LampizatOr - Any Golden Atlantic, Amber II or Atlantic dac users here? or other recommendations ...

**joeinid** · January 8, 2018, 09:41 AM

Looking for advice about Lampi.

I'm thinking about getting back in the game. It can be PCM only with a coax spdif input and no volume control, if that keeps cost down.

Of course, LampizatOr magic is mandatory

Thoughts?

**Mike** · January 8, 2018, 09:48 AM

Golden Atlantic. Proper component size, no tube rolling to get fussed about (only recti) and sounds great.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**wisnon** · January 8, 2018, 11:00 AM

Mike nailed it.

If you want to slum, then a plain Atlantic plus...but get the Kron 5u4g rectifier or a Haltron/Certron/Brimar/CEI/ Zaerix/Mazda double mica 5R4GY that costs about $50 delivered on EBay. Finally, the 5u4gWA "potato masher" (submarine tube) works great in the Atlantic circuit and can be had for $20 or so.

**wisnon** · January 8, 2018, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

Golden Atlantic. Proper component size, no tube rolling to get fussed about (only recti) and sounds great.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tube Rolling is GREAT when company is over...a real party!

**Mike** · January 8, 2018, 11:09 AM

The problem with the tube rolling is that for many, it creates confusion. Which tubes to get? 300b? 45? 101d? PX4? PX25 and the list goes on. Tubes aren't cheap. I like that the Golden Atlantic takes the "thinking" out of the equation. You can always add a better rectifier, or just use the stock. The output tubes are set though which is nice.

**wisnon** · January 8, 2018, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

The problem with the tube rolling is that for many, it creates confusion. Which tubes to get? 300b? 45? 101d? PX4? PX25 and the list goes on. Tubes aren't cheap. I like that the Golden Atlantic takes the "thinking" out of the equation. You can always add a better rectifier, or just use the stock. The output tubes are set though which is nice.

It can be a problem, or a blessing...depending on the person.

I have driven nearly 5 hours to Liechtenstein to stay at a pal's place where we rolled tubes and USB cables for 1 and a half days with other friends. Then we came out with a consensus that we could share with other buddies online. Loads of fun.

We also get to hear Apogees vs Horns Universum. Unfortunately the Accustats didnt have a working amp in that room. My Buddy has 4 systems!

**a.wayne** · January 8, 2018, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by wisnon

We also get to hear Apogees vs Horns Universum. Unfortunately the Accustats didnt have a working amp in that room. My Buddy has 4 systems!

what ,

You're holding out, Tell us more , any pics ..... ?

**leftside** · January 8, 2018, 01:34 PM

Hi joeinid - I think I recognize you from other forums. I've owned both the Atlantic Plus and the Golden Atlantic. If budget is a concern then go for the regular Atlantic. You won't be disappointed. The GA just has a bit more of everything and I can honestly say it's the finest piece of audio equipment I've ever owned. I'm also done with tube rolling, otherwise some of the other Lampi DAC's would have been considered.

I'm also looking at an Amber for another room.

**joeinid** · January 8, 2018, 02:12 PM

Thank you for your thoughts.

I've had a Big 7 (?) and a GG previously. I thought I would not miss them but I do.

I'm in research mode again. So, I'll probably have more questions soon.

Originally Posted by leftside

Hi joeinid - I think I recognize you from other forums. I've owned both the Atlantic Plus and the Golden Atlantic. If budget is a concern then go for the regular Atlantic. You won't be disappointed. The GA just has a bit more of everything and I can honestly say it's the finest piece of audio equipment I've ever owned. I'm also done with tube rolling, otherwise some of the other Lampi DAC's would have been considered.

I'm also looking at an Amber for another room.

**Paul** · January 8, 2018, 02:49 PM

Budget ? Our Joe has no limit

**joeinid** · January 8, 2018, 02:56 PM

There's a budget, absolutely. I want to keep it "reasonable" until I figure out what I really want Lampi-wise.

Originally Posted by Paul

Budget ? Our Joe has no limit

**Paul** · January 8, 2018, 02:57 PM

Joe, I just ordered Golden Atlantic for myself

**joeinid** · January 8, 2018, 03:00 PM

Nice!

Originally Posted by Paul

Joe, I just ordered Golden Atlantic for myself

**wisnon** · January 8, 2018, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

Thank you for your thoughts.

I've had a Big 7 (?) and a GG previously. I thought I would not miss them but I do.

I'm in research mode again. So, I'll probably have more questions soon.

GG2 baybeee! Take it from me...Shhhh.

**wisnon** · January 8, 2018, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Paul

Joe, I just ordered Golden Atlantic for myself

Wow Paul...hard core!

The excellent thing about the GA is that it comes with the Kron 5u4g...killer recti.

