Comparing the SS vs the Tube versions could help the rest of us to decide whether to order the tube rectification or not....
Atlantic DAC - Incoming
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
Comparing the SS vs the Tube versions could help the rest of us to decide whether to order the tube rectification or not....
There is also another possibility although I am not sure how anyone will, realistically, be able to compare the change.
The B7 uses Dueland/Jupiter caps while the Atlantic uses Lampizator's caps. One can only wonder how the Atlantic with Duelund/Jupiter caps will sound ....
The B7 uses Dueland/Jupiter caps while the Atlantic uses Lampizator's caps. One can only wonder how the Atlantic with Duelund/Jupiter caps will sound ....
- Thread Author
- #103
Guys, I think some of us might be missing the point of the Atlantic DAC here. The Atlantic DAC is a play at the $5K price point (a VERY popular price point for many people when it comes to DAC's.) Lumin produced the T1 at $5K, PS Audio their DS at $5K and many other DAC's on the market are at that $5K price point. It's a more comfortable price point for a lot of people.
I don't think its fair to compare the $5K Atlantic DAC to a $10K Big 7 (of course I'm using rough numbers here).
The Atlantic DAC is also meant so there is no "concerns/worrying/fussing" over tube rolling. Although a lot of us tube nuts love to roll tubes and try different combinations, the majority of people don't. Those that are comparing a Lampi Atlantic DAC to a PS Audio DirectStream to a Lumin T1 to whatever are not even wanting to tube roll.
The Atlantic DAC is a supposedly a clear differentiator in a sea of sameness in the $5K DAC market.
I will see for myself soon!
I don't think its fair to compare the $5K Atlantic DAC to a $10K Big 7 (of course I'm using rough numbers here).
The Atlantic DAC is also meant so there is no "concerns/worrying/fussing" over tube rolling. Although a lot of us tube nuts love to roll tubes and try different combinations, the majority of people don't. Those that are comparing a Lampi Atlantic DAC to a PS Audio DirectStream to a Lumin T1 to whatever are not even wanting to tube roll.
The Atlantic DAC is a supposedly a clear differentiator in a sea of sameness in the $5K DAC market.
I will see for myself soon!
You have a point, but wasn't the Atlantic originally a Lite 7 with 4P1L tubes in a Level 4 chassis? Plus, with the tube rectifier, wouldn't this be essentially similar to a Big 7 with different/4P1L tubes?
In any case, we'll find out soon when your pen your thoughts.
In any case, we'll find out soon when your pen your thoughts.
Agreed. At 5k this is the bargain of the decade. Lampi B7 itself was a bargain, and now this at half price.
the parttime audiophile review was similar. The 6 moons review is supposed to be out by the end of the month and the reviewers have said they have a GG on hand for comparison so they can tell us how much of a giant killer the Atlantic is or isn't.
You can get 512 now.
- Thread Author
- #111
With 512 you don't get the chip that switches between PCM and DSD. Pink noise blasts (when you accidentally play a PCM file on the DSD setting) are no fun!
DSD512 is not worth it IMO. And frankly, I'm seeing the slow death of DSD myself. Sorry, but I am. As new albums come out and SACD production for mainstream artists has stopped, we turn our attention back to high res 24/96 or 24/192 PCM and keep an eye on MQA.
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I can totally see that DSD is dying. But, I completely disagree on the statement that DSD 512 is not worth it. I have a SOTA custom build music server (albeit not SGM quality); but I would say not too far off. Upsampling redbook to DSD 512 through T+A DAC8, transformed my system to a new height.
I have not heard DSD 512 on any other dac. So, I am not sure if this is true for DSD 512 in general or just applies to DSD 512 on T+A. But given my experience, I am completely SOLD on DSD 512.
- Thread Author
- #114
I agree, it's impressive. I have TrueDSD 512 on my T+A PDP3000HV (the big Brother to the DAC8). But I had to use my computer and I'm just not willing to geek out for audio. I love my Aurender and Lumin music servers and their wonderful apps.
And if I'm being honest, the Aurender N10 --> Siltech Royal Sig AES/EBU --> Berk REF2 playing PCM sounded better than T+A DSD512 to my ears. That combo was the best digital I've ever heard. Period. But that combo costs a hell of a lot more than a DAC8 and a pimped out PC!
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Genjamon, thanks again for your detailed observations. You are of course correct that I was way off topic and apologies for that. I will definitely be purchasing an HDplex soon. Looking forward to more peoples impressions of the Atlantic dac and thanks to you as well Tomy, certainly fun to read.
We played PCM only, through our same R2R engines. I only have two DSD albums, and am using DLNA server to feed the microRendu. Plus, the F-1 USB/SPDIF converter into Lampi SPDIF input is significantly better than the Lampi USB input on my system, and the Lampi SPDIF input is not compatible with DSD. Sorry.
I wouldn't say we found the optimal combination, but we certainly found the 101D a better fit than the 300B in my current system configuration. Story would have been different just two weeks ago, but after a tube upgrade in another part of the system, clearly the 101D is a winner over the 300B. But these are at opposite ends of a spectrum.
I just received word my special Lampi anni EML 45's have been delivered to my house. I'll be popping them into the system this evening.
La Dolce Vita
New member
Oh are you in for a treat! My EML Lampi 45 mesh globes have been in for many months! In my system these reign...
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jadedavid
New member
It is my understanding that all of the Lampizator DAC's up to the GG will now come standard with the new house brand CU capacitors. This might narrow the differences somewhat.
All in all, I think it say's a lot that there is a shootout with the much loftier L7 and that the Atlantic is holding it's head up high.
All in all, I think it say's a lot that there is a shootout with the much loftier L7 and that the Atlantic is holding it's head up high.
I need to offer a fairly significant wrinkle to the story. As I was going to swap in the new Lampi EML 45's yesterday after work, I found I had not switched the rear voltage setting from the 300B setting to the 101D/45 setting. This means our audition Saturday with the 101D, and my subsequent listening over the weekend, was all with the wrong setting. That explains why I seemed to notice the 101D's were burning brighter than I remembered, and they were definitely quite hot upon powering down the unit. I had to wait a couple minutes before I could handle the tubes bare-handed.
So, all those impressions about the 101D before are "colored" by this issue. It was amazing to me how much warmer the sound seemed over the weekend compared to past impressions of the 101D. This probably explains it. I need to put some hours on the 45's at the moment, but I will be putting the 101D's back in the system soon to check if the sound is more like my original impressions, or more like what Tom and I experienced last weekend.
Sorry for the mix-up and wrinkle in the impressions, guys.
The good news is the 45's are in the system, and with only a few hours on them last night, they're already showing great promise. Not the same character as the hot-rodded 101D's, but great in their own way.
So, all those impressions about the 101D before are "colored" by this issue. It was amazing to me how much warmer the sound seemed over the weekend compared to past impressions of the 101D. This probably explains it. I need to put some hours on the 45's at the moment, but I will be putting the 101D's back in the system soon to check if the sound is more like my original impressions, or more like what Tom and I experienced last weekend.
Sorry for the mix-up and wrinkle in the impressions, guys.
The good news is the 45's are in the system, and with only a few hours on them last night, they're already showing great promise. Not the same character as the hot-rodded 101D's, but great in their own way.