Trinity - hype or is it a real deal ?

[Al M.]

Perhaps this can help.

Mike B. at Audioshark did that comparo, as he had Jerry's loaner BADA ref and Jerry's B7. Mike then bought his own GG and is on record as saying this on May 19:

"I know audio memory is very fickle, but I would venture a guess that with this tube combo and the Aurender N100H providing the sweet music, the Lampi PCM now is on par with the best I've heard....and you already know about the DSD....it sounds like nothing else digital, period."

The bold quote, that's what Robert Harley says in his review of the BADA Reference DAC too, and which other users of that DAC have reported as well. I'd like to hear the comparison for myself, I am not going to take anyone's word for it.

I do have to say that I was very impressed with the Lampi B7 with on-the-fly conversion PCM > DSD. Yet now that I have heard what improved room acoustics can do on my humble standard BADA Alpha 2 ... Not saying that it's comparable (different system and so on), but darn, it's freakin' good.

 

[bonzo75]

I'm the Vintage Sounds Great guy with the improvements of room acoustics

Ah ok, so the people he mentioned were not in sequence. I was wondering about that, since MF didn't seem like the guy who was measuring his room.

 

[bonzo75]

I do have to say that I was very impressed with the Lampi B7 with on-the-fly conversion PCM > DSD. Yet now that I have heard what improved room acoustics can do on my humble standard BADA Alpha 2 ... Not saying that it's comparable (different system and so on), but darn, it's freakin' good.

If you are referring to the one you heard at MF's place, then that was on Jriver (which is not a good upsampler), and with a setting that caused bass to sound weak, and on a non burnt-in dac with non burnt-in tubes. And you liked that.

 

[microstrip]

I'd like to directly compare DSD on the Lampi with PCM on the Berkeley Reference, both properly broken-in, warmed up and power conditioned.

Considering my very limited interest in the DSD catalogue my curiosity in on PCM files properly converted to DSD or 2DSD format.

Soon our Metronome distributor will get the Metronome C8+ . The Metronome uses the same Amanero USB card as the Lampi's, it will be an excellent platform to compare PCM versus DSD.

 

[wisnon]

The bold quote, that's what Robert Harley says in his review of the BADA Reference DAC too, and which other users of that DAC have reported as well. I'd like to hear the comparison for myself, I am not going to take anyone's word for it.

I do have to say that I was very impressed with the Lampi B7 with on-the-fly conversion PCM > DSD. Yet now that I have heard what improved room acoustics can do on my humble standard BADA Alpha 2 ... Not saying that it's comparable (different system and so on), but darn, it's freakin' good.

The difference is that these guys have access or own BOTH DACs and are making the comparison. Harley does not and is useless for comparison purposes. Still its a YMMV situation, but at least they can comment having had both, so that at least is better than nothing. Recall that Mike said that AFTER having had his pals BADA Ref in his system and having heard it at his pal's place. And yes, both have saiud the BADA does great PCM.

While I agree that treating the room has a huge impact, that would apply equally to whatever electronics you used. Thus that rising tide would lift all boats iin proportion to their own intrinsic height.

 

[wisnon]

Considering my very limited interest in the DSD catalogue my curiosity in on PCM files properly converted to DSD or 2DSD format.

Soon our Metronome distributor will get the Metronome C8+ . The Metronome uses the same Amanero USB card as the Lampi's, it will be an excellent platform to compare PCM versus DSD.

Does the C8+ do DSD as well as PCM? If it does, what DAC chip for DSD?

 

[Al M.]

If you are referring to the one you heard at MF's place, then that was on Jriver (which is not a good upsampler), and with a setting that caused bass to sound weak, and on a non burnt-in dac with non burnt-in tubes. And you liked that.

Sure, I am aware of all these issues. I have no doubt that a Lampi under optimal conditions would sound even better.

 

[Al M.]

The difference is that these guys have access or own BOTH DACs and are making the comparison. Harley does not and is useless for comparison purposes. Still its a YMMV situation, but at least they can comment having had both, so that at least is better than nothing. Recall that Mike said that AFTER having had his pals BADA Ref in his system and having heard it at his pal's place. And yes, both have saiud the BADA does great PCM.

Sure, and I still would have to hear it for myself.

While I agree that treating the room has a huge impact, that would apply equally to whatever electronics you used. Thus that rising tide would lift all boats iin proportion to their own intrinsic height.

Agreed. That's why I an still interested in acquiring a better DAC, probably the Berkeley Reference DAC.

 

[microstrip]

Does the C8+ do DSD as well as PCM? If it does, what DAC chip for DSD?

