Atlantic DAC - Incoming

[Audiophile bill]

Hi Bill - my new Atlantic has the super clock in it and the new PCM engine R2R (which is terrific).

Compared to my Big 7, the PCM took the biggest leap to my ears. DSD was always superb. But now PCM is damn close.

For ~$5K, this Atlantic DAC is stupid good - especially being fed from the Aurender N10.

Hi Mike,

But which PCM engine were you running on the big 7? My GG PCM engine (r2r discrete) was epic before super clocks anyway. I wonder whether your Atlantic has a better PCM engine than your big 7 so you are hearing that.

You want to hear a GG with super clock then...

[Mike]

Hi Mike,

But which PCM engine were you running on the big 7? My GG PCM engine (r2r discrete) was epic before super clocks anyway. I wonder whether your Atlantic has a better PCM engine than your big 7 so you are hearing that.

You want to hear a GG with super clock then...

My Big 7 has the R2R. I just need to activate some firmware update and it will auto switch from PCM to DSD. It's getting shipped off tomorrow for that upgrade.

Bill, I'm half wondering if these little tubes in the Atlantic are truly that good. I think they may be real sleepers.

Your GG must be wonderful.


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[Audiophile bill]

My Big 7 has the R2R. I just need to activate some firmware update and it will auto switch from PCM to DSD. It's getting shipped off tomorrow for that upgrade.

Bill, I'm half wondering if these little tubes in the Atlantic are truly that good. I think they may be real sleepers.

Your GG must be wonderful.


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I haven't heard the Atlantic yet but feedback seems to be great from the user reviews. Sounds like a no brainer at that point in the market so sure Lampi should sell a lot of these. I am no tube expert so not sure about the dhp versus dht.

Cheers

[wisnon]

My Big 7 has the R2R. I just need to activate some firmware update and it will auto switch from PCM to DSD. It's getting shipped off tomorrow for that upgrade.

Bill, I'm half wondering if these little tubes in the Atlantic are truly that good. I think they may be real sleepers.

Your GG must be wonderful.


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mike...when your b7 comes back....buckle up. the fw update will be a stunner.

[Mike]

mike...when your b7 comes back....buckle up. the fw update will be a stunner.

[Lee Henley]

I've had the Atlantic in the house for a few weeks and have to say this a very impressive Dac. I'm used to the Lampi sound as I've a few friends who have them, GG, L4, Lite 7 and I've heard them many times. I was also at Munich this year and heard the GG and the Der Siebener so I guess I'm fully switched onto the house sound that Lukas delivers in his designs.

i use a Mac Mini using Audirvana + upsampling all PCM to DSD 128, I've also quite a large library of DSD music. Whilst I've had this Dac in the house I've played many many genres of music especially Jazz which I have to say is really really very good at presenting the music, the Atlantic gets out of the way and he music just simply flows, the replay of horns and reed instruments is superb which is a real box ticker for me!

Over to rock music, I love Led Zeppelin (ask Bonzo on here) and a Dac has to be able to play LZ. Playing since I've been lovin you from Zep 3 is fantastic, the sound of the Les Paul is very creamy and very much in the room and The bass pedals from the Hammond organ never overpowers the room, which it can at times!. I've played many rock albums through the Atlantic and as of yet none have disappointed. Back In Black by AC/DC never sounded so bloody good!

The version I've got is pretty much standard, no tube recti or superclocks etc, all standard pretty much as it was intended to be, I've been that impressed with the Atlantic I went and brought it, like some have said on here at the price point it's a no brainer!

Rest of my system is Autotech Horn Mummy speakers, Audionote UK Empress Silver mono blocks and Hattor Passive preamp

Anyon in the UK living in or around the West Midlands fancies having a listen then feel free to drop me a PM and come round for a listen

Finally many thanks to Greg at G Point Audio the Lampi distributor for the UK for making this happen

Very best

Lee

[tomy2]

The version I've got is pretty much standard, no tube recti or superclocks etc, all standard pretty much as it was intended to be, I've been that impressed with the Atlantic I went and brought it, like some have said on here at the price point it's a no brainer!

