Lampizator Valve / Tube Rolling Review Thread

[Sampajanna]

My dealer said that I should let the Lampi Pac sit a week or two before shipping off my dac to him, just to make sure i like the new sound better, Five seconds…. Literally five seconds of the first track was all it took. I was not expecting this much of an upgrade. Wow! Expletives are all that suffice… Pardon me while I go curse out loud!

 

[Golum]

My dealer said that I should let the Lampi Pac sit a week or two before shipping off my dac to him, just to make sure i like the new sound better, Five seconds…. Literally five seconds of the first track was all it took. I was not expecting this much of an upgrade. Wow! Expletives are all that suffice… Pardon me while I go curse out loud!

Apologize for my ignorance - what was the old DAC?

 

[Sampajanna]

HMS + Dave, modded w/ 2X SJ DC4 PSU….

 

[Sampajanna]

Read a few posts in this thread, but i am interested in more opinions on the difference between the PX25 I have and the 242?

 

[jbrrp1]

Read a few posts in this thread, but i am interested in more opinions on the difference between the PX25 I have and the 242?

OK. I run the Kron KR 242's in my Pacific, now that I have a preamp that can take their output. For me, they are the "run away" best match in overall presentation, with a stunning sense of freedom in how they release the notes, just full of life. They are fast and clear, with some of the "fleshiness" that tubes seem to bring, but not a lot. When I switch in the Kron RK PX25's that I have, I get some of that speed, but not as much, and the PX25's seem to round off edges just ever so slightly on transient attack, which could be a good thing in some systems. The PX25's definitely are a richer sounding tube, but sound to me too much so, coloring everything just a smidge. I do think it is totally a "horses for courses" thing, as they are both excellent tubes in the Pacific.

I will say that I was surprised that I prefer the 242's, given that I am almost always trying to warm up my TAD CR-1's a bit. The 242's don't do that, but the clarity they bring just feels more real to me, and it is a no-brainer. It's like I'm hearing less distortion, and adding warmth is therefore no longer needed.

 

[Sampajanna]

OK. I run the Kron KR 242's in my Pacific, now that I have a preamp that can take their output. For me, they are the "run away" best match in overall presentation, with a stunning sense of freedom in how they release the notes, just full of life. They are fast and clear, with some of the "fleshiness" that tubes seem to bring, but not a lot. When I switch in the Kron RK PX25's that I have, I get some of that speed, but not as much, and the PX25's seem to round off edges just ever so slightly on transient attack, which could be a good thing in some systems. The PX25's definitely are a richer sounding tube, but sound to me too much so, coloring everything just a smidge. It do think it is totally a "horses for courses" thing, as they are both excellent tubes in the Pacific.

I will say that I was surprised that I prefer the 242's, given that I am almost always trying to warm up my TAD CR-1's a bit. The 242's don't do that, but the clarity they bring just feels more real to me, and it is a no-brainer. It's like I'm hearing less distortion, and adding warmth is therefore no longer needed.

Thanks so much! What rect do you use with them?

 

[christoph]

OK. I run the Kron KR 242's in my Pacific, now that I have a preamp that can take their output. For me, they are the "run away" best match in overall presentation, with a stunning sense of freedom in how they release the notes, just full of life. They are fast and clear, with some of the "fleshiness" that tubes seem to bring, but not a lot. When I switch in the Kron RK PX25's that I have, I get some of that speed, but not as much, and the PX25's seem to round off edges just ever so slightly on transient attack, which could be a good thing in some systems. The PX25's definitely are a richer sounding tube, but sound to me too much so, coloring everything just a smidge. It do think it is totally a "horses for courses" thing, as they are both excellent tubes in the Pacific.

I will say that I was surprised that I prefer the 242's, given that I am almost always trying to warm up my TAD CR-1's a bit. The 242's don't do that, but the clarity they bring just feels more real to me, and it is a no-brainer. It's like I'm hearing less distortion, and adding warmth is therefore no longer needed.

Excellent description.
You saved me some typing time

 

[bonzo75]

OK. I run the Kron KR 242's in my Pacific, now that I have a preamp that can take their output. For me, they are the "run away" best match in overall presentation, with a stunning sense of freedom in how they release the notes, just full of life. They are fast and clear, with some of the "fleshiness" that tubes seem to bring, but not a lot. When I switch in the Kron RK PX25's that I have, I get some of that speed, but not as much, and the PX25's seem to round off edges just ever so slightly on transient attack, which could be a good thing in some systems. The PX25's definitely are a richer sounding tube, but sound to me too much so, coloring everything just a smidge. I do think it is totally a "horses for courses" thing, as they are both excellent tubes in the Pacific.