Yes. It uses a new chip (11/2014) from Asahi Kasey, the AK4490EQ 32-Bit 2ch DAC. http://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/a/akm-semi/ak4490eq-32-bit-2ch-dac

The AK4490 accepts up to 768 kHz PCM data and 11.2 MHz DSD data.

 

[bonzo75]

Considering my very limited interest in the DSD catalogue my curiosity in on PCM files properly converted to DSD or 2DSD format.

Soon our Metronome distributor will get the Metronome C8+ . The Metronome uses the same Amanero USB card as the Lampi's, it will be an excellent platform to compare PCM versus DSD.

It's more than the amanero, I think Lampi magic is more direct heated triode tubes, and the fact that one can get high end NOS if one wants to, though most of us haven't got a set yet

 

[wisnon]

Yes. It uses a new chip (11/2014) from Asahi Kasey, the AK4490EQ 32-Bit 2ch DAC. http://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/a/akm-semi/ak4490eq-32-bit-2ch-dac

The AK4490 accepts up to 768 kHz PCM data and 11.2 MHz DSD data.

It will be very different then, despite the common use of the Amanero USB board. Lampi is "chipless DSD"...no Dac chip, rather a complex filter box for the DSD engine. I suspect very different SQ from radically different connversion techniques.

 

[wisnon]

Sure, and I still would have to hear it for myself.



Agreed. That's why I an still interested in acquiring a better DAC, probably the Berkeley Reference DAC.

I would love to hear them for myself too, but failing that I will settle for the opinions of otheres who have to tide me over till I hopefully get my chance. As I mentioned, they both had good things to say about the Bada Ref. too.

A Big 7 is significantly cheaper than a Bada Ref and will have both PCM and chipless DSD, as well as a tube preamp function. A GG Dac will be about the same price as a Bada Ref.

 

[Elberoth]

Someone mentioned Lampi free thread ?

 

[wisnon]

LoL

It went from Trinity preamp to Bada Ref to Lampi....meandering conversation.

 

[Al M.]

I would love to hear them for myself too, but failing that I will settle for the opinions of otheres who have to tide me over till I hopefully get my chance. As I mentioned, they both had good things to say about the Bada Ref. too.

I have learned not to settle for the opinions of others, at least if I have any choice. I have found that what others consider as virtues in some equipment I often see as flaws. Yes, sometimes or often, depending on who it is, my opinions coincide with those of others, and it is at times gratifying to see some confirmation, but my experiences have made me wary to trust anything other than my own ears.

 

[bonzo75]

I agree. That's why I travel so much for auditions

 

[PeterA]

Ah ok, so the people he mentioned were not in sequence. I was wondering about that, since MF didn't seem like the guy who was measuring his room.

This is in reference to my post in the "Devotion...." thread. The five audiophiles in our Boston group are described and then listed in differing (random) order. Keen readers of this forum and of member's system threads, should quickly be able to guess who is who.

Back on topic....

 

[Geardaddy]

Simone, I am glad to hear that the BADA Reference sounds so good with Redbook CD. Just like you I am foremost a music lover and an audiophile second, and indeed most of the really interesting classical performances are on CD only. Furthermore, I listen to a lot of modern 'classical' avantgarde, and this is virtually all just Redbook. Same holds for the jazz that interests me. Therefore, I have a CD-only system.

I have the BADA Alpha 2 and think about upgrading to a Reference as well. However, in recent days even with just the Alpha 2 the resolution of my system has taken a rather large step forward with the improvement of my acoustics, after installation of ASC window plugs in my windows. ASC claims that window resonances create sonic blur and sound masking, and from what I hear that is correct. There is so much more low-level detail and space information to experience after removal of these artifacts (I have to say though there are a lot of windows in my room). With the BADA Reference of course I would expect yet another substantial step forward. Not right now though, I am rather broke after much needed work on the siding of my house.

I think the comment about room tweak is very important. Its > 75% of the equation IMO

 

[XV-1]

hype or is it a real deal ?

so what is it? you seem to never hear of Trinity anymore, but back in 2014/5, they were touted as the next best of the best.

 

[CKKeung]

hype or is it a real deal ?
so what is it? you seem to never hear of Trinity anymore, but back in 2014/5, they were touted as the next best of the best.

The Trinity DAC is still one of the best PCM dac in the world. Still one of my favourite flagship grade DACs.

However Dietmar Bräuer seems to have exhausted or nearly exhausted his collection of PCM1704 chips.
Dietmar uses the best PCM1704 available in the market and then further handpicks and matches 16 pieces of them to be used in one Trinity DAC.

Another sad news is that there has been a big price increase recently.
https://trinity-ed.de/pricelist/
Audioexotics in Hong Kong may still have some new old stock at the orginal prices, I guess.