Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

[RichardA]

Hi Trab thank you for the reply. I use a KR audio 5u4g in my Big7 most of the time but I also have a kr 274b and a western electric 274b .
I recently obtained the New Audio Frontiers Reference 845 Mono SE amps so I was curious if you tried those 5r4gy's in your amp.

 

[Trab]

Hi Trab thank you for the reply. I use a KR audio 5u4g in my Big7 most of the time but I also have a kr 274b and a western electric 274b .
I recently obtained the New Audio Frontiers Reference 845 Mono SE amps so I was curious if you tried those 5r4gy's in your amp.

Congratulations. Enjoy your NAFs with Big 7 and ... Sparta.

 

[Zero000]

Did you say Fivre?
Having had PX4 for a year or something strongly recommend PX25 from Kron.

Yeah PX25 is good. I had borrowed it a while back. For some reason, though, with the Accuphase amps (which I don't usually use) the PX4 FIVRE is beating anything else I tried. Including EML 45 globe mesh and EML AD1 and a few NOS options.

Lampi never fails to surprise. It's all about finding the right combo for your kit, really. That's what a tunable DAC like a Lampi is for. It will get you through changes elsewhere.

BTW the FIVRE I have is actually 5U4G, not 5R4GY.

 

[adamaley]

Any further updates from the KR 242 RK users? I vaguely remember reading somewhere that it has less gain than the original KR 242 - is this correct?

Also, when it comes to rectifiers, why no love for the Elrog 274b?

 

[Alrainbow]

From a few users in a group session and more refined. As for less gain the specs would tell us
Next week or two I will have a pair at my place and can post directly nas I have a pair of Kr 242.

 

[adamaley]

Looking forward to it @Alrainbow

 

[christoph]

Any further updates from the KR 242 RK users? I vaguely remember reading somewhere that it has less gain than the original KR 242 - is this correct?

Also, when it comes to rectifiers, why no love for the Elrog 274b?

A little less gain, but that is from memory as I didn't have the regular 242 and the RK 242 in direct comparison at the time.
Also from memory, the RK 242 is a tiny little bit more refined than the regular 242.
I hope I can get my hands again on a pair of regular 242 to properly compare them to the RK version.
But then again I have the regular PX25 and the RK PX25 and I didn't even manage to compare those
I get to listen so rarely lately that I just want to listen and not compare

The Elrog 274b could very well be interesting but I don't know of anyone using it in a Lampi DAC. Would be curious to listen to it if the chance should arise

 

[christoph]

Looking forward to it @Alrainbow

+1

 

[Zero000]

Lampi crazyness.

Original Marconi PX4 B7 base with UX4 converter running with KR PX4.

Oddly this is sounding brilliant. No appreciable hum.

Unfortunately Lucasz didn't seem to realise that some closely spaced triodes want to talk to each other and the original Marconi PX4 is an example of a valve that does. So if you run two Marconi PX4s in close proximity as per this DAC they produce hum. Crying shame.

Problem rectified in later DACs.

So when your bored try dissimilar pairings but only with tubes of similar rating I would suggest.

I know it's crazy. Don't question it. Just try it if you have suitable pairings. Otherwise do not as I don't want hate PMs

 

[Zero000]

Lampi damping device

 

[Zero000]

Current set up. Need more amps. Ked send me amps.

 

[Golum]

Can’t remember if there was a word around here about EML PX4 Mash but if it wasn’t i can say that in GG2 it performs super nice. Mids and vocals are really fluid and warm, both LF and HF are extended where LF is not as precise as punch as for example with RK242 but is still excellent. Creates a really nice stage with pinpoint imaging. Used it with JAN 1641 recti (smaller brother of might 596).

 

[bonzo75]

Can’t remember if there was a word around here about EML PX4 Mash but if it wasn’t i can say that in GG2 it performs super nice. Mids and vocals are really fluid and warm, both LF and HF are extended where LF is not as precise as punch as for example with RK242 but is still excellent. Creates a really nice stage with pinpoint imaging. Used it with JAN 1641 recti (smaller brother of might 596).
View attachment 54341

We tried it on GG1. It was ok, add long as you played simple music, nothing special. We preferred the KR PX4. The PX25 and 242 ere even better

 

[Golum]

No discussion about PX25 or 242 as they are both winners. Can't comment on diff vs KR PX4, but this one was/is a very positive surprise. Also gg2 plays a role as with my old gg1 for example Elrog 300b was total crap and in gg2 it played great.

 

[wisnon]

We tried it on GG1. It was ok, add long as you played simple music, nothing special. We preferred the KR PX4. The PX25 and 242 ere even better

In general, people think the EML is better than the KR PX4, but as is hinted here, it may depend on the Dac model/vintage.

 

[bonzo75]

In general, people think the EML is better than the KR PX4, but as is hinted here, it may depend on the Dac model/vintage.

I think what Golum said was it was warm in mids and vocals. I agree with that. Whether that is better is another view point

 

[wisnon]

Quite a few people have told me EML mesh px4 blows away the KR. Of course, even these are just opinions.

 

[adamaley]

Thanks Marslo, it's nice to hear you like it.

Only certain Italians do it better

5R4GY Fivre, grey anode, double D getter and dark brown base.

This tube is unlike any other in quality of tone. Just different from the very first moment.
Worth give it a chance.

Hi Trab. Which Lampizator DAC do you have, and which other rectifiers have you compared the Fivre to? Can you expand on what ways it differs/betters those other rectifiers and which output tubes you feel it mates best with?

 

[Zero000]

I would rate the KR PX25 above PX4.

In my DAC I think the two best efforts are PX25 and EML AD1.

If you use AD1 trying to isolate your DAC from acoustic feedback to some degree is worthwhile.

I'm thinking of ordering some maglev feet for the Lampi. Has anyone tried maglev feet?

 

[Golum]

I'm thinking of ordering some maglev feet for the Lampi. Has anyone tried maglev feet?

I tried maglev train in Shanghai if that helps - super cool . Didn’t know that maglev feet for Hifi exist..