Lamm LP2.1 Deluxe
- Thread starter rockitman
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You might have replaced some microphonic ones here and there Mike but there's no way to quiet down a phono stage with all that many tubes in the circuit, that's always been the issue with Io. Forget about tube rolling specially with exotic ones, you need hundreds or even thousands to really match a full set, then what happens when they start going?
david
makes perfect sense David. and with all those tubes the Io did certainly warm up the room in addition to warming up the sonic balance. between the Io and my Tenor OTL's (which while neutral sounding got out-right hot) my smallish room got very warm.
the Lamm was the more musically fulfilling product to my ears at that time.
Yes...for the Deluxe...incredible isn't it ? I can't wait to hear it again later.
Just an observation to share in terms of gain with this unit using a .3mV LOMC cartridge. The standard Jensen transformer in the LP2.1 offers 60dB of gain. With the Allnic, I have a maximum gain of 74dB (selectable). How this translates to listening volume on my preamp is as follows. The Pass XS overall gain is described as -89.5dB to +9.5dB. Listening relatively loud...say 90-95 average SPL the volume setting level on the preamp with the Allnic feeding it at 74dB gain is about -25dB. An equivalent volume level with the Lamm feeding the Pass XS is -11dB....so I still have 20dB of gain left in the tank for the the Pass XS pre would be considered cranked to the max. This is what you would expect based on the specs.
Sounds about right. I have 76db of gain on my phono stage and often listen at -25db. If I use the 66db setting I am anywhere between -10 and -15db.
As for 20db of gain, I wonder if the going above 0db changes the character of the sound as the Pass XS Pre would go from attenuation to gain? Hopefully you'd never need to find out!
It doesn't...I have gone to +5db listening to a tape that was recorded low to start out with...just to see what would happen.
Just finished listening to Ray Brown Trio "Soular Energy". A little over 24 hours since the unit was switched on..with maybe 6 hours of that listening. The unit has come a long way. Ray Brown's bass runs are fully extended and defined compared to yesterday. The piano strikes are amazing. I know I have more time to go until the unit opens up completely and refines. One thing for sure, this or his big brother will be added to the stable. Ray Brown Trio was reproduced with a sense of presence, drive and authority that took my breath away.
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Thank you for sharing both your impressions and enthusiasm, I'm enjoying it. Of course given that we share the same amps and preamp, it's very relevant for me.
Can you see yourself enjoying both this and your Allnic (e.g. different flavor or strengths) or do you think you might find this to be superior overall?
Good question. I think there is room for both. The Lamm is still not at full strength yet...so I need more time. It's got a lot of slam. Lamma Slamma !
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Ian
The question you need to ask Christian if he considers the phono stage dark. I personally don't think that at all. You need to relisten
The question you need to ask Christian if he considers the phono stage dark. I personally don't think that at all. You need to relisten
I believe he's already answered that, Steve (stating that is was NOT dark). For the record, I never heard any Lamm phono stage. I considered it back when I owned the M1.2's and the L2 Reference but my dealer (who sold both Lamm and another line) advised me that the other line was better. I followed his recommendations and while I was very happy with it for years, I never compared it. I did find the L2 Reference dark, and I think Lamm does have a reputation for being dark, but in all fairness my experience was years ago with different speakers & sources etc.
I hear this term..."dark", banded around quite a bit these day! Would someone care to tell me what is meant by the term--a "dark" sounding component??
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I hear this term..."dark" banded around quite a bit these day! Would someone care to tell me what is meant by the term--a "dark" sounding component??
Usually that the mids or especially highs aren't as prominent as someone thinks they should be. I've heard both bright and dark system be musically engaging. Sometimes it might come off dark at first...but still has all that detail and sparkle...just the harsh edge is gone and I find this to be some of the very best out there.
My dealers room is brighter than my room. I love both systems.
Ian, are we then saying that the gear in question ( that 'supposedly' sounds 'dark) isn't as resolving as it should be in the mids and the highs? Wouldn't a piece of gear that accurately depicts what is on the source and yet does NOT highlight ( or makes more prominent) the mids and highs be simply more accurate?
I have to wonder if the term 'dark'( or not 'dark') is nothing more than a preference for a certain type of 'coloration'???
Perhaps a good subject for another thread....
Ian, are we then saying that the gear in question ( that 'supposedly' sounds 'dark) isn't as resolving as it should be in the mids and the highs? Wouldn't a piece of gear that accurately depicts what is on the source and yet does NOT highlight ( or makes more prominent) the mids and highs be simply more accurate?
I have to wonder if the term 'dark'( or not 'dark') is nothing more than a preference for a certain type of 'coloration'???
Perhaps a good subject for another thread....
It's John...unless you were addressing this to Ian... ;-)
I've found that "good dark" gear is plenty resolving. To the point you're missing nothing. And if you listen to live music, especially un amplified in a good venue it's nothing bright. I just saw Jersey Boys in Vegas this past week. At Paris. Damn...I would have said it's dark. But I heard every single detail. Every single nuance. Every single inflection. Simply amazing acoustics. I was on the 2nd row just a bit to the left. I think i heard more of them vs the speakers...
As for your post, yes to me it's more accurate. Again in comparison to live un amplified music. And yes can certainly be a preference. And yes...another thread let's dig in ;-)
I'd say the Lamm is falling into the Goldilocks zone....Just right....at least in my system. I think the treble extension is a bit more pronounced than on my Allnic at this point..but it's still breaking in. Nothing bright or edgy. The only other phono I can compare this against is the Pass XP-25...which in my opinion sounds too hi-fi and does not flesh out the music as well as the tubed competition. For about the same money...Lamm LP2.1 vs Pass XP-25..,it's not even close to these ears. Lamm all the way.
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