Lampizator Golden Gate

**dlb2** · April 23, 2015, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio

Yep, that's the plan.

Just don't get any fingerprints on Mike's DAC!

**FlexibleAudio** · April 23, 2015, 05:08 PM

Bonzo,

Not any further than I can through it. One step at a time.

**Alpinist** · April 23, 2015, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio

Bonzo,

Not any further than I can throw it. One step at a time.

Yup, the first step is to hear the Golden Gate. Then work on auditioning one in your own system. I wish I could be there to hear it too and meet all you guys.

Ken

**FlexibleAudio** · April 23, 2015, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Alpinist

Yup, the first step is to hear the Golden Gate. Then work on auditioning one in your own system. I wish I could be there to hear it too and meet all you guys.

Ken

There is always next year. Maybe by then I will have a source in my system, but I doubt it.

**wisnon** · April 24, 2015, 03:06 AM

Originally Posted by bonzo

Does Lampi take i2S?

Yes it already does for PCM, as AL's original Dac stipulated this and he sent the PSA specs to Lukasz. The problem is for DSD and I asked Jesus to send Lukasz a demo to get working, but nothing happened so far. If Paul sends one to Lukasz, then it will happen fast.

Paul, are Saracons filters as good as Miska's??? that is the key. Also, I am hearing about new discoveries in OS that I cant talk about publicly that could be game changing too.

Stick close to CA forum, that is where the action is.

**Mike** · April 24, 2015, 03:30 AM

My friend who received his GG (first in the U.S.) said it's breaking in beautifully.

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**Alrainbow** · April 24, 2015, 06:03 AM

For me I am using a 6 K custom server. Win2012 AO and jplay. It's absolutely fantastic. But Jesus Sanor is so much cheaper As well plug and play. Of he chose i2S it's for a very good reason. I too plan to get one just to use in one of systems.

**Mike** · April 24, 2015, 06:14 AM

Guys, the Sonore is great. Does it beat USB? Ah, a little. The downside is the PITA with the setup and using with your computer and NAS. Its certainly not plug and play. The difference between Auralic Aries USB into my DS vs i2s from Sonore was not worth the inconvenience. YMMV.

I've ordered that USB regeneration device to try. The Corning USB cables only come in a minimum 10 meter length! 30 feet of USB when I need 2?

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**bonzo** · April 24, 2015, 07:37 AM

Hi Mike, which city is your GG friend located in?

**Alrainbow** · April 24, 2015, 07:38 AM

When I spoke to Jesus he was confident it would beat my sever. And he knows computers and what I have.
Ted B loved it.
Now for me of what you say is true I am still going to buy one to use in one of my systems. But my red server is over 6K
Win 2012 and AO beta woth jplay truthfully with the DS dac
It now plays very well even dsd is now real dsd sound something that it never was Before to me. It's truly a wow for me now. My lampi is still beyond this but I am focused for now on the DS as I am beta tester. But the time and expense to get to where I am is beyond what most would do.
I can someone close for about 2500 in parts with all software
I think what I have in my CUST server is beyond my 12K umt plus. But it must be considered the server can be customized for its sound unlike the umt plus.

**bonzo** · April 24, 2015, 07:38 AM

If Lampi goes i2s, will a Sonore sig rendu plus expensive ethernet cable be less cheaper and easier to operate than a fully modded PC plus multiple linear power supplies plus expensive USB?

**Alrainbow** · April 24, 2015, 07:40 AM

The cost is about the same as I posted above. But the setup and building is far more complex. For this reason the Sanor is better.

**Mike** · April 24, 2015, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by bonzo

Hi Mike, which city is your GG friend located in?

New York.

**FlexibleAudio** · April 24, 2015, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by wisnon

Yes it already does for PCM, as AL's original Dac stipulated this and he sent the PSA specs to Lukasz. The problem is for DSD and I asked Jesus to send Lukasz a demo to get working, but nothing happened so far. If Paul sends one to Lukasz, then it will happen fast.

Paul, are Saracons filters as good as Miska's??? that is the key. Also, I am hearing about new discoveries in OS that I cant talk about publicly that could be game changing too.

