Slightly off your original topic, but on topic for the thread... How do the EL6 tubes compare to the tubes you got with the Poseiden? What did you get with it GEC L63s?
Introducing the LampizatOr Poseidon DAC
- Thread starter Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus
- Start date
I received the GEC L63 tubes with my Poseidon. I then purchased adapters with the EL6 tubes from Laszlo. I thought the EL6 tubes made an immediate and noticeable improvement in the sound. More detail, wider soundstage, better imaging is what I recall. However, I also upgraded the 6N1P tubes at the same time, each 6N1P tube replaced by a pair of mini tubes in an adapter also from Laszlo. So I’m not sure how much improvement came from the EL6 versus the minis.
Thx, it would be an interesting experiment to see which is which and swap back in the originals....
EDIT: The community thinks so too it seems!
Last edited:
Now that you have the Philips adapters another nice tube to try would be the EL3N. I’ve run a quad of these in my dac (TRP3) and they provide one of the best “midrange” presentations I’ve heard.
Same electrical specs as the tube you have currently and uses the same adapter (according to the pin call outs on the data sheets).I’m still holding on to my trusted Pacific sans volume control. For those of us with state of the art preamps — I use an ARC 6 SE — I’m not attracted to DACs with volume controls although I can see their appeal. I’d still like to see Lampi issue a no-holds-barred pure DAC. The Horizon cones with a volume control. I don’t want one. I love my Pacific. But I want a pure DAC. No volume control or preamp functions. Leave that to the folks who design preamplifiers. Just my 2 cents! I’m a huge admirer of Lampi DACs. I’m using a 100-year old DHT tube in my Pacific right now, the fabulous 112A courtesy of Goran who put me onto it.
I agree concerning the Horizon as a pre-amp. I heard the Horizon with my same speakers and amps. I found it to be unbelievably great on jazz and classical instrumental but lacking body for voice. I went with the Poseidon for the reason it is designed as a pre-amp and a great DAC associated with it. What it does for my analog is very superior to my EAR 912 preamp. It maybe that there are superior preamps but it serves my purpose. I'm not seeking perfection, just a thoroughly engaging music from my recordings and it's rather good at doing that.
My good friend with a different system (same power cables and amps through) has his Meridian Ultra DAC running through ARC LS 28. By changing this tubes to 6N6/6H6, he utterly improved the sound (stock tubes-it's just not interesting). If your ARC 6 SE has 6H30 tubes, you should try 6N6/6H6 tubes. Perhaps it only works for the LS 28.
They're generally not expensive tubes (except for some rare old NOS).
I followwd the upgrade path, from TRP 3 (although not the GA) to Poseidon, but can confirm, that the Poseidon is simply a different league, compared to the very good TRP3. So careful where you step.
I hope you mean that the Poseidon provides as much pleasure as the TRP3 and GA units. The only Lampizator DACs I've heard are the Horizon and Poseidon. I've heard that the earlier units are colored but immensely satisfying. My dealer owns a Baltic and is pending a Poseidon but told me that even the Baltic was a very satisfying DAC compared to most.
IME: The GA TRP is wonderful. The Poseidon is clearly better. I can listen to the TRP for days deliriously happily. Put the Poseidon in, and it takes only a few seconds to hear the improvement in detail, extension, ambiance retrieval, spacial cues, image solidarity and holography that takes a notable step up in realism. The GA TRP is better then many $15K-20K DACs I've head-to-head tested in my system to my ears, and you have to sit and really listen carefully to hear differences between some great DACs in this price range...the Poseidon, however, is appreciably better and you instantly feel its brazen, beautiful, beguiling presence in your system in the first bar of music. Or at least so in mine.
The Poseidon is Olympian in its volume control/pre-amp function as well, being superb even directly running all 3 pairs of outputs simultaneously (i.e., 4 mono blocks and 2 subs for movies). I've had other great DACs with volume, but only the Poseidon keeps the energy/drive/clarity/detail the way a good tube or SS active preamp does even at low volumes where other DACs fall flat and sound lifeless. Quite an accomplishment!
That's my experience as well. My EAR 912 preamp sounds thin and uninvolving comparatively speaking, especially for voice through it's line-stage (CDs). Strange that that it's phono stage which I fell in love with in since the 1990s sounds excellent through the line-stage out to the Poseidon in through RCAs rather than XLRs. I'm trying to decide whether to keep the 912 in for phono (with it's many inputs) or go with my EAR 324 phono pre-amp. I also have the Zesto Allesso SUT to try with it. Thanks for letting me know that I chose the best DAC/Pre-amp combo (could be an SOTA level as a combo).
I was lucky enough to recently listen to a Poseidon Vs a Pacific 2 and the P2 was noticeably more organic sounding to my ears.
The P2 was using PX4 mesh (TJFM).
I also definitely preferred my Acuhorn R2R T using the same PX4 tubes over the Poseidon during the same listening session.
The Poseidon was amazingly built to its credit I will also say. A beast!
The P2 was using PX4 mesh (TJFM).
I also definitely preferred my Acuhorn R2R T using the same PX4 tubes over the Poseidon during the same listening session.
The Poseidon was amazingly built to its credit I will also say. A beast!
So you're indicating that the Acuhorn DAC at 20% of the Poseidon price is superior. It's also simpler, smaller and lighter. Does anyone else have an opinion concerning the Acuhorn DAC?
Yep agreed. Pretty similar to my impression https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/introducing-the-lampizator-poseidon-dac.37657/post-982790
It was my understanding that the Poseidon uses all triodes. The TRP is usually fitted with pentodes at delivery but the circuit is “strapped” operating in triode mode.
That's a common thing actually, won't be worried about it. The El3n is a great tube. The older tubes are the smaller ones. Phillips is what most ppl use. The French types have mesh plate variants of these
Remembering that the dealer told me, the fact that the Poseidon uses triode mode pentodes is irrelevant, it's that they aren't directed heated like a 300b/PX4 etc. That's where the magic is.
Someone can fact check this statement but I think I have it right.
Similar threads
- Sticky
