Analog vs Lampizator

[wisnon]

This is what confuses me. Not directly from Lukasz yet but through one of his staff/ associates/distributor (I'm not sure of his official title) who spoke with Lukasz about this it was conveyed to me that my GG (330mV) was NOT suitable for 242 tubes, only the balanced GGs were.
I don't know if this means not suitable at all or not suitable without changing anything on the unit or if he just would not recommend it.
Cave, this may be true, maybe not. That's why I would like an official answer from Lukasz. Also what his recommandation is, what he thinks is the way to go with all these "new" tubes showing up, like KR242, px25, KR 5U4G recti etc.

I know Lukasz loves the Px25 and mesh 45 globes best. The gain on the 242 is likely much higher than the Px25, which in turn is double that of the Px4.

I tried the 242 late last year when I had the GG and B7 concurrently. The max voltage on both were 2,500 and 215 mv respectively.

It played beautifully on the B& and distorted on the GG. It was a near equalizer with the GG, but bear in mind the B7 was fully broken in and the GG a week old.

Deuter plays the 242 distortion free on his Lite 7 with 5942x PCM board and 670mv output... only drawback is volume knob range is very limited, as he really cant go above 8 o'clock.

 

[wisnon]

No need to be....

I just happen to own two at the moment, one is with Duelund caps, the other one with Mundorf. Both have the latest pcm engine on board and differ only in details (frontplate is silver or black), one has an additional AES input, one is 230V, the other one is switchable.
I will sell one of them soon after I get them both back.

Which will you likely keep?

 

[wisnon]

So when he is recommending PX25 over 242, is that because of compatibility or sonics, i.e., would he recommend PX25 over 242 in a Big 7? If not, then the comparison should be PX25 over a 242 if the GG is tweaked for 242 (which will also run PX25)

I am sure the 242 has more gain at least double to PX25, which is double to PX4. The gain is off the chain!

 

[wisnon]

Doh!! I have a pair of KR 242 that I was planning on using with my SE GG. I wasn't aware of the compatibility issue so I am going to sell them. They should be delivered by the end of the week.

What is max voltage output on your Dac?

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I am sure the 242 has more gain at least double to PX25, which is double to PX4. The gain is off the chain!

I will be angry if that is the case as Lukasz confirmed to me that the gain with px-25 is same as 242!

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I will be angry if that is the case as Lukasz confirmed to me that the gain with px-25 is same as 242!

I just looked at the Kron website and the "amplification factor" rating of the Px-25 is almost double Px-4. I believe that amplification factor is the same as "gain" so I am think I am good and that the Px-25 is actually a gain monster. It has much more gain than 300b too.

 

[Audiocrack]

I know Lukasz loves the Px25 and mesh 45 globes best. The gain on the 242 is likely much hiugher than the Px25, which in turn is double that of the Px4.

I tried the 242 late last year when I had the GG and B7 concurrently. The max voltage on both were 2,500 and 215 mv respectively.

It played beautifully on the B& and distorted on the GG. It was a near equalizer with the GG, but bear in mind the B7 was fully broken in and the GG a week old.

Deuter plays the 242 distortion free on his Lite 7 with 5942x PCM board and 670mv output... only drawback is volume knob range is very limited, as he really cant go above 8 o'clock.

Norman, do I understand you correctly that Lukasz prefers the mesh and Px25 to some fine 300b tubes (such as WE, Elrog, Takatsuki, Living voice) on the se GG dac?

 

[elescher]

What is max voltage output on your Dac?

I am looking at the spec sheet, "Absolute max signal volume" =394 mV. Tolerance 200-1100. Is this the correct spec for this? It seems kinda low. I don't want to open the box and "use " the tubes if they are just going to cause clipping. These F*****'s are beautiful.

 

[Blue58]

I am looking at the spec sheet, "Absolute max signal volume" =394 mV. Tolerance 200-1100. Is this the correct spec for this? It seems kinda low. I don't want to open the box and "use " the tubes if they are just going to cause clipping. These F*****'s are beautiful.

Just for interest here is an old review of the Art Audio PX25 amp which has been around for at least 15 years.
Some info and comments on the PX 25 contained within.
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0801/artaudiopx25.htm

 

[wisnon]

Norman, do I understand you correctly that Lukasz prefers the mesh and Px25 to some fine 300b tubes (such as WE, Elrog, Takatsuki, Living voice) on the se GG dac?

Yes...I believe so, but Lukasz has only one opinion, not necessarily more valid than ours. Plus he listens mainly to new unbroken dacs...while most here have fully broken beasts. Then there is music genre and
Combination with rectifiers, etc. As Mike B pointed out tge new Kron 5u4g recti turns the mesh 45 globe into a monster!

