Thread: Lampizator Baltic-3 DAC in da House!

Just arrived for review in TAS, the new Lampizator Baltic-3 DAC...

The latest brainchild of Lampizator founder Lukasz Fikus, is the new mid-range priced Baltic-3.

Lampizator file photos (don't worry, I'll some take some pics of my own in the studio...)







Just fired it up today....

Just fired it up today, so it is still burning in, so just first impressions at this point, but...it's very impressive. Very quiet, very transparent, especially so for a tube component. Tonally accurate with superb resolution, definition, and microdetail, but has the presentation qualities of the best analog sources e.g. a very, very good turntable and cartridge.

More impressions to come over the following weeks....

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

What's the msrp on the Baltic 3?

I think it's ~$5500 USD...

Originally Posted by joeinid

Looking forward to more thoughts and opinions. Looks very nice too.

What’s the tube complement?

Tube Complement: 2 5963 JAN (or ECC802), 2 6N8PA, (or CV181-T or 6H8C or 6SN7GT) one tube rectifier DHD : 5U4G or 274B or 5C3S or 5Y3 or GZ37 or 5R4WGB.

Love those blue tubes; never saw this color before. Anything unique or special about this tube?

Originally Posted by RDSChicago

Love those blue tubes; never saw this color before. Anything unique or special about this tube?

They're 6SN7GTs from Psvane. I don't know why they are blue. The DAC sounds fabulous, though.

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

Just curious, do you know if it does DSD512 or DSD1024? If so, dam I need one .

Yes, it does DSD512, Randy.

The blue tubes are Psvane 6SN7-BE (not 6SN7-GT). Not sure what is the difference but the Baltic-3 will take all variants of 6SN7.

Looking for your review. Mine had been burning since Monday and I am very impressed. Rob told me last week that a US reviewer will receive them shortly but he didn’t say who :-) Do you mind sharing what DAC are you currently using and will compare with ?

Did they provide both the (blue and red base) 6SN7 for review ? What is the 6SN7 with red base ? I am curious about the sound differences between them.

Originally Posted by VoicesInMyHead

Devg, what's your own story, what did you upgrade from and can you share any other early impressions with us who who are still waiting (or maybe thinking about buying) ?

Its too early for me to tell but I already own the Lampizator Amber3 (and few other DACs - Denafrips Terminator, Matrix Audio Element X, etc). They all sound different but Lampi is the most lively sounding DAC I have ever owned. For the Baltic3, the sound is taking a rough ride of usual breakin - the Lampi US distributor said around 200hrs for the copper caps to settle down. My hope is whatever Amber3 does, the Baltic3 will do it better and my early impression indicates that. However, the Amber3 is already an outstanding DAC to start with in its price range - if Baltic3 is out of reach, the Amber3 is the one to get.

Those who are wondering what those 6SN7 tubes with red base in the photos are - they are Shuguang WE 6sn7 Plus. The blue 6SN7 are the Psvane 6SN7-BE. Would be interesting to know why Lampi choose these two particular ones.

Originally Posted by Devg

Looking for your review. Mine had been burning since Monday and I am very impressed. Rob told me last week that a US reviewer will receive them shortly but he didn’t say who :-) Do you mind sharing what DAC are you currently using and will compare with ?

Did they provide both the (blue and red base) 6SN7 for review ? What is the 6SN7 with red base ? I am curious about the sound differences between them.

No, just the 6SN7 with the blue bowl-shaped tube. I'm currently using a Schiit Gungnir Multibit. It's not in the same class as the Lampi.

Originally Posted by Devg

Those who are wondering what those 6SN7 tubes with red base in the photos are - they are Shuguang WE 6sn7 Plus. The blue 6SN7 are the Psvane 6SN7-BE. Would be interesting to know why Lampi choose these two particular ones.

I don't know why, either. It might just be based on some basic requirements, e.g. availability of supply (e.g. Psvanes are readily available current production tube) and 2) durability.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

No, just the 6SN7 with the blue bowl-shaped tube.

That is what they supplied to me as well. I probably have some other 6SN7 NOS (from the Cary Slp-05 days) and I would like to try at later point. The rectifier can also play a big role in improving the sound.

Originally Posted by Devg

That is what they supplied to me as well. I probably have some other 6SN7 NOS (from the Cary Slp-05 days) and I would like to try at later point. The rectifier can also play a big role in improving the sound.

I'm getting an EML 5U4G in to try for the rectifier.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

I'm getting an EML 5U4G in to try for the rectifier.

Cool. Where are you getting it from ? I was thinking of the Psvane ACME 274B. Any Lampi owners have an suggestions ?

Originally Posted by Devg

Cool. Where are you getting it from ? I was thinking of the Psvane ACME 274B. Any Lampi owners have an suggestions ?

Anthony Chipelo at Electro-Fedility Labs. 415-299-4363.