Stick close to CA forum, that is where the action is.

Norman, I know HQP is widely adored as an "on the fly" converter/upsampling program which Saracon does not do. I am looking for file creation which Saracon does very well but HQplayer does not do (that I am aware of) as it is an on-the-fly program. I believe for file creation Saracon is as good as it gets unless you go to studio level custom filters. It is widely used by the pros for this purpose and Daniel has a well thought out aliasing filter philosophy. This part of the equation can all be dialed in and will change with time.

**FlexibleAudio** · April 24, 2015, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by bonzo

If Lampi goes i2s, will a Sonore sig rendu plus expensive ethernet cable be less cheaper and easier to operate than a fully modded PC plus multiple linear power supplies plus expensive USB?

Originally Posted by Alrainbow

The cost is about the same as I posted above. But the setup and building is far more complex. For this reason the Sanor is better.

The larger point IMO is that no PC at any price regardless of the mods will compete with the SQ of the purpose built approach used by Jesus to minimize processing activity and isolate the outputs in the Sonore. A PC by definition must have the horse power to run an OS and whatever programs you have running which create noise. It sends out decoded digital on a usb which while vastly improved over the years is still a device never intended to be used as an audiophile output. USB packets create noise on the receiving DACS power distribution network that does not exist in i2s. I am not aware of a superior way (from a strict SQ standpoint) to take coded digital off ethernet, decode it and send it to a dac than the Sonore regardless of convenience or price.

Chris Connaker says its as good or better than his $15,000 Aurender W20 perhaps the most modded PC on the planet. So let me get this straight..... On paper the science of the Sonore's design is hard to challenge. In practice the smartest PC guy on the planet rates it as good or better than the best PC's at any price. For $2900 it's hard to see a problem.

I could see the not to distant future bringing devices that combine Jesus's approach to silent decoding and Lukasz's approach to raw dsd playback into a single system that sets the new digital standard. PC's (for music), PCM and multi-bit dac chips will be relegated to museum pieces.

As always, I could be completely wrong but if so help me out as to where.

**wisnon** · April 24, 2015, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Guys, the Sonore is great. Does it beat USB? Ah, a little. The downside is the PITA with the setup and using with your computer and NAS. Its certainly not plug and play. The difference between Auralic Aries USB into my DS vs i2s from Sonore was not worth the inconvenience. YMMV.

I've ordered that USB regeneration device to try. The Corning USB cables only come in a minimum 10 meter length! 30 feet of USB when I need 2?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Jason Race of CA is trying to arrange a 1m optical USB cable with another manufacturer….

**wisnon** · April 24, 2015, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio

Norman, I know HQP is widely adored as an "on the fly" converter/upsampling program which Saracon does not do. I am looking for file creation which Saracon does very well but HQplayer does not do (that I am aware of) as it is an on-the-fly program. I believe for file creation Saracon is as good as it gets unless you go to studio level custom filters. It is widely used by the pros for this purpose and Daniel has a well thought out aliasing filter philosophy. This part of the equation can all be dialed in and will change with time.

Daniel is not really a DSD lover. Saracon has a good rep, but I would put Miskas filter over his any day. Miska lives and breathes this stuff. Total computer geekiness factor and determined as hell.

**wisnon** · April 24, 2015, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio

The larger point IMO is that no PC at any price regardless of the mods will compete with the SQ of the purpose built approach used by Jesus to minimize processing activity and isolate the outputs in the Sonore. A PC by definition must have the horse power to run an OS and whatever programs you have running which create noise. It sends out decoded digital on a usb which while vastly improved over the years is still a device never intended to be used as an audiophile output. USB packets create noise on the receiving DACS power distribution network that does not exist in i2s. I am not aware of a superior way (from a strict SQ standpoint) to take coded digital off ethernet, decode it and send it to a dac than the Sonore regardless of convenience or price.