Rock on Lee!

Standard version rules!!

[Lee Henley]

Rock on Lee!

Standard version rules!!

Indeed Tomy, rocking in the real world mate!

[rjs]

Yeah it was sounding pretty special the other day matey. Works really well with your AN amps. I'm glad you went for it.

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum rjs, thank you for joining.

[wisnon]

Yeah it was sounding pretty special the other day matey. Works really well with your AN amps. I'm glad you went for it.

Hi Robert.

[rjs]

Hi Robert.

Hi Norman, we haven't spoken in a while. Hope you are well? I reckon this Atlantic DAC is a real winner from what I've heard so far. But I haven't yet heard it at home. Lee lives close to me, and is going to bring his Atlantic it to my place so I can have a listen. Will be interesting to compare the differences to the Golden Gate DAC in my rig.

[Lee Henley]

Hi Norman, we haven't spoken in a while. Hope you are well? I reckon this Atlantic DAC is a real winner from what I've heard so far. But I haven't yet heard it at home. Lee lives close to me, and is going to bring his Atlantic it to my place so I can have a listen. Will be interesting to compare the differences to the Golden Gate DAC in my rig.

it sure will be interesting to compare the 2 Dacs, something we need to set up mate

[wisnon]

Hi Norman, we haven't spoken in a while. Hope you are well? I reckon this Atlantic DAC is a real winner from what I've heard so far. But I haven't yet heard it at home. Lee lives close to me, and is going to bring his Atlantic it to my place so I can have a listen. Will be interesting to compare the differences to the Golden Gate DAC in my rig.

All is well. I hope you are fine too.

I suspect your GG is recent vintage or recently updated, no?

[rjs]

All is well. I hope you are fine too.

I suspect your GG is recent vintage or recently updated, no?

Yeah I'm good, thanks. Ah, actually no mine sounds amazing but is from the first run, although I've rolled the tubes since: KR 45 on the output, EML 5U4G mesh rectifier. I've yet to hear the latest upgrades. I'm told the new clock is something else tho ;-).

Ps I've been lucky enough to be able to get two pairs of the second limited batch of EML Lampi Anniversary 45s. Will be having fun with those *very* soon.

[lampi345]

Hi guys,
any news on the difference between tube rectifier and solid state PSU?
I´m in the process of ordering a fully loaded Atlantic and I only have to make up my mind which version to order.
Cheers
Kai

[Mike]

Hi guys,
any news on the difference between tube rectifier and solid state PSU?
I´m in the process of ordering a fully loaded Atlantic and I only have to make up my mind which version to order.
Cheers
Kai

What's the rest of your system? What kind of music do you listen to?

[rjs]

Hi guys,
any news on the difference between tube rectifier and solid state PSU?
I´m in the process of ordering a fully loaded Atlantic and I only have to make up my mind which version to order.
Cheers
Kai

Sadly not just yet. There's hopefully a tube rectified Atlantic coming over with Lucasz Fikus for the Windsor show next weekend. Lee Henley wants to compare it with his ss rectified Atlantic, and I'm curious to hear that myself!

Thanks to Lee I've now had the chance to compare the Atlantic with my Golden Gate in my own system. So what I can say is that the Atlantic is crazy good. So ultimately yes the GG is better sonically, but the gap isn't quite as wide as I'd expected ;-).

[lampi345]

The rest of my system is rather lean.
As source I run a Logitech Transporter and my loudspeakers are active three-way studio speakers, ME Geithain 922K.
I currently have a Lampi Level 5 Balanced with variable volume. It´s three years old and comes in two boxes.
Cheers
Kai

[Mike]

Kai - if your system is lean, then go with the tube rectifier Atlantic.


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[nonesup]

Hi.
Someone has bought (maybe Mike, who owns both) the Lumin A1 with A1 connected to the Atlantic DAC by s / pdif?

