Need some Lampi help please

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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Because you will never understand then what your Lampi can achieve. Just like you wouldn't know what your spreakers are capable of until you heard them with various amps. Or what your TT is capable of until you listen to it with different combinations of carts and arms and phonos. Of course, certain things are difficult to change, such as changing your room for your speakers. But optimizjng a Lampi is one of the easiest things you can do due to the space and budget required. But you have to know first what are the different sonic levels it can achieve based on matching of valves and downstream electronics.

So when I say that I like Tak 300Bs better than PX25s I am wrong?
 

bonzo75

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marty

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Marty , is it the Halo-lll Stabilizer model that you are referring to ?

I use the Halo III (55mm) on the RK KR 5U4G. That is the one that Herbie recommended for a "square" tube such as that particular rectifier. On all other tubes that are bulb-shaped, the Ultrasonic Rx is what I use, again, only because of Herbie's recommendation.

I've been asked "what" and "how many" but I honestly didn't take the time to do a deep dive until recently when I finally spent some time playing with the damping rings on the Lampi.

For the output tubes, Leif's configuration was the best I found for the 242-. I use 3 Ultrasonic Rx rings; one 35mm at the top, 1 50mm around the fattest part, 1 35mm at the base, but I place the base ring at the intersection of the glass tube and the plastic base. Kind of a "twofer" in that spot. I was impressed by the addition of the top ring on the 242. Unmistakable improvement.

For the 5U4G, I'm still testing but so far, I like 2 rings. One HAL-O III 55 mm around the middle and 1 Ultrasonic Rx 35mm around the base/glass interface.
 

AMR / iFi audio

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They sound boring. Probably the most boring

I always viewed 300B as mid-centric and predictable, but engaging. Can you elaborate why to you they sound boring? Or could you point me to a specific thread which would list differences vs other tubes in Lampi DACs?
 

Golum

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bonzo75

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But of course :cool:



Many thanks, that's very useful!


There are hundreds of posts done over the past few years. To summarize, the 242 sounds best but often does not sound right due to mismatch with downstream electronics. It is a fussy tube. So you need a couple of backups, PX25 and Lampi.45s are the best of those. Of which Lampi 45 is no longer made. You can always try PX4, 300b, normal 45s, 101d for fun.
 
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Zero000

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Just because KR RK 300B wasn't great doesn't mean some other 300Bs won't be OK or better, I would say.

The new WE reissue will be interesting. Possibly. Maybe. When it materialises.
 

dminches

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Such as the Tak 300Bs which are excellent in my Big 7.
 

bonzo75

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Just because KR RK 300B wasn't great doesn't mean some other 300Bs won't be OK or better, I would say.

The new WE reissue will be interesting. Possibly. Maybe. When it materialises.

I have tried KR, RK, JJ, Sylvania, elrog, Tak 300b in the Lampi. And the previous WE reissues as well as Greg's originals. And in amps. The one place the previous WE reissues sounded good were the amps of UK manufacturer art audio who has voiced them with it
 

Zero000

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I have tried KR, RK, JJ, Sylvania, elrog, Tak 300b in the Lampi. And the previous WE reissues as well as Greg's originals. And in amps. The one place the previous WE reissues sounded good were the amps of UK manufacturer art audio who has voiced them with it

Can anyone spot the mistake in this post?

First to answer correctly wins cred points. Including Ked.
 

bonzo75

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Can anyone spot the mistake in this post?

First to answer correctly wins cred points. Including Ked.

You know that there were WE reissues in the 90s? And now there are some new WE reissues coming up?
 

bonzo75

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Can anyone spot the mistake in this post?

First to answer correctly wins cred points. Including Ked.

Actually, the Sylvania were 6a3 not 300b. I was thinking of Sophia 300b not Sylvania. Those were the ones Grant on this forum used with apogee duetta.
 

EscritorJuan

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My Lampizator Lite 7 DAC, which is currently being upgraded to a Big 7 Mk2, did native DSD up to 128. Perhaps you should reach out to Lukasz Fikus or, if you're in the U.S., Fred Ainsley.

Good luck with your new DAC!

Best,


Juan
 

Gregadd

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So does it not beg the question- is it great because of the conversion software or because of the tubes? I have only heard theAnber3. Which is excellent by the way.
 

adamaley

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Yes but you have not compared all the valves. No offence but I think someone who likes Tak likes midrange bloom and forward color, a fake density, to the sound. I have never heard it sound otherwise, whether in a Lampi or in an amp (I do appreciate different valves can sound different in different Lampi set ups, but this one has been consistent. At least Elrog 300b is now transparent to recordings in amps, though I never liked it in Lampi either)
The exception will be the Acme 300bs. The Elrogs were woolly at best in the DAC, a far cry from how they sound in an amp. Tak 300bs, although I've never heard them, have a reputation of being more linear and hence their synergy with their more midcentric 274b rectifier. I also found the rectifier to be quite additive in my system but did love it's scale of both soundstage and images and its outstanding layering. I can see how one could voice a system to complement these traits.

I'm hoping that others will give the Acme 300b a shot. It's amazing in my Golden Gate. It marries the strengths of the 242 and PX25 with 300b sensibilities. It's in full control at all times yet it has a way of allowing notes and their decay to still float around to fruition.

I'm excited to receive my Tesla AD1n but I'm still a little skeptical it will dethrone the Acme. Yet I want it to because it means I have better sound, and I can keep the Acmes as a spare to the Acmes in my amp.
 

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