Chris Connaker says its as good or better than his $15,000 Aurender W20 perhaps the most modded PC on the planet. So let me get this straight..... On paper the science of the Sonore's design is hard to challenge. In practice the smartest PC guy on the planet rates it as good or better than the best PC's at any price. For $2900 it's hard to see a problem.

I could see the not to distant future bringing devices that combine Jesus's approach to silent decoding and Lukasz's approach to raw dsd playback into a single system that sets the new digital standard. PC's (for music), PCM and multi-bit dac chips will be relegated to museum pieces.

As always, I could be completely wrong but if so help me out as to where.

I disagree with SOME of this, but too much to get into here.

**FlexibleAudio** · April 24, 2015, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by wisnon

Daniel is not really a DSD lover. Saracon has a good rep, but I would put Miskas filter over his any day. Miska lives and breathes this stuff. Total computer geekiness factor and determined as hell.

recommends SARACON for DSD conversion.
FWIW, the Super Audio Center recommends Saracon for DSD conversion. I would love to A/B the two programs. In any case, I do not believe you can run HQplayer on a PC and send it to the Rendu Sig. HQP's protocol can only see a Network Audio Adapter and The Sig Rendu is a DLNA so the point is moot at this time. I have not seen that HQP can store files to a NAS that could see a DLAN rather it can only play HQP on the fly.

FWIW, what some of the pros think about Saracon:

Quotes from Professional Mastering Engineers

“Saracon is not onlythe world’s best audio sample rate converter (cross-platform!). It’s also agreat batch re-namer, format converter, interleaver, de-interleaver,word-length reducer and all-round utility tool!”
Bob Katz, Digital Domain, USA

“Again, many thanksfor this great conversion software. We love it! And it is a big help for the SA-CD format.”
Gus Skinas, Super Audio Center LLC, USA

“I use the SARACONMac daily and WOW! It’s 16× faster than real time to do conversion with the MacQuad G5. It is both stunning in mastering workflow and sound quality.”
Kent Poon, Design w Sound, Hong Kong

“Saracon is not just the most transparent SRC available, it is also the one with the most natural dynamics and spatial depth preservation. I have tried many other software SRCs and none gets even close to Saracon for quality.”
I am absolutely thrilled at the speed of the new Intel version of Saracon, definitely a must-have tool for me at this point, thanks again for such great piece of software.”
Alvaro Balana, Impact Mastering, Spain

**FlexibleAudio** · April 24, 2015, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by wisnon

I disagree with SOME of this, but too much to get into here.

Well if you put it that way......

**wisnon** · April 24, 2015, 05:08 PM

Paul, I am not debating whether Saracon is the best SRC for offline work, I am contending that its inferior to Miska's latest filters in SQ. Saracon design is older than those of Miska who releases updates almost bi-weekly.

Miska seems to have really mastered the art of upconversion and is TOTALLY dedicated to DSD.

Anyway, i am sure both are great but offline is PITA setup and fixed, while upconversion OTF leaves scope for using better filter development as the come on stream.

In any case, the decision must be yours and it must be what you are most comfortable with. You will ultimately be fine anyway you go...

**FlexibleAudio** · April 24, 2015, 05:29 PM

Yes, I understand Norman. Thanks.

I do wish the Sig Rendu could behave as a Network Audio Adapter allowing it to receive on the fly HQP streams.

**Alrainbow** · April 24, 2015, 05:31 PM

I have yet to hear upsampled pcm as better to me. It's not dsd and it's not PCM it's something different and less dynamic and softer. I like the bite of PCM. I am used to that music that way. It's also mood cashing for me.
I have lost count of the ways I have tried it. Only thing left is hq player and as a player it's below jplay and j River by a margin. So why try.
The only up sampling that actually was ok but still not for me is my msb. But I just do not do it. It's a fascination that I just do not get.
Al

**Alrainbow** · April 24, 2015, 05:33 PM

Norman how can the player be good at upsamplng if the player is not as good as others. How does this work ??

**wisnon** · April 24, 2015, 05:46 PM

Upsampling is a different engine in HQP. Also, HQP is loaded with parameters, so make sure your get playback setup right…not as easy as the J's.

