Your DAC replacement thoughts please

[rubinken]

I'm using the Lampizator Pacific DAC and had a Lampi Golden Gate DAC before that (and traded it in for the Pacific). The Lampizator DACs generate a three dimensional organic soundstage with the instruments each occupying their distinct space. Timbre is fantastically realistic. Each instrument is generated with its unique timbre. You can roll tubes to fine tune the sonic signature to your taste. I'm using a quad of KR-242 output tubes which I find to be very linear, dynamic, with marvelous transients. I could go on, but you can see how satisfied I am with the Lampizator.

P.S. I'm also using a pair of the Lampizator True Balanced Monoblock 211 amps driving the mid/treble section of my speakers. Same sense of organic realism as in the DAC.

Thanks

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

I'm using the Lampizator Pacific DAC and had a Lampi Golden Gate DAC before that (and traded it in for the Pacific). The Lampizator DACs generate a three dimensional organic soundstage with the instruments each occupying their distinct space. Timbre is fantastically realistic. Each instrument is generated with its unique timbre. You can roll tubes to fine tune the sonic signature to your taste. I'm using a quad of KR-242 output tubes which I find to be very linear, dynamic, with marvelous transients. I could go on, but you can see how satisfied I am with the Lampizator.

P.S. I'm also using a pair of the Lampizator True Balanced Monoblock 211 amps driving the mid/treble section of my speakers. Same sense of organic realism as in the DAC.

What would you say the biggest difference was between the GG and Pacific?

 

[christoph]

What would you say the biggest difference was between the GG and Pacific?

The Pacific is quite a lot more transparent without losing out on musicality and palpability.
For me the Pacific is a big step up over the already excellent GG

 

[kernelbob]

What would you say the biggest difference was between the GG and Pacific?

When the Pacific was introduced, I decided to upgrade my GG to either the GG2 or Pacific. My instinct was to stay with the ladder DAC architecture of the GG, moving to the GG2. Conversations with some folks who had experienced both, had a common thread. This was that the GG sounded more lush, but that the Pacific was more neutral and that, in the end, was more natural and closer to the "musical truth".

Now that I've had the Pacific for a couple of years, I'm glad I took that path. I've really come to appreciate the neutrality, resolution, soundstage, and particularly the resolution of fine nuances in timbre of musical instruments and voices. Neutrality is an important quality in any component. Deviations may take some time to be noticed. However, once the ear/brain notices a consitently present anomaly, it becomes increasingly annoying. You do have to be careful to confirm the source of the issue. In my case, as the Pacific settled in, I found that it revealed issues that were eventually identified as originating elsewhere in the component chain.

The bottom line is that I'm still completely happy with my decision to bring the Pacific DAC into my system.

 

[DoctorWhy]

Hi. I've owned 4 DACS. Started with DCS Debussy, a bit flat, lacking dynamics. The Luxman DA-06 sounded better, more involving. Sold the Debussy. Temporarily put a Schitt Yiggy in to system...MUCH worse that either DCS or Luxman, so back to the Luxman. Then I bought a PS Audio direct stream DAC. It was a little more refined than the Luxman, better micro dynamics but no glare or edge. What made the biggest difference was when I added a proper server. I went with the top Sonore Rendu renderer and a hot-rodded version of the SGC i7 server. The presence of the music became truly great. More lifelike, bigger and better bass. Better, larger sound stage. "You are there" sound.
Friends have recommended the Briscasti M1, but they don't own one. The Chord Dave is very well reviewed, but on the other hand a lot of them are for sale used, so many are moving on from them.

 

[DoctorWhy]

...prior to having the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Optical and the Small Green Computer i7 10 TB SSD Server, I was using a dedicated MacBook Pro laptop. No comparison between the two!

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Neutrality is an important quality in any component. Deviations may take some time to be noticed. However, once the ear/brain notices a consistently present anomaly, it becomes increasingly annoying.

The funny thing is that sometimes we get so used to the deviations to an extent, that when we hear a clear sound without any interference, it may sound odd to us. Irony of life.

 

[Vann9594]

SW1X Audio Dac III replace an Audio Note 4.1 in my system. I replaced my Direct Stream immediately when I compared it to a AN Dac 3.1 signature a few years ago and have stayed with the tube based NOS Dac setup since. I had both the Ideon Dac and reclocker mentioned previously in for an audition and no comparison to the SW1X Dac.

 

[rblnr]

The funny thing is that sometimes we get so used to the deviations to an extent, that when we hear a clear sound without any interference, it may sound odd to us. Irony of life.

I run into this phenomenon all the time w/people, particularly w/old tube equipment. But they think it's my ears

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

I know, it's always your ears, isn't it?

