Hi Ken,
Bruce Brown and BMoura (PFO) gave rave reviews to the Level 4 DSD Only Dac. many of the online positive feedback is about the L4 DSD, which uses small signal tubes like the ECC40. Only the L7 Lampis with SD have the DHT combo with DSD. I think its a bot better, but there is not an enourmous gulf in performance. As you know, when you are already at a high level, diminishing returns hit hard and that is what people are paying for. YES, I agree DSD loves DSD, but it also loves the ECC40 tube almost as much. Of course the L7 uses more upgraded parts than the L4 and that matters too. Indeed the whole circuit design of his DSd is quite pure and it shows thru in the music, as you can likely tell from the many accolades given by experienced Industry people and audiophiles. I really appreciate teh confirmation, as when I first heard Lampi DSD, I could not be sure that I was not imaging that superb SQ. I had to pinch myself…and it was an early demo unit. When I (much later) heard the B7, I was smitten.
I would love for you to hear it and tell me what you think. Are you going to Axpona? The Lampi guys will be there.
No, unfortunately I won't be attending Axpona but I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to hear one somewhere this year. I need to hear for myself what all the hubbub is about. One last question, how does the single-ended B7 compare in performance to the balanced B7? When I auditioned the Wavelength Crimson DAC, which also utilizes DHTs, I noticed a significant drop off in performance in the balanced Crimson vs. the stellar single-ended Crimson.
Ken