**joeinid** · January 8, 2018, 05:18 PM

I think we need to talk

Originally Posted by wisnon

GG2 baybeee! Take it from me...Shhhh.

**wisnon** · January 8, 2018, 05:29 PM

no problemo...I will send a PM with my whatsapp details.

**a.wayne** · January 8, 2018, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

I think we need to talk

lampi talk ...! Suggest a full charge on your battery Joe ...

**Paul** · January 8, 2018, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by wisnon

Wow Paul...hard core!

The excellent thing about the GA is that it comes with the Kron 5u4g...killer recti.

Thanks, Norman. It's all started becoz of you

**joeinid** · January 8, 2018, 06:22 PM

**leftside** · January 9, 2018, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Paul

Joe, I just ordered Golden Atlantic for myself

Welcome to the club! Goes very well with the Mac gear.

Edit: Just checked out your thread. I'd be more than happy with the system from the first post in 2013 (+ the GA of course).

**arthurs** · January 9, 2018, 03:57 PM

I might be selling my GA .... -_-

**bonzo** · January 13, 2018, 12:56 PM

GA is good but quite a compromise to GG for extension on either side, dynamics, and complex music. Energy. The main reason to buy Lampi is to tube roll, not just for flavor but because different voltage and gain and impedance match with preamp helps to tune the system, much like a cartridge. While analog do this gain tuning as bread and butter, digital, including the Atlantic does not offer that flexibility. Atlantic is great to get back in the Lampi game and then upgrade to GG, and on simple music gets you most of the way to the GG.

**BayStBroker** · January 16, 2018, 09:15 AM

Bonzo,

With all due respect, I doubt very much that an Atlantic is less able to reproduce complex music than is a GG. Companies would like their "perceived value" chart to line up that way. But Lukasz kept giving away features (like tube-rectified power & DSD512) to demanding Atlantic buyers until the only technical difference was the Atlantic reliance on the small Soviet tubes. The big tubes make a difference in sound signature and many attest to a definite "magic." But nobody buys or sells a $10,000 DAC with the intention for listeners to be confined to "simple music."

My A+ is very deluxe and used to belong to Our Man Mike. He opted for the DSD512 engine in addition to the R2R engine (with all superclocks). So I can engage the DSD512 engine if I want a different sound. (I do prefer DSD512 for DSD to the auto-switch DSD in the regular R2R based engine, but only by a sliver.) One consideration I would make is that my A+ is a little bit too DIY looking, not to say homely. The GA adds a measure of beauty in addition to whatever sound quality that Lukas's self-described "Gucci Dac" adds. At the end of the day, Joe, I won't ever sell my Atlantic Plus. If I upgrade, the A+ will be used for a secondary system in a den. I've never heard digital sound so convincingly analogue (on good recordings, of course).

**bonzo** · January 16, 2018, 09:39 AM

Nor does someone price a dac twice the price unless it was substantially better.

Incidentally my GA and GG compare happened in the Lampi factory. Like I said, I was impressed by the GA, but it is far from GG.

Also you miss the point. About having a dac that is fixed as to having one that's flexible. With GG, you can transform the performance of a stock dac.

**jriggy** · January 16, 2018, 10:32 AM

I’m ‘slumming it’ with a recently purchased loaded A+

Sounds like I should of gone with a more stripped down GA instead

**joeinid** · January 16, 2018, 11:49 AM

I’m still thinking about it

**wisnon** · January 16, 2018, 08:39 PM

GG is better than GA, as good as the GA is. Unless you do a head to head you wont realize. A local buddy has a GA. When he heard my GG when he brought over his GA, he said to stop as he spent enough and didnt want any more temptations! LoL

The GG weighs 3 times the GA...the difference is the power supply!

The PACIFIC, not the GG is the Gucci of the lineup.

Final point, I even did a 3 way with the A+ (super clocks and DSD512), GA with no DSD512 and then GG with SC and DSD512. The results reflected the relative pricing. GA has more Gucci parts compared to A+.

**leftside** · January 16, 2018, 09:33 PM

Base GG is 13000 Euro, balanced GA is 9000 Euro (this is the one I have). To hear the differences you are likely going to need the preamp, amp(s) and speakers to match. I also went down the rabbit hole of tube rolling with a tube amp - never again!

Even though I have a GA, I did start with an Atlantic+. Yes, the GA is better, but I think the best bang for the buck in the lineup is the Atlantic or Atlantic+. I'll be looking at one of these for another room in the near future.

Pacific is 22000 Euro

**wisnon** · January 17, 2018, 01:33 AM

Hi Leftside.

I heard them all in my system at the same time.

I think the best bang for the buck is indeed the A+, but we tend to chase the last 1% as usual.
No rabbit hole for tube rolling for me. I just rotate from the set I have...most I got used from the local tube Barn for cheap.
The vintage CX 345 for example are sublime with jazz vocals.

