Could you elaborate on the improvements that you are now hearing with the Lampi DAC
compared with the Playback Designs MPS-5? I've considered the PD MPS-8 but perhaps I should
explore the Lampi products. Enjoy what is no doubt an awesome system!
after purchasing the Extreme and while exploring DAC options I was using the DAC from the PD MPS-5 for about 4 weeks and surprisingly the sound was very enjoyable and engaging. As stated my entire system is tube based and needless to say I lean towards tubes in my system.
When we placed the Pacific into the system and after tube burn in, I next tried to get a handle on the volume control on the Pacific. Lukasz in a post here suggested that the Pacific be played at full gain of 0 Db and use the gain on your preamp to dial in the desired volume. When I did it this way and using the standard KR242 I found the sound bright and using the gain control on my Lamm preamp I had to turn it all the way down to the second detente position and this tended to subdue the sound. I subsequently found that for my system the better way to go is to use the gain on my preamp and the volume control on the Pacific to tune the tubes. I did countless blind testing with lights out where I played with the gain control on both. Invariably after countless trials and then turning on the lights to see where the gain was on the Pacific it was almost always at or around -12Db. This is pretty much where I keep the Pacific setting and I find I am very satisfied. So what changed?
First and foremost were the dynamics and tonality which I have never heard equaled in my system. There was a sense of reality whichI have never experienced in my digital playback. I am convinced that not only was the Pacific a factor in this but so also was the Taiko Extreme contributing. I found the synergy between the 2 components mesmerizing. The sound stage was far more immersive. What also find ongoing is that the sound of the Pacific continues to settle in, so much so that as I have said here before I am completely happy with the KR242's and have yet to introduce the special RK-KR PX25 into the DAC. I will someday.
Cutting to the chase....My main source of listening heretofore was vinyl and tape. Since I had both the Extreme and Pacific combo I find that now I am listening mainly to the digital side of the system because not only does it sound so good but on occasion I would be hard pressed to differentiate it from analogue
This of course is my impression in my system and as they say YMMV