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  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Lausanne, CH
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    282

    Lampizator DAC and Tube Rolling session

    After chasing and reading many of the tube rolling reports bunch of "crazy" guys in form of @wisnon, @christoph, David and myself decided to do a quite big session of tube rolling of rectifier and DHT tubes used in Lampi DACs.
    As we had on hand three DACs (actually even 5) of top Lampi machines we also decided to find a best tube match per specific DAC model we had on hand.
    Of course some might say, you did not try this, you did not try that, but we tried tubes which are 'hot picks" at the moment and the tubes we managed to get.
    In order for session to be as relevant as possible one by one DAC was at the main stage while other two were serving as tube heating stations (quite expensive ones)
    4 pair of ears were deployed at all time and results were consensus of all of us. In a nutshell these are the results and we hope those might serve to all Lampi users or hopefully future ones as kind of general instruction into which direction you might go to save you the time and money if you are not able to acquire tubes for home testing.
    Of course everything, as always, is system and personal liking dependable.

    PACIFIC DAC:

    1) Ayon 5u4g, Eml Mesh 45 - Could have a bit more punch, rest OK, airy
    2) Ayon 5u4g, RK 300b - more upper bass, full bodied, slightly colored in a positive way, more focus, bigger stage, dryer
    3) Ayon 5u4g, KR PX25 - Air, weight, ideal tubey sound, lots of air, bloom, decay
    4) Ayon 5u4g, KR 242 - more FW sounding, less tubey, less layered depth, very transparent, faster
    5) Ayon 5u4g, EML Mesh 45 Ann Globe - Soft, tubey, less substance, laid back on the other hand very airy, not enough meat. Norm preferred it to 242 in vocals.
    6) RK 5u4g, EML Mesh 45 Ann Globe - Crispier, cleaner, bigger stage, livelier, more body but still lacking substance and body
    7) RK 5u4g, 101d - small stage, not the same league as the other ones
    8) RK 5u4g, KR 242 - No major objection, fast, transparent, layering, great staging, more dynamic with this recti...noticeably better than Ayon recti
    9) RK 5u4g, KR PX25 - Spaciousness, great overall performer, perfect match with RK recti, huge stage. Top combo in Pacific!
    10) KR 5u4g white ceramic base, KR PX25 - very close as above, just maybe a bit less dynamic but all very close. Upon going back to RK recti it is better combo for sure!
    11) RK 5u4g, RK 300b - A lot better than with Ayon, we find this combo close to PX25 combo, seems like more meat to PX25, combines virtues of 242 and PX25.

    Top pic for PACIFIC was KR PX25 with RK 5u4g.

    Golden Gate 1:

    1) KR 5u4g white ceramic base, KR242 - Chris favourite combination in his GG. Vs. PAC different presentation type, more tubey sound, less detailed than PAC, less stage high, more treble with PAC.
    2) RK 5u4g, KR242 - again massive difference with RK recti - very detailed, open sound. Big in all directions.
    3) RK 5u4g, RK300b - excellent combination but 242 is doing things in this DAC just better in all terms - more punch, more resolution, staging...
    4) RK 5u4g, KR PX25 - again great combo, more tubey sounding but still great details, punch, warm, very 3D and palpable
    5) RK 5u4g, Elrog 300b - we like it, punch, detail, great vocals, overall great performer
    6) RK 5u4g, EML Mesh 45 Globe Ann - not a great match for PAC but in GG a nice match. Good weight, spaciousness. Not enough weight with classical.

    Consensus is that RK recti and KR PX25 works best.

    Golden Gate 2.5:

    1) RK 5u4g, KR242 - Fantastic speed, decay, bloom, tonality. Mellowness is just right, more treble extension.
    2) RK 5u4g, KR PX25 - keeping the main character from 242 but adding additional tube sweetness in positive sense. Very natural sounding. Awesome instrument color of cello, brass,...
    3) RK 5u4g, RK 300b - Very transparent, huge stage, detailed, punchy without losing control.

    Could not draw a conclusion which tube was the favourite as they all performed exceptional but depending on the music 242 and PX25 stand out. With complex music 242 creates less congestion and PX25 creates more magic with 'easier music'.

    DAC comparison:
    Pacific is the most transparent & dynamic making several more tube choices play on exceptional level.
    GG1 warmer sounding or tubey sounding doing everything right where 242 is the right choice giving additional kick and dynamic. GG2.5 is a perfect/great blend of both directions being dynamic and transparent but not lacking any tube magic.

    Equipment used:
    Speakers - hOrns Universum III
    Amp - KR Kronzilla
    Preamp - Aries Cerat Indigo
    Server - LampizatOr Superkomputer
    DAC: LampizatOr Pacific SE, Golden Gate 2.5 SE, Golden Gate 1 SE

    I would like to thank Chris for his always great hospitality!!!!

    P.S. I hope guys can attach some pictures and of course add some comments if I missed any.
    LS: Vienna Acoustics Klimt "The Music"
    PowerAmp: Nagra VPA
    PreAmp: Tobian Soundsystems SC12
    DAC: LampizatOr Horizon
    Server: LDMS Maximus Music Server
    CDT: CH Precison D1
    Switch: Edison Creation Silent OCXO Extreme, FiberBox
    Power: LampizatOr Kraftwerk 10
    Cabling: Signal Projects loom

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    USA , NYC
    Posts
    496

    Re: Lampizator DAC and Tube Rolling session

    Lots of work/fun!
    TUBEZATOR

    preamp ML26
    amps ML No.33
    Infinity IRS-V speakers with Xover redone by Arie Nudell.




  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Genf
    Posts
    3,647

    Re: Lampizator DAC and Tube Rolling session

    Yup!
    NORMAN
    Custom PC with Memory Player Software Suite/ Modded Denon CD transport>Lampi GG1 (and sometimes PACIFIC) DHT tube Dac> Rowen 850W Isolating Transformer/ Rowen SS Preamp and PA1 monoblocs/Lampi Silk power cond. with Phase flipper> Heil AMT KITHARA & Syrinx in parallel hookup. Swiss cables (Reference line) for PC/interconnects and speaker cables. Goldmund Sweetcord PC. FTA Callisto unpowered USB cable. Basic analog: vintage Lenco L78 TT with Rowen mat, Denon MM cart, iFi iPhono2 with 15v Hynes SR3 LPSU. Synology 12 TB NAS. 2nd system:KenWin Bluetooth speaker 3rd system TBI Millemnium amp with Aulos speakers and SB Duo hookup.

  4. #4
    Audioshark
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    30,045

    Re: Lampizator DAC and Tube Rolling session

    Very cool. Would have been fun to see how some of the NOS tubes would have done in the test or some Takasuki’s.
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

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Lampizator DAC and Tube Rolling session

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