**joeinid** · January 17, 2018, 02:32 AM

Maybe a GG might be the right choice

**wisnon** · January 17, 2018, 02:44 AM

GG2....

**bonzo** · January 17, 2018, 04:58 AM

It's the power supply, the heat sink, and most importantly tubes. Tubes are rolled not just for fun and flavor - it's essential to match the tube to your pre and to the system gain to performance by multiples. Otherwise it is just another very good dac.

When you keep two dacs together, one can sound better than the other as there is nothing you can do about the lesser sounding one. The GG you can transform within the hour.

How many analog people would buy a TT with a fixed arm and cart, and try to fit it to any phono?

**BayStBroker** · January 17, 2018, 09:19 AM

There are a lot of moving parts and other variables to consider. How would an A+ with the R2R ladder compare to a GG with the standard PCM engine, for instance? Surely the enhanced engine is going to beat more exotic capacitors, etc? Regarding power supply, I thought Lucasz told us that the Atlantic supply was the the same as the Lite 7. But then he permitted tube rectification, which would make the supply the same as the B7, GG. So the superiority would seem to be in the big tubes and the ability to roll.

Originally Posted by bonzo

Nor does someone price a dac twice the price unless it was substantially better.

Incidentally my GA and GG compare happened in the Lampi factory. Like I said, I was impressed by the GA, but it is far from GG.

Also you miss the point. About having a dac that is fixed as to having one that's flexible. With GG, you can transform the performance of a stock dac.

**bonzo** · January 17, 2018, 09:34 AM

I compared R2R to R2R. Lukasz prefers non R2R sonically, be understands why some prefer R2R. R2R has more details, resolution, dynamics. You can have both in both. There is a big difference between Jupiter and Mundorf completed dacs, and I assume there will be between duelund and Mundorf, though when I blind tested one cap for the other in the same dac with Lukasz waa unable to hear a difference. However testing between two completed GGs, one Mundorf and one Jupiter showed more body and ease on crescendo, and more flow.

**wisnon** · January 17, 2018, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by BayStBroker

There are a lot of moving parts and other variables to consider. How would an A+ with the R2R ladder compare to a GG with the standard PCM engine, for instance? Surely the enhanced engine is going to beat more exotic capacitors, etc? Regarding power supply, I thought Lucasz told us that the Atlantic supply was the the same as the Lite 7. But then he permitted tube rectification, which would make the supply the same as the B7, GG. So the superiority would seem to be in the big tubes and the ability to roll.

Bay, the GG is LITERALLY 2 to 3 times bigger and heavier than the GA. I have had ALL of them side by side at home at one point. ALL GGs were R2R from the start, i think. The FW on the R2R was improved over time.

The A+ existed BEFORE the GA, by the way. GA is A+ with Gucci internal parts, shiny case, and Kron 5u4g stock rectifier and DSD512 module as standard. Throw on a flight case as well and that is the premium package.

**wisnon** · January 17, 2018, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by bonzo

I compared R2R to R2R. Lukasz prefers non R2R sonically, be understands why some prefer R2R. R2R has more details, resolution, dynamics. You can have both in both. There is a big difference between Jupiter and Mundorf completed dacs, and I assume there will be between duelund and Mundorf, though when I blind tested one cap for the other in the same dac with Lukasz waa unable to hear a difference. However testing between two completed GGs, one Mundorf and one Jupiter showed more body and ease on crescendo, and more flow.

Which GG did you prefer, the Jup or Mundorf?

I have heard the Der Siebener (German light 7) with Mundorf caps and found it infereior to my GG according to my taste. However, the L7 was also chipset 57, the delta sigma, so that may be it too.

**bonzo** · January 17, 2018, 12:31 PM

Jup, much more body, flow, ease on tops. Mundorf is thinner

**joeinid** · January 17, 2018, 05:43 PM

Can the Golden Atlantic be upgraded to something close or equal to a GG or higher? Or is it hampered from the start?

**wisnon** · January 17, 2018, 06:08 PM

No, different design all together. Still very good though.

**bonzo** · January 17, 2018, 06:52 PM

There is no hamper. It's a good dac. GG is to me the best dac period. If you buy the GA, be happy till you upgrade to GG and treat it as a stepping stone.

**Paul** · January 17, 2018, 09:20 PM

Mainly, I choose the GA due to size of the unit. The Big 7 or GG are way over sized in my opinion. Also , as I experienced the Lumin A1 is sounds bit more analog than S1 and I heard the GA is as well over GG. Hope I made the right choice

LampizatOr - Any Golden Atlantic, Amber II or Atlantic dac users here? or other recommendations ...