Give it a whirl and report back. You now have DSD256 capability, so the perfect test case. Paul is waiting on YOU! LoL

**Alrainbow** · April 24, 2015, 06:39 PM

Today I walked about 12 miles in NYC doing my payroll rounds. Trains galor. I come home and there is a box at my entrance. It's my long awaited lampi head dac.
Weiry from the day. I still had to unpac and try.
It's playing through my woo wa5. Right now. It's a big 7 as my other but it now has the new dsd 256 digital board
I have not used my lampi in about a week or so. Hair cause I am testing the DS and pike woth jplay. And going form the DS to a lampi is just not good. First up. Wow this is really good it has a wholesome sound that's just right there feel. I'll be posting on other sites but I do plan to post here as well. If ok I'll start a head dac thread.
And mike I have the globes in the dac HAHAHHAA

**Mike** · April 28, 2015, 09:42 AM

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**Alrainbow** · April 28, 2015, 09:44 AM

That ps vane Recti I want to try. The metal 101d are extremely linear and detailed. Let me know.

**bonzo** · April 28, 2015, 10:09 AM

I have the psvane replicas metal base 101d, also had the bakelite, and for recti I have a non metal base Psvane 274b replica. Around 200 hours on both recti 274b and metal base 101ds. Not convinced about the recti yet

**Gopher** · April 28, 2015, 10:38 AM

Great pics, Mike!

Glad the logistics worked out and it made it home to you in one piece.

Our packaging is typically a lot cleaner, but we did not have a shrink wrap roll at AXPONA, lol.

ENJOY!!

Fred A.

**Mike** · April 28, 2015, 10:46 AM

Thanks Fred! It was great to meet you, Rob and Lucasz and hang out. Admittedly, I had to restrain myself from every person that walked up and poked around at my DAC. "Get your grubby fingers off my DAC was always on the tip of my tongue!"

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**wisnon** · April 28, 2015, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Alrainbow

Norman how can the player be good at upsamplng if the player is not as good as others. How does this work ??

Depends on setup. Many options in HQP and the SQ is Dac dependent.

**wisnon** · April 28, 2015, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

Thanks Fred! It was great to meet you, Rob and Lucasz and hang out. Admittedly, I had to restrain myself from every person that walked up and poked around at my DAC. "Get your grubby fingers off my DAC was always on the tip of my tongue!"

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LoL. Funny.

Now lets see some tube porn pictures. I understand you now have a stash? Show us those DHTs.

Maybe its time to start a tube rolling thread here?

**Mike** · April 28, 2015, 11:13 AM

Found these recti's in my stash. Forgot I had them! LOL. These are the balanced RCA recti's. Sweet. Can't even remember why I bought them. I think it was an old amp I had in the 90's.

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**wisnon** · April 28, 2015, 11:15 AM

Can you post a pic of the tube taken outside the box (close up)?

**Mike** · April 28, 2015, 11:16 AM

Sure, once I get back home

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**wisnon** · April 28, 2015, 11:29 AM

Nice Mike...here are some of mine! i have another 7 more or so.

**tunes** · April 28, 2015, 11:30 AM

Promise my fingers were not grubby

congrats Mike!
Couldn't wait for the balanced version?

Chris

Originally Posted by Mike

Thanks Fred! It was great to meet you, Rob and Lucasz and hang out. Admittedly, I had to restrain myself from every person that walked up and poked around at my DAC. "Get your grubby fingers off my DAC was always on the tip of my tongue!"

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Mike** · April 28, 2015, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by tunes

Promise my fingers were not grubby

congrats Mike!
Couldn't wait for the balanced version?

Chris

I talked to Lukasz about it and he said wait for him to figure out a way to tube roll with the balanced version.

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**nicoludio** · April 28, 2015, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

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Beautiful! Should congratulations be in order or would it be just for review?

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**Mike** · April 28, 2015, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by nfnc

Beautiful! Should congratulations be in order or would it be just for review?

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Thank you. It's all mine! I listened to DSD this morning and I just kept thinking "new DAC, all new tubes and it sounds this good already?" As things break in it will be scary.