[Mike]

Hi.
Someone has bought (maybe Mike, who owns both) the Lumin A1 with A1 connected to the Atlantic DAC by s / pdif?

Yes, you can do this, but SPDIF won't pass DSD and is far from an ideal connection. But it works.


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[nonesup]

Hi Mike.I really have misspoke.What I wanted to know is, if I connected the Hi Mike.
I really have misspoke. What I wanted to know is, if I connected the A1 to the Atlantic, the sound is better, than that produced the A1 alone.

[Mike]

Hi Mike.I really have misspoke.What I wanted to know is, if I connected the Hi Mike.
I really have misspoke. What I wanted to know is, if I connected the A1 to the Atlantic, the sound is better, than that produced the A1 alone.

I'm really a big fan of the A1. It's still my favorite Lumin - all things considered. I haven't compared the Lumin A1 vs the Atlantic via SPDIF.

I have some incredible digital sources: Lumin, Lampizator, Berkeley REF 2, Chord DAVE, PS Audio DirectStream, Aurender, Ayre QX-5 Twenty (incoming). We could have one hell of a shoot out if you lived here!

[lampi345]

Any news on the difference between the different PSUs in the Atlantic?
Thanks!
Kai

[wisnon]

Any news on the difference between the different PSUs in the Atlantic?
Thanks!
Kai

I think its the tube vs SS that is the big difference. i dont think the PSU itself would be different.

[arthurs]

I'm really a big fan of the A1. It's still my favorite Lumin - all things considered. I haven't compared the Lumin A1 vs the Atlantic via SPDIF.

I have some incredible digital sources: Lumin, Lampizator, Berkeley REF 2, Chord DAVE, PS Audio DirectStream, Aurender, Ayre QX-5 Twenty (incoming). We could have one hell of a shoot out if you lived here!

I would fly in for that!

[Jamshed]

Me too from Australia .


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[Audio 1]

Only a 90 minute drive for me!

[wisnon]

Uh oh, Mike...I feel a session coming on. LoL

[firedog]

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/lampizator2/1.html

Stock Atlantic w/out upgrades.

The short version: they thought it was very good in PCM, and one of the best available in DSD.

Taking this together with the hifiknights review (which was a recommended read by the 6moons review), the conclusion would have to be that if you like to listen to DSD, or with PCM upsampled to DSD, this is probably the DAC to get if you can't afford a Golden Gate.

[Lee Henley]

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/lampizator2/1.html

Stock Atlantic w/out upgrades.

The short version: they thought it was very good in PCM, and one of the best available in DSD.

Taking this together with the hifiknights review (which was a recommended read by the 6moons review), the conclusion would have to be that if you like to listen to DSD, or with PCM upsampled to DSD, this is probably the DAC to get if you can't afford a Golden Gate.

I couldn't agree more mate, having compared a GG to my Atlantic which is stock, the Atlantic sure does perform quite admirably against the GG.

In the very very near future I'll get the opportunity to compare the stock Atlantic to a tube rectified version, hopefully next week if all goes to plan

here is a pic of the incoming Dac as seen at the UK Windsor HiFi show, stay tuned folks

https://www.flickr.com/gp/142992602@N06/8o3k8d

[wisnon]

I couldn't agree more mate, having compared a GG to my Atlantic which is stock, the Atlantic sure does perform quite admirably against the GG.

In the very very near future I'll get the opportunity to compare the stock Atlantic to a tube rectified version, hopefully next week if all goes to plan

here is a pic of the incoming Dac as seen at the UK Windsor HiFi show, stay tuned folks

https://www.flickr.com/gp/142992602@N06/8o3k8d

Feedback on the tube recti version:

The Atlantic is very emotionally engaging and is an amazing value. If you decide to get it (I am assuming single ended version), my vote would be to get it tube rectified, with additional DSD512 "chipless" engine and with full superclocks! We just had a demo event in Liechtenstein with it and the German Lite7 (der Seibener) and while the Siebener had the more clinical sound (and perhaps BOLDER presentation), we all preferred the Atlantic (personal taste?). The stock recti (Soviet 5Y3) was very decent, but was less HF extended than the favourite 5R4gy (double MICA construction with ceramic spacer - normally branded as Fivre/Haltron/Zaerix/CEI, etc) and generally costs a max of $50 delivered on EBAY! The next favourite was the RCA-JAN WW2 5R4GY which is normally less that $80 delivered! I was shocking how much difference the recti makes. We even tried a plug in SS recti and that was the worst. Ironically, the most expensive we tried was a NOS 1957 Phillips metal base GZ34 (up to $600 online) and while it was the most transparent and extended, some of the guys noted a tonality upshift which was not natural. Who knows what a Lampi KR5u4g, Tak 247b or WE NOS 274b would bring to the party?

Brian: I never heard the Amber 1 or Amber 2, but I am told its entry level price but FAR from entry level sound. I may even be a bigger bargain in absolute terms, but I cant see it beating even a stock Atlantic (based on feedback I read). The Atlantic sounds waaaaay better than I expected.

The Atlantic is a destination Dac for many many people. I have heard of 4 'philes who have stopped thinking of any future upgrades...they are DONE!

[nonesup]

Someone can tell me if the Atlantic balanced, has discrete R2R DAC

[wisnon]

I think the Bal Atlantic will be made in the bigger Lite7 chassis...unless its the stock version. The small box won't allow for Bal plus other options. Not 100% sure though.

[shadowlight]

I think the Bal Atlantic will be made in the bigger Lite7 chassis...unless its the stock version. The small box won't allow for Bal plus other options. Not 100% sure though.

Based on the picture posted by Fred (Gopher) the Atlantic that is going to put in an appearance @ the GTG in Princeton NJ next Saturday seems to be the smaller chassis with remote and tube recti.

[abeidrov]

A quote from the 6moons review:"the LampizatOr uses two separate paths for PCM and DSD. For the latter, the FPGA is programmed as a simple analog low pass filter whose output goes straight into the tube stage. There is no DSD to PCM conversion so the DSD signal bypasses the R-2R ladder altogether. "
If I read this correctly, the DAC, that 6moons reviewed, is not a stock Atlantic, as it had a separate engine for DSD. The stock Atlantic supports DSD through the R2R engine and switches between PCM and DSD automatically. So, all the conclusions that 6moons made about DSD sound have been made based on the sound of the old Lampizator analog filter based DSD engine..

[wisnon]

Or 6moons got the technical détails wrong.

Having used a demo unit with separate chipless engine , you would need to switch between them with the front button, so it would be apparent.

I am pretty sure it was the stock Atlantic with the R2R DSD256.

[wisnon]

Based on the picture posted by Fred (Gopher) the Atlantic that is going to put in an appearance @ the GTG in Princeton NJ next Saturday seems to be the smaller chassis with remote and tube recti.

You could be right, but for sure no separate chipless DSD engine on top of all that.

[abeidrov]

Or 6moons got the technical détails wrong.

Having used a demo unit with separate chipless engine , you would need to switch between them with the front button, so it would be apparent.

I am pretty sure it was the stock Atlantic with the R2R DSD256.

You are probably right, and in this case it is yet another evidence, that DSD trough the new R2R engine is really good.
I read on another forum, that with R2R, a DAC converts DSD signal to PCM anyway before moving it to the output stage. Do you guys know if this is true for the Lampi R2R?

[wisnon]

You are probably right, and in this case it is yet another evidence, that DSD trough the new R2R engine is really good.
I read on another forum, that with R2R, a DAC converts DSD signal to PCM anyway before moving it to the output stage. Do you guys know if this is true for the Lampi R2R?

No idea.

What I can say is that last weekend, chipless was the clear winner! One fellow stated that it was a MUST, and he would not even listed to the R2R DSD if he had a choice. Not that it was bad, but that chipless was so enchanting.

