Pacific dac: Lampizator's new top of the line dac
- Thread starter Audiocrack
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Hmm I’m using Bespoke Audio TVC passive preamp. I like the functionality of going from SE to my choice of balanced or SE. It‘s newly in system so need to do some listening. I guess I could add total dac drivers but almost worth going active preamp at that point.
Need to do some listening to compare. Was just curious on impedence is easy way to see if I am completely off track
Need to do some listening to compare. Was just curious on impedence is easy way to see if I am completely off track
I’m in no way laying a claim of absolution. but in my experience it does seem consistent. the best match of components wins in the end.
a preamp to me is the centerpiece of any system and it must be able to drive the amps with what cables you need , and this is a big part of this. An example at my place I needEd 30 foot balanced interconnects from pre amp to amps. when it was setup to all stuff in the middle between the speakers I used se cables 5 feet or less. it was better then when I used same output to amps on bal as is. some pre amps are just not good at longer Runs and an passive pre amp makes this even worse. when I changed pre amps it was a big wow for me. As for active at one time I was of the less is more camp right up to when someone with vastly more experience then I basically said just try it already. well I have not looked back. now why someone likes it without one has a few reasons why. And this is both personal and not letting things get better do to cause and effect misgivings from reading like I did. the Lampi dacs do vary greatly in output imp but they also vary greatly in output voltage. No one talks of this.
So if a given tube has let’s say a 3 volt output at say 500 ohms
And another pair has an output voltage of say 6 volts but a higher imp say 1200. the amp imp and lenth of cable type all play a roll. It’s like a spinning wheel when rolling. but if you use an active pre amp this becomes much more stable. as a well made pre amp is much easier to drive and keeps things more stable. so you still get tube rolling effects but less of a larger change. I hope this makes sense to all.
a preamp to me is the centerpiece of any system and it must be able to drive the amps with what cables you need , and this is a big part of this. An example at my place I needEd 30 foot balanced interconnects from pre amp to amps. when it was setup to all stuff in the middle between the speakers I used se cables 5 feet or less. it was better then when I used same output to amps on bal as is. some pre amps are just not good at longer Runs and an passive pre amp makes this even worse. when I changed pre amps it was a big wow for me. As for active at one time I was of the less is more camp right up to when someone with vastly more experience then I basically said just try it already. well I have not looked back. now why someone likes it without one has a few reasons why. And this is both personal and not letting things get better do to cause and effect misgivings from reading like I did. the Lampi dacs do vary greatly in output imp but they also vary greatly in output voltage. No one talks of this.
So if a given tube has let’s say a 3 volt output at say 500 ohms
And another pair has an output voltage of say 6 volts but a higher imp say 1200. the amp imp and lenth of cable type all play a roll. It’s like a spinning wheel when rolling. but if you use an active pre amp this becomes much more stable. as a well made pre amp is much easier to drive and keeps things more stable. so you still get tube rolling effects but less of a larger change. I hope this makes sense to all.
Al,
I followed your posts and your advice is well needed, I have made significant changes to my system recently at the same time. GG Balanced to Pacific SE. Added Bespoke Preamp. Full loom of Nordost. On the positive side, there has been a noticeable improvement in my system, but the reality is that I don’t really understand what the individual changes have done. So as I try to troubleshoot issues like a small hum that has developed at full volumes and no music, I have a lot of work to do. So your insights are well appreciated
I followed your posts and your advice is well needed, I have made significant changes to my system recently at the same time. GG Balanced to Pacific SE. Added Bespoke Preamp. Full loom of Nordost. On the positive side, there has been a noticeable improvement in my system, but the reality is that I don’t really understand what the individual changes have done. So as I try to troubleshoot issues like a small hum that has developed at full volumes and no music, I have a lot of work to do. So your insights are well appreciated
Also, please try your different output valves with both preamps, the microzotl and the Allnic. You might find them behaving differently
They do present differently, with the Microzotl being more receptive. Soon I’ll receive Mullard 6080 outputs for the L9000. I anticipate the Mullard effect will favor the RK 242.
