Golden Gate DAC arrives.

[marslo]

Eagerly await the feedback.

What tubes do you have?

101d WE replicas,NOS RCA 5R4gy rectifier JAN specification, duelund caps.Plus jcat reference usb cable with only one line for data transmission. I do not need power since usb board is self powered in Lampi design. Aurender W20 has the option to switch off the power in usb , this way the background is darker and there is less distortion resulting with better resolution.
This option improve significantly the SQ imo.

 

[wisnon]

Very nice Marslo. You should be set!

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Do you have like say 300B tubes to switch with the Krons with PCM playback? I want to separate the Kron characteristics from the Ladder characteristics.

I have used 101d and eml 45 mesh so far. Eml mesh before r2r was very very smooth and romantic with voluptuous feel. Well she has been on Atkin's diet for a few months and lost some flab and toned up now. She has better definition on the hips and is more nimble but still has curves and very sexy

 

[Audiophile Bill]

kron

Wisnon - I forgot to mention that the Kr242 turned out to still over drive output stage in 300b setting on GG with some material unfortunately. So my listening is with 101d and 45s. Will have Kr 300b balloons and Kr PX-4 here very soon.

Btw - Kedar and myself did a bunch of recti testing today and the Kr 274b cleaned up. We tested a WE 422, eml 274b and eml 5u4g. I will continue this evening with Philips 5r4gy and we replica psvane 274b.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

For Golden Gate owners - I heard Kedar's Tara Cobalt power cord - that gives a mighty meaty and dark sound that I really liked.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Wisnon - I forgot to mention that the Kr242 turned out to still over drive output stage in 300b setting on GG with some material unfortunately. So my listening is with 101d and 45s. Will have Kr 300b balloons and Kr PX-4 here very soon.

Btw - Kedar and myself did a bunch of recti testing today and the Kr 274b cleaned up. We tested a WE 422, eml 274b and eml 5u4g. I will continue this evening with Philips 5r4gy and we replica psvane 274b.

+1

I bought a pair of KR242's 6 weeks ago to try on my SE GG. at the time I was told they would work on the 101d/45 setting, but that was waay too much gain.

then 2 days ago I tried it with the 300b setting and thought all was well but just like you as I listened yesterday on peaks I was getting distortion which I assume was too much gain. too bad since otherwise I liked what I heard.

I have a pair of Elrog ER300b's arriving on Tuesday which I have high expectations for.

I also have the Psvane 300b WE replicas and 101d WE replicas. my favorite so far are the National Union 45's.

 

[Steve Williams]

Mike

It's so good to see you rolling tubes again. It brings a smile to your face I bet. I like reading about everyone's thoughts. I would love to see a single thread on which tubes are being used by members in their GG and what they cost and how and where available as well as members recommendations on a scale of 1-5. It could serve as a reference for all present and future users.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

+1

I bought a pair of KR242's 6 weeks ago to try on my SE GG. at the time I was told they would work on the 101d/45 setting, but that was waay too much gain.

then 2 days ago I tried it with the 300b setting and thought all was well but just like you as I listened yesterday on peaks I was getting distortion which I assume was too much gain. too bad since otherwise I liked what I heard.

I have a pair of Elrog ER300b's arriving on Tuesday which I have high expectations for.

I also have the Psvane 300b WE replicas and 101d WE replicas. my favorite so far are the National Union 45's.

Agree Mike - they were like a 101d on steroids but with a smoother top. They made Kedar's big 7 much better - until he adds the Kr 242, the sound was a tidge slow and a fraction muddy - stick those rockets in and it was a different DAC. Not sure why it works in big 7 and not in GG. Ked's big 7 has less gain than mine - perhaps that has something to do with it I am not sure.

 

[bonzo75]

The demos were on PCM only. I had forgotten my remote so couldn't swap over to DSD. I expect DSD difference to be less than PCM as Bill has his r2r-ed. So the 242 on DSD on Big 7 should be an interesting face off.

 

[adyc]

Does anyone know whether the new R2R engine is NOS or not?

 

[marslo]

I received today my b7 upgraded to R2R . It's not GG but I hope you will not banish me from the thread
First impression - it plays louder. I called Lukasz and he confirmed- the output signal is around 30% stronger. I would say 4,5-5 V , not bad at all for a SET amp which can operate with less power = less distortion.
The sound is much more palpable than the chip pcm version, especially with power switched off in usb on Aurender side.
The sound is very analog like but in the same time PRAT is on higher level. The sound signature is close to C8+ in tube mode. Much warmer and palpable than pcm from La Fontaine. My only concern is about the resolution but I need more time to evaluate that.
Now it' s time to burn the new board up for ca 50 hours before final conclusions.
For sure the gap between dsd playback and pcm decreased.

 

[marslo]

Does anyone know whether the new R2R engine is NOS or not?

Sorry adyc, I do not know the technical specification of the upgrade.

 

[Sablon Audio]

I received today my b7 upgraded to R2R . It's not GG but I hope you will not banish me from the thread
First impression - it plays louder. I called Lukasz and he confirmed- the output signal is around 30% stronger. I would say 4,5-5 V , not bad at all for a SET amp which can operate with less power = less distortion.

