Atlantic DAC - Incoming

New update regarding tubes. Last night I played around with the 101D tubes on their normal setting, and on the higher 300B setting. On the normal setting, the 101D are indeed more threadbare, and with the 300B setting they are warmer. Detail might have suffered slightly on the 300B setting, but overall I prefer it. From what I gather from Fred and some others, there is likely a significant to major decline in tube life using the 101D on the wrong setting, but given uncertainty over the exact circuit in the Lampi, it's hard to say how much.

Additionally, I was using a Brimar rectifier from Langrex in the above, and in our auditions Saturday. Last night I switched back to the Lampi version KR 5U4G rectifier. It is a cleaner sounding rectifier, which would have the effect of making the 101D sound even thinner. However, it is a much better match to the new Lampi EML 45's, which are richer/warmer sound than the 101D. So, if I had to live with the 101D, I would want a warmer rectifier like the Brimar, and likely also run the 101D on the wrong 300B setting. That's the only way the tonal balance sounds right to my ears on my system. But in switching to the 45 tubes, it's evident the Brimar is adding warmth in the form of distortion, and the Lampi 5U4G is cleaner and more resolving rectifier that mates well with these high end 45 tubes. Overall, I achieve the same tonal balance with the Lampi EML 45/Lampi KR 5U4G as I do with the WE101D-L running hot on the Brimar 5Z... from Langrex, but greater refinement and detail is achieved with the former rather than the latter. Indeed, the system sounded better last night than over the weekend.

Ok, sorry for the digression, that I realize is somewhat off-topic - this thread being about Atlantic. But I wanted to wrap up this lingering variable, since it's relevant to our comparison impressions from the weekend.
 
I am gonna demo a toobed 'Lantic from tomorrow. Will let y'all know how it fares against a 1st gen R2R GG.

Yeehaw.
 
Very first impression:
The Atlantic is like a toy compared to the GG. Its about half the volume and 1/3rd the weight.

The GG is like the weight of a decent Monoblock while the Atlantic is more like the weight of a relatively heavy CD player. Clearly, the power supply in the GG is 2 to 3 orders of magnitude more hefty and (I assume) refined.

I just played a few tracks via CD transport and I really do like what I hear. Mind you, with the Atlantic being so light and easily manhandled, I started off with the 2nd hand Shun Mooks I bought from someone in Canada, so maybe that was not the wisest course for an evaluation. I have not used the SMs before on the GG.

This comment is pretty useless as I have not been using the system for a couple weeks, but the Atlantic (with Soviet 5c3 recti) did strike me as a bit more SS in that the highs were extended and crisp, but still retained the traditional Lampi midrange lushness. I think this may be a supreme bargain from Lampi and a great intro to their Dac range....but I would say its a suped-up street car that kicks butt to most anything street legal, while the GG is a Formula ONE beast with all the ability to fine tune to the extreme...all the Tools needed to gain access to the podium. Kinda like Ferrrai where the Enzo/La Ferrari are supreme road supercars, but would be crushed by the Formula one car that Vettel drives. Very preliminary, so take with a grain of salt.
 
wisnon said:
Very first impression:
The Atlantic is like a toy compared to the GG. Its about half the volume and 1/3rd the weight.

The GG is like the weight of a decent Monoblock while the Atlantic is more like the weight of a relatively heavy CD player. Clearly, the power supply in the GG is 2 to 3 orders of magnitude more hefty and (I assume) refined.

I just played a few tracks via CD transport and I really do like what I hear. Mind you, with the Atlantic being so light and easily manhandled, I started off with the 2nd hand Shun Mooks I bought from someone in Canada, so maybe that was not the wisest course for an evaluation. I have not used the SMs before on the GG.

This comment is pretty useless as I have not been using the system for a couple weeks, but the Atlantic (with Soviet 5c3 recti) did strike me as a bit more SS in that the highs were extended and crip, but still retained the midrange lushness. I think this may be a supreme bargain from Lampi and a great intro to their Dac range....but I would say its a suped-up street car that kicks butt to most anything street legal, while the GG is a Formula ONE beast with all the ability to fine tune to the extreme...all the Tools needed to gain access to the podium. Kinda like Ferrrai where the Enzo/La Ferrraari are supreme road supercars, but would be crushed by the Formula one car that Vettel drives. Very preliminary, so take with a grain of salt.
Click to expand...

I loved the car analogy write-up!