[firedog]

A quote from the 6moons review:"the LampizatOr uses two separate paths for PCM and DSD. For the latter, the FPGA is programmed as a simple analog low pass filter whose output goes straight into the tube stage. There is no DSD to PCM conversion so the DSD signal bypasses the R-2R ladder altogether. "
If I read this correctly, the DAC, that 6moons reviewed, is not a stock Atlantic, as it had a separate engine for DSD. The stock Atlantic supports DSD through the R2R engine and switches between PCM and DSD automatically. So, all the conclusions that 6moons made about DSD sound have been made based on the sound of the old Lampizator analog filter based DSD engine..

According to other reviews and to the Atlantic manual, that quote is correct. The USB input routes PCM to the R2R board, and routes DSD directly to the output filter. There's not a "DAC" for DSD, just a filter.

http://lampizator.eu/Manuals/Atlantic/Atlantic.pdf see page 34

[firedog]

BTW, just to be sure, wrote Lampizator and asked about DSD on the Atlantic. Got an answer direct from Lukasz:

the R2R ladder is bypassed and only filtering is applied at the very end of it.It sounds YUMMY

so DSD is not R2R, only PCM is

[wisnon]

BTW, just to be sure, wrote Lampizator and asked about DSD on the Atlantic. Got an answer direct from Lukasz:



so DSD is not R2R, only PCM is

Correct FD,

I got the same answer too.

[abeidrov]

BTW, just to be sure, wrote Lampizator and asked about DSD on the Atlantic. Got an answer direct from Lukasz:



so DSD is not R2R, only PCM is

So, this is exactly as the old DSD, only no need to push the button? Can you ask Lukasz?
Thanks!

[wisnon]

So, this is exactly as the old DSD, only no need to push the button? Can you ask Lukasz?
Thanks!

He is at the Warsaw show, so only very brief answers. It seems this is an FPGA approach and the old chipless is a separate (and - I assume- more unconstrained, greenfield "macro " discrete filter box). My impression is that chipless is more "old school" and I like that better. Lukasz tends to like the R2R solution better, but admits that transport synergy is the determining factor.

My vote is for chipless from what I have heard to date, but admit that the R2R version is quite good!

[Mike]

My vote is for new R2R. Having to switch over between DSD and PCM is a PITA. Chipless is maybe a tiny tiny bit better on DSD. But overall, when combining PCM and DSD and the convenience of not having to switch, it's a no brainer. If you go chipless, the first time you get a BLAST through your speakers when you accidentally play PCM through DSD, you'll remember what I said.

[wisnon]

Mike, I think you misunderstand me!

I NEEED BOTH DSDs. The R2R for nrmal mixed playlist listening and Chipless for critical DSD listening.

Chipless is just for DSD only playback or upsampling occasions. Normally, i would use the R2R just for the ease of it.

I have done the blast too, though with a remote, you have less fear.

Here is the kicker though Mike....With the R2R and chipless Atalntic demo, when you switch to Chipless and play PCM accidentally, you hear....NOTHING!

Yah...I LOVE this setup. Now I dont even need the Vol control, as remote switching is no longer and everyday thing.

Look, I took your R2R autoswitching argument and raised it to foolproof chipless switching. Hehehe

[findog]

Norman, I'm a little confused about something you said: "With the R2R and chipless Atalntic demo, when you switch to Chipless and play PCM accidentally, you hear....NOTHING!"

I thought with the new Atlantic you don't have to switch anything as the dac will automatically play DSD and PCM files without me switching the channels on a remote like I do now with the L4 with volume control. Am I wrong?

[wisnon]

Jason, I responded earlier but my post is gone...or maybe it didn't take?

Basic atlantic is with RSR module and has ppm and DSD. The Swiss demo unit has an option in addition, i.e. Chipless DSD512 module, so that when you press the front button, you go from R2R to chipless. If you select chiles DSD and accidentally play ppm, you get no sound. So the risk that used to exist is gone. If you select R2R, you get music no matter the format.