Well then, I hope you can enjoy your popcorn in combination with your digital technology!
Analog vs Lampizator
- Thread starter bonzo75
- Start date
Well then, I hope you can enjoy your popcorn in combination with your digital technology!
my 'pro' Lamplizator viewpoint is that it would be better if we could just avoid the whole 'better than vinyl' dialog and simply enjoy the clear evidence that the DHT Lampi's are very 'vinyl-like' to their advocates and that they provide an excellent alternative to vinyl adding server based digital ease of use.
anyone able to enjoy a big boy Lampi has got it really good.
anyone able to enjoy a big boy Lampi has got it really good.
what I'd like to know is if a Lampi without tubes would be as close to analog.
or if the Lampi's "magic" is really in the tubed output stage.
or if the Lampi's "magic" is really in the tubed output stage.
No it is not true or a general statement. A cheaper but well aligned analog rig is better than more expensive digital when the question is AAA vinyl. Sorry but no digital goodies will bring back already lost when analog is being converted into digital.
A Lampi without tubes is like bread without butter. In all seriousness the entire build ethos of Lampi is around the DHT circuits and tube rectified power supplies as well as the chipless dsd engine - so much of the magic will be in the combination of the dac engine together with the power supplies and DHT output. If it was the just the Lampi dac engines with regular ss everything else then it wouldn't be a Lampi.
Suffice to say I disagree given the inherent subjectivity of this hobby. No one is the arbiter of truth when it comes to audio.
And what's AAA vinyl? I thought AAA provided travel maps and stuff.
Here I am - just furiously burning in a new Analog Domain m75d amp.
Anyway. I am with Mike L on this matter no question. The Lampi GG is no doubt a sensational machine and does things you don't normally get from any digital source (crazy 3D imaging, sublime tone, and just plain and simple musical enthralment) - it is highly addictive and is IMHO the most enjoyable digital source out there that I have heard. It also represents 70% of my listening cos I am too lazy to change LPs all the time
So if I select the absolute best native dsd track from the likes of channel classics and put it up against the best vinyl I can find - something like one of my Decca SXLs, the Kuzma pulls away without too much sweat. I can't think of a better way to test because of different mastering between formats that precludes the evaluation of the same track easily.
What's the cost of each setup? IMO if they are not remotely on par how is it a fair comparison?
Analogous to an analog setup with a SS phono pre. Many (most?) analog setups get their "analog" sound with tube phono preamps IME. Try it with a SS and not so bloomy, analogy - like, etc...
Hi Marslo,
I take it that the W20 with USB power underperforms playback without its USB power off? Is the W20 with USB power on supplying dirty power into the DAC?
Don't think that analogy works, that is more like using an SS digital and a valve preamp. Asking how not using valves in Lampi will make it sound is like asking what would happen if we did not have valves in Jadis, AR, Lamm, Ypsilon, NAT, Zanden, etc - except that Lampi can use better valves
Sorry I can't agree that most analog setups get their "analog" sound from tube phono preamps. The sound of "analog" does not mandate tube electronics.
They aren't too far off. The TT rig (new) would cost more by about 1.5x. I also think that price is a factor in this instance but not that critical - IMHO - it is the nature of the software particularly mastering and also the technology itself. Cost of hifi components are not always directly related to performance at least in measurement terms. There are many TTs with fabulous measurements (in TT terms) for "cheap" versus some more expensive models. Likewise with digital. In essence cost does not always equal performance.
Hard to say whether this is dirty power, EMI or RMI distortions. The only thing which is audible that is improvement of the sound when the 5V power supply of usb special audio output is switched off on Aurender's side.
I installed a custom Jcat Reference usb cable without power strand ,there are just data transmitted. Even with this cable, the improvement is audible. So probably it has more to do with RMI/EMI distortions , but I am not a techie guy.
Also the ethernet cable between the wall and Aurender which is not activ during the audio playaback may improve the sound , again probably because of EMI/RMI reduction.
BTW I experienced the same level of improvement with the installation of the Lessloss Firewall between my Acro Mexcel 7300 PC and Lampi's power inlet.
So , IMHO there are big reserves of the improvement of the Lampi playback with careful power setup.
For me it is the equivalent of better tonearm/cartridge combo on analoge side.
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I think that cost would depend on the cost of valves and streamer for the dac.
I use a w20 into the lampi and found a combination of W20=>Intono=>Regen=>Lampi GG to be best sounding for my setup. Cables were from curious cables.
I tried a Regen but I didn' t like what it did in my setup. For my ears the sound switched to the clinical and less involving side but I am a " half - analog guy"
We probably may agree that W20-GG/B7 is one of best digital combo available.
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Yeah - already factored that. If I owned an Aurender w20 or fancy server, then Lampi rig would be more.
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