredients haven't done as well (OEM fuse results pending). It reminds me of changing power tubes to get a preferred tonal balance, only to discover that they can't overcome that of the seemingly great rectifier one's found.

takacs75 said:

I use Silver QSA fuses in every components and I love them. I’ve tried the red and black/red. The difference between the levels is quite significant.

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One of my role models!

Hi i am about to be getting a Golden Gate 2 Dac after the local dealer gave me a very good deal on it. Do you think the GG 3’s has a huge difference?

highstream said:

The only reason fuses came up was coincidental to my apparently having mixed up the placement of the QSA and OEM fuses in the fuse holder when I had the GG E-11 version, and then the first few days with the 11-P. Given that my experience with the QSA's is they have a bit of warmth, it was a surprise when that wasn't the result with the 11-P after a good 300 hours. Before upgrading, I was worried about losing the tonality arrived at with the E-11 and PT-14/2004 combo, so asked Lukasz about it, to which he replied, "11P is the ultimate digital engine which we can create without going top the crazy pricing of the Horizon DAC. It is warm, lovable and seductive." If the latter is true with the factory supplied tubes, my magic ingredients haven't done as well (OEM fuse results pending). It reminds me of changing power tubes to get a preferred tonal balance, only to discover that they can't overcome that of the seemingly great rectifier one's found.

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Fully understand your frustration, i also followed the path to upgrade from GG2 to Pacific then now PAC2, GG2 offers a more attractive tone than PAC, with a bit touch of warm and meaty especially good at brass instrument, piano, vocal, i found sth similar when i use 300b with Sophia 274b mesh in PAC1 before the upgrade, while im running in for Both PAC 2 and PT35, i really love Cossor 53Ku which give that kind of attractive tone with good bass and details, the best thing is the ambience and more engaging to enjoy the music, for sure RGN2004 mesh gives much better resolution and bigger sound stage, but honestly not as engaging as 53ku, especially when i listen at low volume, i think you also need to explore another rectifier if you are looking for those beautiful tone in11p

ptpineda said:

Hi i am about to be getting a Golden Gate 2 Dac after the local dealer gave me a very good deal on it. Do you think the GG 3’s has a huge difference?

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Congrats! While you might want to enjoy the very good dac you’re getting first, perhaps do a little tube rolling and adjust accessories such as cabling, fuses and isolation, the answer is an emphatic Yes. There are in effect two versions of the 2/3: the Engine-11 upgrade and the Poseidon engine (11-P) one, ~2000 vs. 4000 euros + shipping, respectively. There are also some other things that get brought up to date, some costing a little more, The trip to Poland also allows for any other mods you might want, depending on what your GG has, such as volume control, a different port in back, or even going from SE to balanced (or perhaps back). There’s a price list PDF that describes the possibilities on the Lampi Poland website, linked at the bottom. Upgrades and travel arrangements are handled through Lampi NA (Bob), while you can also correspond directly with Poland if you have questions. Expect at least 3-4 weeks for the round trip. And of course you can ask here (there are two or three applicable threads).

Is yours coming with the trunk? That’s an essential part for shipping.

Bobofei86 said:

Fully understand your frustration, i also followed the path to upgrade from GG2 to Pacific then now PAC2, GG2 offers a more attractive tone than PAC, with a bit touch of warm and meaty especially good at brass instrument, piano, vocal, i found sth similar when i use 300b with Sophia 274b mesh in PAC1 before the upgrade, while im running in for Both PAC 2 and PT35, i really love Cossor 53Ku which give that kind of attractive tone with good bass and details, the best thing is the ambience and more engaging to enjoy the music, for sure RGN2004 mesh gives much better resolution and bigger sound stage, but honestly not as engaging as 53ku, especially when i listen at low volume, i think you also need to explore another rectifier if you are looking for those beautiful tone in11p

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While I've found how tubes sound is contextual, taking your Cossor 53KU suggestion at face value, as I mentioned earlier a search online found the seller in Verona, whose prices, quality and customer service have been called into question on WBF, seems to have a lock on the market. I know I'm not using anything I bought from him re sonic quality -- and altogether it was a lot of money.

In the meantime, the good news was that at 250 hours with the stock fuse, the tonality was great, other aspects aside. The redone Talking Heads movie (file) never sounded more engaging. Work in progress...

highstream said:

Congrats! While you might want to enjoy the very good dac you’re getting first, perhaps do a little tube rolling and adjust accessories such as cabling, fuses and isolation, the answer is an emphatic Yes. There are in effect two versions of the 2/3: the Engine-11 upgrade and the Poseidon engine (11-P) one, ~2000 vs. 4000 euros + shipping, respectively. There are also some other things that get brought up to date, some costing a little more, The trip to Poland also allows for any other mods you might want, depending on what your GG has, such as volume control, a different port in back, or even going from SE to balanced (or perhaps back). There’s a price list PDF that describes the possibilities on the Lampi Poland website, linked at the bottom. Upgrades and travel arrangements are handled through Lampi NA (Bob), while you can also correspond directly with Poland if you have questions. Expect at least 3-4 weeks for the round trip. And of course you can ask here (there are two or three applicable threads).

Is yours coming with the trunk? That’s an essential part for shipping.

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Thanks for the info. Spoke to the dealer here in the Philippines and i decided to upgrade the GG2’s to the engine 11 and just pay for the added shipping cost to Poland. Im sure it will be worth it anyway. Cant wait to set it up!

highstream said:

Congrats! While you might want to enjoy the very good dac you’re getting first, perhaps do a little tube rolling and adjust accessories such as cabling, fuses and isolation, the answer is an emphatic Yes. There are in effect two versions of the 2/3: the Engine-11 upgrade and the Poseidon engine (11-P) one, ~2000 vs. 4000 euros + shipping, respectively. There are also some other things that get brought up to date, some costing a little more, The trip to Poland also allows for any other mods you might want, depending on what your GG has, such as volume control, a different port in back, or even going from SE to balanced (or perhaps back). There’s a price list PDF that describes the possibilities on the Lampi Poland website, linked at the bottom. Upgrades and travel arrangements are handled through Lampi NA (Bob), while you can also correspond directly with Poland if you have questions. Expect at least 3-4 weeks for the round trip. And of course you can ask here (there are two or three applicable threads).

Is yours coming with the trunk? That’s an essential part for shipping.

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And yes it will be shipped with the trunk.