 

[rsrzr]

I have a few requirements myself on dacs:
* it must sound very very good
* it must support mqa
* it must support Ethernet and/or i2s
* it must be FPGA based
* must be a Roon endpoint capable
I only use Ethernet or i2s and will never use usb again. My dac sounds better every 6 months or so and it’s damn good now, for free. Last major firmware update included mqa support, for free. Many reviewers use it as their reference or a dac to compare others too. When I bought my dac, there was only 2 that met all my requirements. I bought the PS Audio DS sr dac. The other dac was almost 10x more.

 

[Daverich4]

I have a few requirements myself on dacs:
* it must sound very very good
* it must support mqa
* it must support Ethernet and/or i2s
* it must be FPGA based
* must be a Roon endpoint capable
I only use Ethernet or i2s and will never use usb again. My dac sounds better every 6 months or so and it’s damn good now, for free. Last major firmware update included mqa support, for free. Many reviewers use it as their reference or a dac to compare others too. When I bought my dac, there was only 2 that met all my requirements. I bought the PS Audio DS sr dac. The other dac was almost 10x more.

I don’t think the DS sr supports MQA. At least, mine doesn’t. I’m running Windom firmware on mine which I believe is the most recent.

 

[Downtheline]

I don’t think the DS sr supports MQA. At least, mine doesn’t. I’m running Windom firmware on mine which I believe is the most recent.

It only supports MQA via the bridge II. Ethernet connection required.

 

[Daverich4]

It only supports MQA via the bridge II. Ethernet connection required.

Yes, I looked it up and discovered that. I use an opticalRendu so wasn’t aware the Bridge could do it.

 

[Gregadd]

It was the Amber 3 that piqued my interest in dacs.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

I have a few requirements myself on dacs:
* it must sound very very good
* it must support mqa
* it must support Ethernet and/or i2s
* it must be FPGA based
* must be a Roon endpoint capable
I only use Ethernet or i2s and will never use usb again. My dac sounds better every 6 months or so and it’s damn good now, for free. Last major firmware update included mqa support, for free. Many reviewers use it as their reference or a dac to compare others too. When I bought my dac, there was only 2 that met all my requirements. I bought the PS Audio DS sr dac. The other dac was almost 10x more.

Are the resolution, clock, powerbase, upsampling, jitter reduction, inputs, outputs less of a priority for you?

 

[rsrzr]

Not at all. If you look into this dac, it handles everything you need. I don’t have to worry about jitter, upsampling, a clock, powerbase, and connections. This dac provides more features than most dacs. Check these facts:
* Class A+ Stereophile rated DirectStream DAC converts any digital input format, such as PCM or DSD to a pure DSD stream

• Pure 100% DSD based D to A Converter
• Fully upgradable through software releases
• Resolution perfect volume and balance controls built in
• Upsamples PCM and DSD to 20x DSD rate
• DXD support
• Purely passive transformer coupled output
• Simple, direct signal path with one master clock
• Hand written filters, processors and upsamplers
• Immune to incoming jitter problems from different sources
• 7 digital inputs
• MQA and Tidal ready with optional Bridge II
• Fully balanced from input to output
• Color touch screen

Name any other dac that has these features that is < $15k and sounds this good, I would be interested in listening to it.

 

[christoph]

It was the Amber 3 that piqued my interest in dacs.

Awesome sounding piece of kit
A friend of mine has it in his second system and it sounds better than it should for the price.
He has a Pacific in his main system and therefore has high standards

 

[audiobomber]

Not at all. If you look into this dac, it handles everything you need. I don’t have to worry about jitter, upsampling, a clock, powerbase, and connections. This dac provides more features than most dacs.

Name any other dac that has these features that is < $15k and sounds this good, I would be interested in listening to it.

I believe the exaSound Playpoint DM Mark II qualifies.

exaSound Audio Design > Products > PlayPoint DM

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Not at all. If you look into this dac, it handles everything you need. I don’t have to worry about jitter, upsampling, a clock, powerbase, and connections. This dac provides more features than most dacs. Check these facts:
* Class A+ Stereophile rated DirectStream DAC converts any digital input format, such as PCM or DSD to a pure DSD stream

• Pure 100% DSD based D to A Converter
• Fully upgradable through software releases
• Resolution perfect volume and balance controls built in
• Upsamples PCM and DSD to 20x DSD rate
• DXD support
• Purely passive transformer coupled output
• Simple, direct signal path with one master clock
• Hand written filters, processors and upsamplers
• Immune to incoming jitter problems from different sources
• 7 digital inputs
• MQA and Tidal ready with optional Bridge II
• Fully balanced from input to output
• Color touch screen

Name any other dac that has these features that is < $15k and sounds this good, I would be interested in listening to it.

It sounded like the essence of your previous message was a general idea for what you are looking for in DACs, hence my question.

I enjoy the SQ of most of the PS audio products and after reading Paul's autobiography I like the company even more.