That's an interesting insight Mariusz and might explain why Bill found the KR 242 valves too forceful with his R2R GG but beneficial to Kedar's older pcm B7. As is often the case, context and subjective tastes prevail. I find it amusing when people get so dogmatic about, say, the virtues of 'X' output valve when it may depend on matching with 'Y' cap and 'Z' rectifier. Just because Robert Parker gives a 95 rating to a Riesling wine doesn't suddenly make it attractive to a Merlot fan

 

[wisnon]

Yes Mark, I noted that weeks ago…as I tested them with both a B7 and a GG at the same time!
They make the B7 PCM approach the dynamism of the PCM Ladder build. Unfortunately, the B7 was waaay more broken in than the GG, so ultimate performance of the Gg is TBD.

The 242 is a high acceleration tube with eneormous gain and hence the dynamics. However, mated with a high voltage output stage, you have no leeway on the volume control as "1" is already often too loud. LoL. Not obvious on every song, but maybe 30%?

With the B7, volume control was still in effect.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I received today my b7 upgraded to R2R . It's not GG but I hope you will not banish me from the thread
First impression - it plays louder. I called Lukasz and he confirmed- the output signal is around 30% stronger. I would say 4,5-5 V , not bad at all for a SET amp which can operate with less power = less distortion.
The sound is much more palpable than the chip pcm version, especially with power switched off in usb on Aurender side.
The sound is very analog like but in the same time PRAT is on higher level. The sound signature is close to C8+ in tube mode. Much warmer and palpable than pcm from La Fontaine. My only concern is about the resolution but I need more time to evaluate that.
Now it' s time to burn the new board up for ca 50 hours before final conclusions.
For sure the gap between dsd playback and pcm decreased.

Hi Marslo,

I agree with the palpability but I am surprised about your resolution comment - mine was quite obviously higher in resolution. Not at all subtle. Always system dependent like Mark wisely points out below though. What DHT tubes did you use - I was using 101d?

 

[marslo]

Me too, 101d WE replicas. It's hard for me to consider if the resolution is better or not, just the sound is so life-like and warm that I do not concentrate on resolution, let me put it that way- is enough resolution like there is enough power in Rolls Royce engin. How much exactly- who cares?
It is just irrelevant in Lampi sound imo.To be sure if there is more or less resolution compared to La Fontaine or best vinyls I need more time.
My first impression is that the difference between redbook and hirez pcm files is more audible than with La Fontaine and with the former chip version.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Me too, 101d WE replicas. It's hard for me to consider if the resolution is better or not, just the sound is so life-like and warm that I do not concentrate on resolution, let me put it that way- is enough resolution like there is enough power in Rolls Royce engin. How much exactly- who cares?
It is just irrelevant in Lampi sound. To be sure if there is more or less resolution compared to La Fontaine or best vinyls I need more time.

Ha. I like your sentiment about the care factor when it is so engrossing. That said I always found the dsd engine more resolving and this r2r takes PCM a good deal in that direction in my system.

 

[LL21]

Me too, 101d WE replicas. It's hard for me to consider if the resolution is better or not, just the sound is so life-like and warm that I do not concentrate on resolution, let me put it that way- is enough resolution like there is enough power in Rolls Royce engin. How much exactly- who cares?
It is just irrelevant in Lampi sound imo.To be sure if there is more or less resolution compared to La Fontaine or best vinyls I need more time.
My first impression is that the difference between redbook and hirez pcm files is more audible than with La Fontaine and with the former chip version.

I am with you on the detail point...i have begun to appreciate it as many other elements of sounds have come into place in the system...but as the system has reached a certain level of refinement/detail, i have really stopped looking for that last bit, and just sit back and enjoy the music. Its the balance of the total system presentation i suppose i enjoy the most.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Elrog ER300b's

Tuesday I received a new pair of Elrog ER300b's and inserted them into the Golden Gate.

I own the Psvane 101d WE replicas, the Psvane 300b WE replicas, the KR242's, and the National Union 45's. the KR242's won't work as they overdrive the circuit. all the rest are pretty good if different. I suppose overall I prefer the National Union 45's.

but these Elrogs are the 'bomb'.

Very very sexy sounding. they have that mid-range fire and sparkle, along with a seemingly lower noise floor and micro-dynamic energy which makes the music more real and engaging. Very nice bass decay and soundstage space and overall presence. It has a lovely texture and nuance.

This is the magic I have been waiting to hear. I love it. and I love them on all types of music. everything is just more real sounding. the separation and organic 3d of the soundstage just pulls me in. the tone is to die for, but there is little rounding or blunting that seems to typically come with that. musical energy just projects. exceptional delicacy and shading.

It’s a bit colored in some ways and not as clean and perfectly behaved as the Trinity….but who cares!!!

Seems to work well with my 1944 RCA 5R4GY ‘WE 274b type’ rectifier. I’ve not yet tried it with my EML 274b yet.

I've been warned that these Elrogs fail, or more properly, previous versions had a high failure rate. I must point out that the dealer has stood behind those failed tubes. so I want to make sure I post that for people to do their own investigations and decide what's best for them. I read thru the thread on Audiogon about this and am satisfied. I spoke to George Lenz of TubesUSA and am comfortable with going with these.

after 2 days of listening I just love how these tubes make the music so much more involving.

 

[marslo]

Thank you for sharing Mike, very informative.