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**bonzo** · January 18, 2018, 12:37 AM

That's the statement I was making above. If you place one dac (GA) next to another (lumin) and one sounds more analog than the other, one can't do much about the lesser sounding one. It is what is. But if GG is the lesser sounding one, you can transform it. Usually within the hour If you have the tubes at hand. If your GA sounded more analog than the GG, the GG had a match issue that can be easily handled. If the GA had a match issue it can't.

**aKnyght** · January 18, 2018, 11:28 AM

like joeinid, i am in research mode and have been closely following this thread. i have also crawled all over the lampizatOr website and read all the reviews i could find... of the three models specified:

> i think the A+ is probably the best choice - mostly from a cost vs spec/feature perspective. seems that the A+ provides most of the lampizatOr magic at ~1/2 the cost of the GA. also, i would think it is at a price point where it could be readily sold used when/if an upgrade is ever considered, which is a big plus.

> depending upon needs and preferences, i would think that one might outgrow the amber 2 pretty quicky.

> the GA is an interesting choice and i would be tempted to go there, however, if one is allowed to go off-menu i would opt for the big-7 instead. it is more or less the same price as the GA but the ability to tube-roll is a huge plus for me. on the downside, it is not much smaller than a grand piano an i would have trouble finding space for it.

any higher up in the lampizatOr product stack makes the decision much harder as at that price point other dacs that must then be put in the mix - nagra, brinkmann, etc.

...all of which brings me back the the A+. for my needs and preferences, it hits sweet spot in the lampizatOr line - i think.

only question now is which color button on the faceplate? i would lean toward amber.

**joeinid** · January 18, 2018, 11:41 AM

Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.

**bonzo** · January 18, 2018, 02:56 PM

Actually, at a lower price point there might be competing dacs. At a higher price point there are none as far as I am concerned.

And Lukasz posted on FB he is experimenting with the 845, and that is his favorite valve for the dac so far. I won't be surprised if he ends up with 212 valves one day.

**Christophs** · January 18, 2018, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

Maybe a GG might be the right choice

Excellent choice.
But I would opt for the GG2 (even though I haven't heard that one myself)
I know A+, GA and GG from several direct comparisons in my systems and in other systems.
Each of the 3 DACs is absolutely excellent bang for the buck at their respective price point.

I would always chose the R2R engine over the chip based PCM and I would add the chipless DSD512 engine if funds permit.
If DSD is your preferred format and you are on a budget, I would ditch the R2R/PCM and only order the chipless DSD512 engine as this one sounds quite a bit better than the DSD part of the combo R2R engine.

**bonzo** · January 18, 2018, 04:41 PM

Someone with GG budget does not have to choose between both engines. And while the chipless DSD has it's own magic, I love a lot of the native PCM. Also both engines have a different gain. Certain music sounds better native, certain Upsampled. Have both. DSD is only 500 euro or so more

**joeinid** · January 18, 2018, 05:27 PM

Thank you!

Does anyone have an ultimate preference for single-ended or balanced GG2? Or should I ask does one sound better given everything else equal? I am leaning towards balanced myself but could go either way.

Originally Posted by Christophs

Excellent choice.
But I would opt for the GG2 (even though I haven't heard that one myself)
I know A+, GA and GG from several direct comparisons in my systems and in other systems.
Each of the 3 DACs is absolutely excellent bang for the buck at their respective price point.

I would always chose the R2R engine over the chip based PCM and I would add the chipless DSD512 engine if funds permit.
If DSD is your preferred format and you are on a budget, I would ditch the R2R/PCM and only order the chipless DSD512 engine as this one sounds quite a bit better than the DSD part of the combo R2R engine.

**bonzo** · January 18, 2018, 05:48 PM

Single ended. Unless you are extremely loaded and can willing to spend rolling quads. Please understand. The tube roll tu match your gear is essential. If you get in a balanced and just play it for a supposed lower noise floor out really won't help Unless you optimize by the tube rolls.

It is very important to understand why we are so energized about Lampi over four years. Because it keeps transforming every few months. You find a recti or an output tube that breaks new levels every few months. This is very difficult to achieve in a balanced dac. Eventually you might get bored of listening to the same dac or find something better, if you don't have the ability to change it

Thread: LampizatOr - Any Golden Atlantic, Amber II or Atlantic dac users here? or other recommendations ...

LampizatOr - Any Golden Atlantic, Amber II or Atlantic dac users here? or other recommendations ...

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Re: LampizatOr - Any Golden Atlantic, Amber II or Atlantic dac users here? or other recommendations ...

Re: LampizatOr - Any Golden Atlantic, Amber II or Atlantic dac users here? or other recommendations ...

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LampizatOr - Any Golden Atlantic, Amber II or Atlantic dac users here? or other recommendations ...

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