 

[wisnon]

I am looking at the spec sheet, "Absolute max signal volume" =394 mV. Tolerance 200-1100. Is this the correct spec for this? It seems kinda low. I don't want to open the box and "use " the tubes if they are just going to cause clipping. These F*****'s are beautiful.

i think they will work and in the rare chance not, they can easily be sold on as 242 tubes are still hard to get.

 

[Audiocrack]

Yes...I believe so, but Lukasz has only one opinion, not necessarily more valid than ours. Plus he listens mainly to new unbroken dacs...while most here have fully broken beasts. Then there is music genre and
Combination with rectifiers, etc. As Mike B pointed out tge new Kron 5u4g recti turns the mesh 45 globe into a monster!

Thanks Norman. And yes, his view is only just another opinion but of course he has more experience with his dacs than any of us so therefore it is interesting to find out what he actually prefers.

As far as I know he never experienced or listened to the 300B tubes I mentioned but I will check.

 

[Audiocrack]

Hi Ked,

Yes - it was a really enjoyable listening session for sure. I am aligned with your thinking in that the Kr242 seems to be in a different league for the large scale classical we were listening - not even close to be honest and so much so that I will need to get my GG tweaked to allow use of these moving forwards. I think it is useful to point out to people that the new Lampi Anni 5u4g was an important part of this infectious mixture - remember with the Kr 274b it is too much of a good thing. But I agree that the macro level enhancement of the dac with the 242s was very large.

I want to give a shout out also to the new Sablon Elite Reserva cable which was able to see off the Siltech Ruby Double Crown off without too much problems. I was also very impressed with the "weight" of the Tellurium Q black diamond speaker cables - definitely a leap over the ultra black and no issues beating off the Audience.

In terms of the sampling thing -> as I said before (and I hope you also agree), the Lampi PCM really is very close to dsd now that I am not so bothered about upsampling red book stuff or Tidal streaming as I am fully satisfied native.

Bill, have you combined the Lampi se Kron 5u4g rectifier with any other tubes than the 242 valves? How good is this rectifier on a "stand alone" basis in your view? Asking because I am not planning to buy any 242 or px25 valves but keep on using the Elrog 300b, Takatsuki 300b and Lampi mesh valves (have not listened to the latter two on my GG yet). Hoping that this Kron 5u4g might be a(very) good match with these tubes. I am asking because so far I have only seen any real feedback on this recti on another forum.

 

[bonzo75]

Bill, have you combined the Lampi se Kron 5u4g rectifier with any other tubes than the 242 valves? How good is this rectifier on a "stand aline" basis in your view? Asking because I am not planning to buy any 242 or px25 valves but keep on using the Elrog 300b, Takatsuki 300b and Lampi mesh valves (have not listened to the latter two on my GG yet). Hoping that this Kron 5u4g might be a(very) good match with these tubes. I am asking because so far I have only seen any real feedback on this recti on another forum.

The 5u4g was good with all 101d, KR 300b and the 242 if I recall correctly. It was better than the KR 274b which itself to me is much better than the EML 5u4g. Haven't heard the Tak 274b or WE original.

 

[Audiocrack]

The 5u4g was good with all 101d, KR 300b and the 242 if I recall correctly. It was better than the KR 274b which itself to me is much better than the EML 5u4g. Haven't heard the Tak 274b or WE original.

Thanks Ked. However, did I understand you correctly that the 242 tubes made a (much) more profound difference for the better than this 5u4g recti?

 

[bonzo75]

Thanks Ked. However, did I understand you correctly that the 242 tubes made a (much) bigger difference for the better than this 5u4g recti?

242 has been one of the most exciting dems I have recently had. In fact I was just chatting with Bill on the phone today, and both of us are still hungover from the 242. I think the 5u4g made things sound more right/balanced, something that you wouldn't realize unless you compared. The 242 just took the system a few steps up. Audiophile OCD aside, I should give up my analog search and just sit satisfied with a 242 Lampi.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

The 5u4g was good with all 101d, KR 300b and the 242 if I recall correctly. It was better than the KR 274b which itself to me is much better than the EML 5u4g. Haven't heard the Tak 274b or WE original.

Yep - agreed. It is my fave recti partnered with any DHT tube I own. It has beaten eml 274b mesh, eml 5u4g mesh, Kr 274b, psvane we replica 274b, nos Philips 5r4gys, and we 422a.

 

[Audiocrack]

Yep - agreed. It is my fave recti partnered with any DHT tube I own. It has beaten eml 274b mesh, eml 5u4g mesh, Kr 274b, psvane we replica 274b, nos Philips 5r4gys, and we 422a.

Ok, clear and thanks. Does that leave in your/Ked's view one (real word) competitor: the Takatsuki 274b valve?

 

[bonzo75]

Ok, clear and thanks. Does that leave in your/Ked's view one (real word) competitor: the Takatsuki 274b valve?

And the original 274 WE, not heard yet.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

And the original 274 WE, not heard yet.

Exactly - those 2 demand our attention, lol.