Just for the whims, yesterday I changed the rectifier to a Valvo NOS GZ34 that I had laying around. Immediately the base tightened up and slightly more fuller image. Looks like there is much to be had from this dac

Originally Posted by Devg

Just for the whims, yesterday I changed the rectifier to a Valvo NOS GZ34 that I had laying around. Immediately the base tightened up and slightly more fuller image. Looks like there is much to be had from this dac

Cool! Yeah, there's lot of fun to be had with this DAC with respect to tube rolling.

Just installed the EML 5U4G in the Lampizator Baltic-3.

Wow.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Just installed the EML 5U4G in the Lampizator Baltic-3.

Wow.

Huh...too bad. That's a 300 bucks out the wallet. And I am starting to envy you

If you get a chance, try the EML 274B - they seem to have some more space and air but the 5U4G has more tighter bass. Both close and are good match for Lampi DACs.

Btw, Lampi amazingly sends junk tubes with their DACs is what I have been told by some Lampi users. After some hrs, the stock recti (I don't even know what it is as all the writings have erased), they started to sound better but still at much less level than the Valvo.

Originally Posted by Devg

Huh...too bad. That's a 300 bucks out the wallet. And I am starting to envy you

If you get a chance, try the EML 274B - they seem to have some more space and air but the 5U4G has more tighter bass. Both close and are good match for Lampi DACs.

Btw, Lampi amazingly sends junk tubes with their DACs is what I have been told by some Lampi users. After some hrs, the stock recti (I don't even know what it is as all the writings have erased), they started to sound better but still at much less level than the Valvo.

Anthony just reached to me and said he's got a 274B lying around that I can try if I like, also. So, I said yes, of course.

Yeah, I can't tell the make of the stock 5U4G that Lampi sends out...all I know is it's a NOS Soviet era 5U4G.

Depends on the tube. With the provided Soviet NOS 5U4G, about 9.5". The EML 5U4G is quite a bit taller.

Originally Posted by joeinid

What’s retail on the Baltic-3?

$5500?

Somewhere in that ballpark is my understanding, Joe. I don't know the exact price.

Originally Posted by VoicesInMyHead

I think most Lampi owners buy Lampi to roll their own tubes anyway and just like more or less all high end gear also ships with standard power cables, most people have realised that an after market power cable can make a huge difference. but nobody wants to pay 300 to 3000 extra for the manufacturer to provide such a cable as everyone got their own favourites.

it is very well understood in terms of power cord.

If changing stock tube is a must, I was hoping they would provide an option to exclude tubes from the purchase - in that way, one can save a few bucks

Between, my Amber3 sounds wonderful with the stock tube and is a bargain at its price.

The following rectifiers are supported

Originally Posted by VoicesInMyHead

I think most Lampi owners buy Lampi to roll their own tubes anyway and just like more or less all high end gear also ships with standard power cables, most people have realised that an after market power cable can make a huge difference. but nobody wants to pay 300 to 3000 extra for the manufacturer to provide such a cable as everyone got their own favourites.

Actually some audio manufacturers, not many but some, advise against other power cords. Shindo gear for example. When I was running Shindo in my system I smirked when I read that and plugged a few "other" power cords I had in place of what looked like a very stock power cord of some Japanese origin for the US market. Guess what? Mr. Ken Shindo's advice was spot on. No improvement and actually the system seemed a bit more lackluster suddenly.

Other manufacturers will tell you that in their opinion, a cord that carries no audio signal but AC that will be converted to DC by the power supply is a waste of time. Unless of course an unshielded power cord is causing trouble being near other sensitive cables and gear.

One can read an alternate view on shielded power cords here for example. Myths and Snake OIL : Empirical Audio

Folks, lets not turn this thread into another "myth and snake oil vs facts" thread please :-) Let's keep this thread specific to Lampi Baltic3 and possibly other Lampi dacs.

Originally Posted by Devg

Folks, lets not turn this thread into another "myth and snake oil vs facts" thread please :-) Let keep this thread specific to Lampi Baltic3 and possibly other Lampi dacs.

Did it come with a stock power cord? I'd like to hear your opinion on it with that cord. I don't like tubes and shielded cords.

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

Did it come with a stock power cord? I'd like to hear your opinion on it with that cord. I don't like tubes and shielded cords.

Honestly, I haven’t paid much attention if it came with a power cord. I will double check the packaging but don’t remember seeing one.

Originally Posted by VoicesInMyHead

Not a must it seems, with the those crappy stock tubes you still described Baltic like this: "Mine had been burning since Monday and I am very impressed"

Well, don't take those to your heart. I know there are many Lampi fans that might get offended but that wasn't my intention. Moreover, I was quoting those words from some long term Lampi friends. Our mind also works differently - I am still impressed even with the stock tubes but once you hear with better ones, as you know, the rest is history....

Originally Posted by CPP

I got some rack space limitations (8") and it would require a whole to new rack.

I think you might just be able to fit with GZ34. The 5U4G is about 5" measured from the base and the GZ34 is about 2.75". So there is a 2.25" of leeway. When I change mine sometime in the weekend, I will take some measurements.