Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread
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One could feed any DAC, Lampi Pacific or other, with a apple laptop or a NUC server and get decent/good sound. But I think most realize that stepping up to a top end dedicated streamer (e.g. the extreme, Aurender W20, Antipodes K50, etc) will further enhance the sound quality. I don't read the comment as "if you don't have the extreme then don't bother".
Yes, that seems absurdly reductive to me. IME, the Pacific offered the best digital music experience I had while being fed from my Antipodes DX II using Roon, but it was short of my vinyl. The addition of the Extreme pushed it to equal, for my system, tastes, etc.
Sorry if hearing that digital has a lot of work ahead of it to equal vinyl is unsettling to some...
Sorry if hearing that digital has a lot of work ahead of it to equal vinyl is unsettling to some...
Concur w the Pacific and Extreme being an incredible combo. A number of Extreme owners were using the Pacific and provided the rec. Emile at Taiko very much enjoys his Extreme/Pacific combo (one of a few dacs he runs) and between his recommendation and this thread I went w the KR RK 242s + EML274b and haven’t yet felt the urge to consider whether something might sound better.
Overall a natural sound without any digititis or etchiness. The dynamics are explosive and while I was concerned I may lose some compared to my prior SS DAC, I should not have worried as others had assured me. My Pacific came w the JL sound board (not sure about the clocks @User211).
Have yet to try any damping as I haven’t recognized any microphony but will definitely try. Perhaps I don’t recognize it is there... On the list for sure. Thanks for the examples here and all the great related info on this thread!
Overall a natural sound without any digititis or etchiness. The dynamics are explosive and while I was concerned I may lose some compared to my prior SS DAC, I should not have worried as others had assured me. My Pacific came w the JL sound board (not sure about the clocks @User211).
Have yet to try any damping as I haven’t recognized any microphony but will definitely try. Perhaps I don’t recognize it is there... On the list for sure. Thanks for the examples here and all the great related info on this thread!
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KR RK 5U4G Recti arrived 2 days ago.
Still running in but initial impressions very, very favorable. My TJ 300bs have never sounded better. Mid bass detail seems to just jump - very ”tubey“ sounding if that makes sense.
Based on my noise testing on unused analog input that I have posted earlier-quietest so far. Results are attached for 5 different rectifiers I have tested. Maybe there is something to the thicker glass, higher vacuum, etc.
Still running in but initial impressions very, very favorable. My TJ 300bs have never sounded better. Mid bass detail seems to just jump - very ”tubey“ sounding if that makes sense.
Based on my noise testing on unused analog input that I have posted earlier-quietest so far. Results are attached for 5 different rectifiers I have tested. Maybe there is something to the thicker glass, higher vacuum, etc.
My first impression of my Pacific did not match the enthusiasm shared in this forum. Once I added the Lucas Audio LDMS, it just took it to a totally different sonic level. So in my case, the Server was more important than the DAC, and, I saved $20k.
I have ordered some Hytron brown base VT-62. See link. Will post my impressions but they will take a while to arrive from the US.
I think I might need the micanol base GE variant cos it's pretty
"VinylSavor: Tube of the Month : The 801A" http://vinylsavor.blogspot.com/2014/04/tube-of-month-801a.html?m=1
These may well work in some Lampis, but I can't be sure you will get the best out of them. Try the 300B setting. The easy way to find out is to raise the tube (get some life extenders if you can't raise it enough) and put a voltmeter across the two thick pins (UX-4 base tubes). If you get 7.5V you are in business with VT-62 / 801A.
This is an easy way to see how well your Lampi is working for any tube. And it is critical it is bang on to get the best performance. Since I have manual voltage control I know what a difference it makes. Differences between tubes results in clearly audible channel imbalance, and everything snaps into focus when you are running at the rated filament voltage.
I went Hytron because of this: www.worldtubecompany.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=TF-801. Unsure if I have 30s or 40s coming.
I think I might need the micanol base GE variant cos it's pretty
"VinylSavor: Tube of the Month : The 801A" http://vinylsavor.blogspot.com/2014/04/tube-of-month-801a.html?m=1
These may well work in some Lampis, but I can't be sure you will get the best out of them. Try the 300B setting. The easy way to find out is to raise the tube (get some life extenders if you can't raise it enough) and put a voltmeter across the two thick pins (UX-4 base tubes). If you get 7.5V you are in business with VT-62 / 801A.
This is an easy way to see how well your Lampi is working for any tube. And it is critical it is bang on to get the best performance. Since I have manual voltage control I know what a difference it makes. Differences between tubes results in clearly audible channel imbalance, and everything snaps into focus when you are running at the rated filament voltage.
I went Hytron because of this: www.worldtubecompany.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=TF-801. Unsure if I have 30s or 40s coming.