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**nicoludio** · April 28, 2015, 12:11 PM

Enjoy

They should really make the beautiful copper case an option - without the GG decorative placque, of course

Given that your Pass is fully balanced and the balanced version of the Big 7 is due (rumoured to cost EUR 3,000 more), was there any hint or suggestion from the Lampi guys that the GG in SE form would be better than the Big 7 in balanced form in a fully balanced system? Understand if that is a difficult question.

Or, does the ability to roll tubes outweigh the fully balanced chain?

**wisnon** · April 28, 2015, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by nfnc

Enjoy

They should really make the beautiful copper case an option - without the GG decorative placque, of course

Given that your Pass is fully balanced and the balanced version of the Big 7 is due (rumoured to cost EUR 3,000 more), was there any hint or suggestion from the Lampi guys that the GG in SE form would be better than the Big 7 in balanced form in a fully balanced system? Understand if that is a difficult question.

Or, does the ability to roll tubes outweigh the fully balanced chain?

He could always upgrade later...Lampi is hand built.

Mike, let us have some prelim feedback on DSD256. Surely you have tried that by now. Lots of free samples online...

**Jazzhead** · April 28, 2015, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by nfnc

Enjoy

They should really make the beautiful copper case an option - without the GG decorative placque, of course

Given that your Pass is fully balanced and the balanced version of the Big 7 is due (rumoured to cost EUR 3,000 more), was there any hint or suggestion from the Lampi guys that the GG in SE form would be better than the Big 7 in balanced form in a fully balanced system? Understand if that is a difficult question.

Or, does the ability to roll tubes outweigh the fully balanced chain?

Lukasz is against offering the copper chassis on the Big 7 as an option, wants to keep it as a specific identity for the GG .
I believe it's plus €2000 for the balanced Big7 , €3000 for the balanced GG .
From first reports the balanced Big7 is quiter , more dynamic with a larger soundstage .
There might be , just might be in the coming months a rework of the chassis . Outfitting it with heat sinks and other methods to control the heat dissipation , that would allow tube rolling .

**Alpinist** · April 28, 2015, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Thank you. It's all mine! I listened to DSD this morning and I just kept thinking "new DAC, all new tubes and it sounds this good already?" As things break in it will be scary.

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Hi Mike,

Congratulations!!! She is a beauty. I love the copper chassis. I'm looking forward to another Lampi review. I'm really curious how much of an increase in sound quality the GG gives you over the B7. The DSD must be sublime.

Enjoy,
Ken

**socfan12** · April 28, 2015, 06:39 PM

Mike, congrats. Eagerly await feedback on DSD, double DSD, etc!

**Alpinist** · April 28, 2015, 11:35 PM

Mike,

Any particular DSD downloads that are absolutely blowing you away? Any jazz ones??

Best,
Ken

**Mike** · April 28, 2015, 11:44 PM

Thanks guys. Ken - there are so many good DSD downloads. I never got to the DSD256 files, but I will tomorrow. I rolled in some 300b's and my old RCA rectifier tonight.

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**wisnon** · April 29, 2015, 04:40 AM

Eagerly awaiting DSD4x feedback here. Not much has been said online anywhere. As you are a DSD junkie like me, I am sure you will give a thorough run down of the experience. I have to find a way to upgrade...Bonzo did already and AL has it in his HeadDac.

Native DSD has a free album (Just Listen) where a few songs are availaible at different DSD rates including DSD4x (256). On top of that, they have the test Mendelssohn album on different ADCs at different rates here: https://justlisten.nativedsd.com/alb...lssohn-session

**wisnon** · April 29, 2015, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

Thanks guys. Ken - there are so many good DSD downloads. I never got to the DSD256 files, but I will tomorrow. I rolled in some 300b's and my old RCA rectifier tonight.

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Dayum, the Psvane replicas in the GG look fabulous!

Some guys are now talking glowingly about the Elrog 300bs, but I recall that the Sophia Electric Carbon Princess 300B (2.5v version) was a hit a few months back ($550 pair new).

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