I wouldn't use those Shun Mooks. They are over 20 years old, and no marks on them for pointing (which the current ones have), and that affects sound adversely if placed the wrong way.
 
sent you PM

wisnon said:
Very first impression:
The Atlantic is like a toy compared to the GG. Its about half the volume and 1/3rd the weight.

The GG is like the weight of a decent Monoblock while the Atlantic is more like the weight of a relatively heavy CD player. Clearly, the power supply in the GG is 2 to 3 orders of magnitude more hefty and (I assume) refined.

I just played a few tracks via CD transport and I really do like what I hear. Mind you, with the Atlantic being so light and easily manhandled, I started off with the 2nd hand Shun Mooks I bought from someone in Canada, so maybe that was not the wisest course for an evaluation. I have not used the SMs before on the GG.

This comment is pretty useless as I have not been using the system for a couple weeks, but the Atlantic (with Soviet 5c3 recti) did strike me as a bit more SS in that the highs were extended and crip, but still retained the midrange lushness. I think this may be a supreme bargain from Lampi and a great intro to their Dac range....but I would say its a suped-up street car that kicks butt to most anything street legal, while the GG is a Formula ONE beast with all the ability to fine tune to the extreme...all the Tools needed to gain access to the podium. Kinda like Ferrrai where the Enzo/La Ferrraari are supreme road supercars, but would be crushed by the Formula one car that Vettel drives. Very preliminary, so take with a grain of salt.
Click to expand...
 
Norman, just wondering. If SS Atlantic is essentially a Lite 7 with 4P1L tubes, wouldn't the tube recti Atlantic be a Big 7 with 4P1L tubes?

Plus, bigger case = more weight[emoji41] even if similar power supply?
 
The case weighs little comparatively, its the BIG iron underneath...chokes/transformers/power supplies, etc.

I picked up the units from the home of some pretty elderly friends and even they said the box, though huge, was light! Its true, its a double box and the inner box is tiny compared to the outer one. The GG weighs probably 3 times as much!

Anyone who knows Lampi knows that there are no fluff parts in any of his devices, quite the opposite. His philosophy is to jettison anything absolutely not necessary. Simplest signal path is best...that is his key design mantra.

B7/GG weighs THAT much because he went ballistic on the power supply design. The Atlantic is by comparison, just "significantly overspecified". He hit a sweetspot of SQ vs modest componentry with the Atlantic and that makes it a superb value. The GG is a more a "no holds barred" approach, but within the bounds of "sanity". No substitute for "big iron" though.
 
bonzo said:
I loved the car analogy write-up!

I wouldn't use those Shun Mooks. They are over 20 years old, and no marks on them for pointing (which the current ones have), and that affects sound adversely if placed the wrong way.
Click to expand...

I will play around with them to see what works best. In addition, I have an industry pal who is experienced with SM and is a pal of Bill Ying too. he can likely advise me on how to proceed.
 
Just to be clear, this demo Atlantic is souped up option-wise.
No preamp/remote option, BUT everything else for a SE dac!

Tube recti - Check (5c3 soviet)
Separate chipless DSD option - Check
Superclocked USB - Check (though not sure if just for 44.1khz family or also includes 48hz family)
Dual voltage switchable - check.
 
Norman - good comments so far. I agree, the footprint, price and most importantly, sonic signature are a home run. The $5K and under DAC market just shook a little.
 
tomy2 said:
What other tubes can the 5c3 recti be rolled with?
Click to expand...

Guys - I'm going to be honest...if we start with the whole tube rolling thing with the Atlantic DAC, we are guaranteed to scare many people away. If people want to roll tubes, Lampi offers many other options. The Atlantic DAC is meant to be a complete turn key solution at a price point that will attract first time Lampi buyers. If we start with "try this tube, try that tube", they will roll their eyes on move on. Trust me.

But, it's a free world...just giving my two cents.
 
I had read where some were turned off from the Atlantic because there were no choices for either tube rolling or having tube rectification in the first place. Makes me wonder why then Lukasz changed his mind from originally offering only ss rectifier and no volume control and such if it weren't for people wanting more options.

I guess if the intended market was for those who don't want to roll then maybe sticking with the stock version would have been best.
 
Just to add, I've opted to keep the stock version with ss rectifier and not send it in for the tube like I had originally wanted. I'm really happy with the stock version.

I was just asking about the 5c3 because I'm not familiar with it. Probably should have sent Norman a pm...
 
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