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You got only one pair mate? Oh come on, don't disappoint me now.
If you want to be 'THE MAN" you need to source somehow UX210 Globe
.My Hytron VT62s are from '40s and soon there will be like 4/5 pairs coming in, so you need to do some catch up
. Of course not to be used in Lampi as there is I believe no way it can work properly in GG2/PAC on 300b setting with 5V filament delivery instead of 7.5V...just my two cents...FFS if it doesn't for that money you need a better man than Lucasz to sort it out.
Plenty around. Wake up, sort it out and learn from the guys who know.
Justin I didn't get those (VT62, 10Y, 801A) to be used in Lampi but my pre.
I don't see a reason why it should be used as such in Lampi tbh. Nice/great tube absolutely, as well as 2a3 which can't be used, but in my book I don't have a single reason to complain/bitch about Lampi as the choice of tubes which we can use is anyhow over the top and anybody can find what he likes (from designated ones and massive number outside of that, thanks to YOU, maybe me and many other guys willing to experiment).
As well, I leave it to designer to decide which tubes should be used in the units he designs as he must have some reason/belief while developing his product and in Lukasz case its his good will in general to allow users to use in the dacs tubes which are not intended to be used and are close to spec of the designated ones.
Don't get me wrong, I know your story with Lukasz and you animosity towards him, but as I told you this already, I don't understand why you use his DAC "skeleton" if its already crap and modded to totally something else by other gurus? Why those gurus "in the know" don't develop a complete solution for you based on your design input and voila - that would be it. I see on the market that there are quite a few brands which use DHTs in output, so you can pick and choose even from ready made solutions but seems to me that trick is that none of them gives you flexibility which, sorry to say, idiots like me and you love to do and that is tube rolling.
Long live tube rolling
I don't see a reason why it should be used as such in Lampi tbh. Nice/great tube absolutely, as well as 2a3 which can't be used, but in my book I don't have a single reason to complain/bitch about Lampi as the choice of tubes which we can use is anyhow over the top and anybody can find what he likes (from designated ones and massive number outside of that, thanks to YOU, maybe me and many other guys willing to experiment).
As well, I leave it to designer to decide which tubes should be used in the units he designs as he must have some reason/belief while developing his product and in Lukasz case its his good will in general to allow users to use in the dacs tubes which are not intended to be used and are close to spec of the designated ones.
Don't get me wrong, I know your story with Lukasz and you animosity towards him, but as I told you this already, I don't understand why you use his DAC "skeleton" if its already crap and modded to totally something else by other gurus? Why those gurus "in the know" don't develop a complete solution for you based on your design input and voila - that would be it. I see on the market that there are quite a few brands which use DHTs in output, so you can pick and choose even from ready made solutions but seems to me that trick is that none of them gives you flexibility which, sorry to say, idiots like me and you love to do and that is tube rolling.
Long live tube rolling
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Post with attitude. Respect.
All tube based DACs are crap. I just made an obviously faulty one more flexibly rubbish. That's why I am where I am.
Seriously though I really like getting self-employed guys working on my gear. The same chap that did my DAC also did a great job on my Accuphase M-60 monoblocks.
Now they are actually good, properly made amplifiers. Ked hates them.
All tube based DACs are crap. I just made an obviously faulty one more flexibly rubbish. That's why I am where I am.
Seriously though I really like getting self-employed guys working on my gear. The same chap that did my DAC also did a great job on my Accuphase M-60 monoblocks.
Now they are actually good, properly made amplifiers. Ked hates them.
One other point. There are always exceptions to the rules. When my DAC actually was a Lampi, you will remember VT-52 was one of my fave if not the fave tube in it. It shouldn't have worked, but it did.
Now I can run it on spec, I don't like it at all.
Curious, but true
Now I can run it on spec, I don't like it at all.
Curious, but true
Justin don't get blind valve envy those were for his pre. You don't have to have tried every valve.
Heck, I have even compared WE, Taylor, RCA, GE, Sylvania, Elrog, Cunningham, but don't stress yourself
I just measured on my B7 and all 4 are between 4.96 and 4.98 V on the 300b setting. I guess I’m out on using the VT 62 /801.
Since V=IR then yes, technically, if the filament resistance is the same for VT-62. It may not be. And also I don't know how the circuit works.
It's just another valve. There's loads of them good enough to make your DAC sound great from the variety you can use without worry. I doubt VT-62 is leaps and bounds better than anything else.
It's just another valve. There's loads of them good enough to make your DAC sound great from the variety you can use without worry. I doubt VT-62 is leaps and bounds better than anything else.
My apologies for my 3 bottle of old vine Malbec somewhat torpid head on this morning... however... You have moved the LampizatOr on for a new Non Valve DAC ?
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