Lampi's reliability is really sub-par. Talk to some peeps/dealers.
MSB's issue is while it has superb engineering, some annoying user experiences. For instance, changing to the volume control shouldn't be so confusing. I always have to go to the manual to do anything.
You should get an in-house demo
I have been saying this for years it goes on deaf ears. I spoke to ps audio and Vince of msb regarding voicing. I posed a simple question who decides its house sound ? This usually degrades into there is no house sound or it’s made neutral or we have made it ( true to the source ) this last one always pisses me off the most. Dacs and in fact all audio devices have a house sound period. This sound varies In Each and every system it’s used for a multitude of reasons. But when you pay 100k for one device I guess they should know best for all lol. while a Lampi has one too it’s aloud to have a variety of small changes to tune it. Add a volume control on the dac and go even deeper into tone and weight. Add a preamp and add more layers to the Music. at one time Paul of ps audio beat a drum loud as less is more. The concept has merit. But lakes any kind of tonal and weight adjustment. How many times my someone confusing posts fell on deaf ears. a Lampi and most all other dacs can do well on a setup with no preamp. But add one and open more doors to more variance in tuning it just for each of us.I wonder why no one is trying to beat Lampizator at his own game.
Where are the competing DACs with multi-triode-type capable output stages?
Sooner or later it is probably just a question if time. That said ... Lampi sure isn't new anymore.
A bit off topic but hey.
I don't like SET anything nor tube sources. i've tried others. ymmv.
says alot that a Vac engineer compared both and picked the non-tube source.
we disagree on approach here which is fine.
As always just another frustrated msb owner claiming they own an MSB cause Lampi is subpar. Hey does the sound click as you change the vol ? This always killed me. How can a 6k vol option pause the volume as you change it. that always puzzled me. Vince has some great answer about 30 special resistors all going back and forth with each 1/2 dB click. When you can find out how to adjust the volume does yours do this ? Lol.Lampi's reliability is really sub-par. Talk to some peeps/dealers.
MSB's issue is while it has superb engineering, some annoying user experiences. For instance, changing to the volume control shouldn't be so confusing. I always have to go to the manual to do anything.
Me too.my MSB is plug and play pretty much. if i change a module mostly the integration is automatic. but i also use a separate preamp, and don't use Roon to change volume. maybe those things are more interface/firmware intensive.
To quote from David Wilson a long time ago..
"everyone needs a tube in their system"
I have had 8 Lampi days pass thru my hands over the years......never had any real problems. Guess I was just lucky?Lampi's reliability is really sub-par. Talk to some peeps/dealers.
MSB's issue is while it has superb engineering, some annoying user experiences. For instance, changing to the volume control shouldn't be so confusing. I always have to go to the manual to do anything.
My amp-- Bakoon 13r -- is integrated, so I don't need vol control on the dac. I'm just starting a demo of the LTA MZ3 to see if I like it's influence with the Bakoon.Do you have or plan on using a preamp ?
I widened the search to include the Aqua xHD along with MSB and Pacific.
It's interesting to have gathered a kaleidoscope of opinions -- some nuanced, some emphatic-- on these dacs. I respect and trust the perspectives here and also those on pm and email.
I've heard opinions that Aqua xHD is far better than Pacific; that Aqua shouldn't even be in the same conversation; that MSB is far better than either of the two others; etc.
It may be that I should take my time, hold on to the Pac and demo both the MSB Premier with all the upgrades and the Aqua xHD. Hear, compare, decide. I would truly love for the Aqua to be the one, as it would save a lot of money...
Keith, don't engage the Lampicult.
Lampi's reliability is really sub-par. Talk to some peeps/dealers.
i Would beg to differ Mike but IMO the MSB Reference doesnt even come close to the Pacific
imo the comparison should be between the a Pacific and the Select and it all boils down to ones desire to use tubes. In my system (which is all tubes)there was simply no comparison As for the inconvenience of tubes, those in the Lampi Pacific will outlive both of us
I went through that very comparison Select vs Pacific in my system but to say the MSB Reference betters the Pacific just isn’t the case
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