Currently the 12au7’s are Sylvania, which are certainly on the lit up end of the spectrum. This tube position carries a significant part of the signature of this pre.
I have a big assortment of 6080 which I used to use in my Woo headphone amp.
The best were GEC by a longshot. I have the Mullards too. And some interesting Centrons etc.
Strongly recommend the GEC if you don't have them I can sell you mine.
Mallards are good but tend to a bit warm for me. this is just a personal preference and not a reflection of the tube. I tend to like fast forward neutral sounding tubes. to me anything less is a form of vailed sound. I love every last detail I can hear. the Lampi line achieves this in all of his dacs. from trp to pac always tubes to give me what I want. some like lush it’s fine as well.
Does the Ethernet input in the Pacific only serve as a Roon endpoint? Can it be used with other software players?
I realize there are so many variables involving the data path from server to the Pacific, whether going to the USB input or Ethernet, but what have people concluded in terms of the difference in the sound?
I run Roon but prefer Euphony/Stylus. I wonder if the Ethernet input can be made into a Stylus endpoint as well. My network is highly tweaked so I would like to take advantage of it, if possible.
I realize there are so many variables involving the data path from server to the Pacific, whether going to the USB input or Ethernet, but what have people concluded in terms of the difference in the sound?
I run Roon but prefer Euphony/Stylus. I wonder if the Ethernet input can be made into a Stylus endpoint as well. My network is highly tweaked so I would like to take advantage of it, if possible.
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I had Lukasz make my Pacific with USB only. No Ethernet. I wanted no chance of introducing any extraneous noise. I was never going to use Ethernet .so I made a decision to exclude it completely and have never been happier. Look NBC at the poll of users and see how many are in fact using Ethernet vs USB
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
The poll in the Extreme thread shows very little ethernet users (doesn't mean Pacific users) When I decided to buy a Pacfic I was reading that members were getting a lot of extraneous noise in the system and that was something that I wanted to exclude. Plus I was only going to use USB and never Ethernet, so I asked Lukasz to leave it out. Mine has no extraneous noise other then the tubes ringing which was solved with Herbie's tube dampers
Every so many years new ideals that are to be cutting edge. While new may have a chance to be better , it always comes down to implementation of the new tech. Then how you use it in your system. in the pac the network input is fed to the usb not that Dac board directly. why is complex but rest assured Lampi put many hours/ days into its final Production. in some ways if done well spidif and it’s BNC input goes directly into the digital board. while no dad can be used this input is very good.
The usb of the Lampi is also very good and it’s varying firmware allows for it’s optimal use use per need.
Lampi network is a Roon endpoint this means it just a input and not a player Per say. it’s own firmware can be loaded and then change its use as well.
The usb of the Lampi is also very good and it’s varying firmware allows for it’s optimal use use per need.
Lampi network is a Roon endpoint this means it just a input and not a player Per say. it’s own firmware can be loaded and then change its use as well.
Did Lukasz or anyone else determine that the extraneous noise was from the Roon endpoint module? I would be surprised if that was the case.
I am happy to have the flexibility to use either Ethernet or USB. I can compare the 2 and see which works best. I would like to see the Ethernet input be more flexible and be usable with something other than Roon. Euphony OS with the Stylus player is my preferred combination currently.
It is flexible
Pnp is one I use for j river
there are other thst can be used as well. each has its advantage to a point. the network input is a Linux based OS this is open source for anyone knowledgeable to program. reg noise it’s an extremely complex topic. a dac any dAc can be introduced to noise in many ways and many at the same time too. for one don’t have any wifi source less than 6 feet and even better out of the room. a router or access point or repeater are very bad while phones and tablets far less of an issue
Pnp is one I use for j river
there are other thst can be used as well. each has its advantage to a point. the network input is a Linux based OS this is open source for anyone knowledgeable to program. reg noise it’s an extremely complex topic. a dac any dAc can be introduced to noise in many ways and many at the same time too. for one don’t have any wifi source less than 6 feet and even better out of the room. a router or access point or repeater are very bad while phones and tablets far less of an issue
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
For me it was a simple decision as I had zero desire to compare ethernet to USB
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