I will say that I was surprised that I prefer the 242's, given that I am almost always trying to warm up my TAD CR-1's a bit. The 242's don't do that, but the clarity they bring just feels more real to me, and it is a no-brainer. It's like I'm hearing less distortion, and adding warmth is therefore no longer needed.

The reason I don't post sonic differences between the 242 and other tubes these days is those who don't hear the magic when it gets matched to the downstream electronics cannot really appreciate the description. They look for words like warm/not warm, more/less bass, etc and that can be used to describe differences between other tubes but not really 242. Some actually get put off by the description. They just need to spend 500 quid and try it and rotate some preamps

 

[jbrrp1]

Thanks so much! What rect do you use with them?

My favorite match in my system now is a Psvane WE274B, which is their attempt to duplicate the Western Electric original (FWIW). I have 10 different recti's to try, and this one fits best now, which surprised me, because it wasn't ever my favorite with any other output tubes. To me, it just goes to show that you need to try rotations in different circumstances and let your ears be the guide.

Notable others tried are: Takatsuki 274A/B, Kron RK Anniv 5U4G, Brimar 5R4GY, Philips 5R4GYS. They each were better matches with other output tubes over the years with my B7, GG1, and now Pacific DAC's.

 

[jbrrp1]

The reason I don't post sonic differences between the 242 and other tubes these days is those who don't hear the magic when it gets matched to the downstream electronics cannot really appreciate the description. They look for words like warm/not warm, more/less bass, etc and that can be used to describe differences between other tubes but not really 242. Some actually get put off by the description. They just need to spend 500 quid and try it and rotate some preamps

I totally get that take, Ked. Too bad it's such a high priced hurdle to clear, as a total proposition. When the 242 got on song, there was no mistaking its excellence.

Perhaps we should compose a listing of preamps that work, as well as those that don't...

 

[bonzo75]

I totally get that take, Ked. Too bad it's such a high priced hurdle to clear, as a total proposition. When the 242 got on song, there was no mistaking its excellence.

Perhaps we should compose a listing of preamps that work, as well as those that don't...

Yes that's why I started the thread to list only Lampi and downstream systems

 

[Sampajanna]

I am using the Pac itself as preamp directly into amp. You still think it is worth trying preamps? My pac even has analogue inputs, btw. Are those just after thoughts?

 

[godofwealth]

I was primarily using 242s in my Pacific running direct into a 300B SET amp that has a gain control, so no preamp needed. This gave me the very best sound. Recently I bought a pair of PX 25s from someone on this forum, and I’m very impressed by it as well. Almost as dynamic as the 242s, but warmer tonality. It’s midway between the 300B sound and the 242s. I used to be a strong believer in using preamps, especially ARC Ref tube preamps that I have long used since their original Ref 1 from 25 years ago. But I can now see the veiling introduced by the preamp. If you have speakers efficient enough for a (parallel) SET amp (mine produces 20 watts) or listen at low enough volumes, as I do, then I see little need for a preamp. When I listen to vinyl, I hook up my ARC Ref Phono 3SE direct to my SET amp and use its gain.

 

[Sampajanna]

My speakers are inefficient… i have big amps 1,100 watts!

 

[godofwealth]

I’ve owned a lot of DACs with volume controls (e.g., dCS) and never found them to be better than using a preamp. But I haven’t tried a Lampi with volume control. So I can’t say definitely that you’d be better off with a high quality preamp.

 

[godofwealth]

Anyone here try the Western Electric VT-52 DHTs with their PAC? Supposedly these are the same as 45s.

 

[godofwealth]

Here’s a link to the VT-52 specs, listed as a “super 45”, whatever that means. Used by the US Air Force for airborne radios.

Western Electric VT52 Power Triode

 

[Golum]

Here’s a link to the VT-52 specs, listed as a “super 45”, whatever that means. Used by the US Air Force for airborne radios.

Western Electric VT52 Power Triode

Can’t use any of those as heater voltage is 7V and max in PAC is for 300b 5V…

 

[godofwealth]

Excellent point, thanks.

 

[godofwealth]

Here’s another tube rolling candidate: Western Electric’s “baby 300Bs”, the 275A. Heater voltage is 5V, like the 300B.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f0983034219c6086e8100ac/t/5f45374533e03c06bbd2a48a/1598371657621/275A.pdf