Has anyone compared the RCA vs XLR outputs from their Lampi dac in the same system?

At this point, I'm not so sure I need to go crazy with another preamp. My main reasons for wanting a balanced tube preamp was to maintain balanced all the way through the chain, possible lower noise floor and maybe moving my front end off to the side allowing more space around my speakers.

I've always loved CJ and the GAT sounds awesome with everything. Having the volume control on the Golden Gate helps me fine tune the volume for late night listening.

Shane,

Just curious, what balanced preamps would you consider as worthy susessors to our GAT? I've always been a CJ fanboy for good reason.


Audiophile bill said:
But not balanced...which is the request from Joe.
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XV-1 said:
not much use in buying a balanced pre amp if it does not sound as good as another pre amp regardless of whether it is connected rca or balanced by adaptor. The GAT will sound better than the ref5se no matter what the configuration.

I know as I wasted $$ on buying the ref5se thinking that it would sound better into the fully balanced D'agostino amp than my GAT. It did not.

Joe has to go up the balanced pre amp tree if he really wants a balanced preamp.
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joeinid said:
I'd consider them but everyone seems to have a different opinions on what's good. Trying them in my system could be impossible.
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it only has one balanced input and a balanced output, but the new darTZeel battery powered NHB-18NS preamp is the best preamp I've heard. and it includes the best phono stage I have heard. my new dart pre has 2 phono stages. and I've only heard the prototype.

I'm picking my new one up today.....finally.

it's not cheap either.....unless you are a high level vinyl guy. then after you figure what phono pre you would need to approach the same performance and include interconnects and power cables as well as rack space and footers and such....then it is actually a great value.

personally I prefer the performance of 'non-balanced' (not always technically actually 'single ended') in both preamps and source gear. it typically simply sounds better....more nuanced and 'not there'. but that is such a personal opinion. certainly balanced likely has positive tradeoffs that work better in some systems.

of course; for dart amp users the dart pre has a 'zeel' BNC 50 ohm interface that is both better sounding than balanced, equally low noise, and much cheaper.....and can be any length up to .5 kilometer. for 'uber' spendy balanced interconnect users that alone could justify the cost of the new dart pre.
 
Hi Mike,

Thank you so much for your view on the Dart preamp. I had one and loved it depending on the amp used. I am sure the new, updated one is spectacular. I have to be honest, if it had a battery bypass, where ac or some filtered ac is the predominant operating mode and I could switch to battery for critical listening, I could be all in again.

My listening habits are different from the typical. My system is playing 12-15 hours a day, normally. Obviously, I don't run some tube amps like that, but have no issue with a tube preamp on that long. My previous Dart preamp was CONSTANTLY, discharging and charging to the point I'd get only several hours of battery life then charge mode, then discharge mode again. I was KILLING the battery. I would love an ac mode to prevent that type of cycling.

Does the new one have something like that?
 
joeinid said:
At this point, I'm not so sure I need to go crazy with another preamp. My main reasons for wanting a balanced tube preamp was to maintain balanced all the way through the chain, possible lower noise floor and maybe moving my front end off to the side allowing more space around my speakers.

I've always loved CJ and the GAT sounds awesome with everything. Having the volume control on the Golden Gate helps me fine tune the volume for late night listening.

Shane,

Just curious, what balanced preamps would you consider as worthy susessors to our GAT? I've always been a CJ fanboy for good reason.
Click to expand...

Good question Joe

Above 20k is above my preamp pay grade :exciting:

I generally only comment when I have direct experience of a piece.

Probably a lot more than 20k. You have owned the Dag and probably heard the top of line Pass. You may need to look at Euro brands?

At this level I believe synergy and personal preference plays the bigger part.
 
Ha!

Good answer. Actually, I'd like to stay under that number myself. I have to give it to you though, my GAT really is wonderful. It has been a long time since I had it hooked up. Now that I have it back in, I realize how much I terribly missed it. I could live without it being balanced but I'd love some XLR convenience inputs and outputs, if the sonics were up to their standard.

XV-1 said:
Good question Joe

Above 20k is above my preamp pay grade :exciting:

I generally only comment when I have direct experience of a piece.

Probably a lot more than 20k. You have owned the Dag and probably heard the top of line Pass. You may need to look at Euro brands?

At this level I believe synergy and personal preference plays the bigger part.
Click to expand...
 
Joe

I don't think you are going to find that convenience you are looking for at less than the price of a smaller sized new car. If you want the tube purity of the GAT you will have to look higher up the food chain. One to try if you can find a local dealer who will let you "borrow" one is the Modwright 36.5. Since it uses the "Supertube" it probably won't be to your liking but worth a try. I really don't think you are going to hear " a lower noise" floor with the cable distances you are using anyway. I haven't and have tried it both ways with the same make and model of IC. If what you have sounds good then just use it. The GAT is one of the finest preamps available and would be hard to beat.
 
Thank you Jack. I am starting to realize what I have is superb. The Modwright looks interesting and I'll try and check it out. The Supertube thing worries me too. I think that's why I gravitate towards my GAT, even the Gold Lion 6922's are really good in it. I just love the tone of the CJ gear.



I ordered some tubes for the GAT that Kevin Deal recommended. When one of my current tubes goes bad, I'll pop them in. http://www.upscaleaudio.com/6h23-6922-type-3/

6h23type3__51455.1307728828.1280.1280.jpg





Jack said:
Joe

I don't think you are going to find that convenience you are looking for at less than the price of a smaller sized new car. If you want the tube purity of the GAT you will have to look higher up the food chain. One to try if you can find a local dealer who will let you "borrow" one is the Modwright 36.5. Since it uses the "Supertube" it probably won't be to your liking but worth a try. I really don't think you are going to hear " a lower noise" floor with the cable distances you are using anyway. I haven't and have tried it both ways with the same make and model of IC. If what you have sounds good then just use it. The GAT is one of the finest preamps available and would be hard to beat.
Click to expand...
 
Joe

If your GAT has the standard issue tubes (EH) I would go ahead and swap those in. I think you will notice an immediate difference. Since they should last thousands of hours you should be good with them for years. Also Andy at VTS has some Matsushita 6DJ8's made at the plant Mullard set up for $30 each. They have the majority of the Classic Mullard sound for a fraction of the cost.
 
Thank you Jack, I'll call tomorrow and find out.

I forget what is in there now. I've gone through several sets already. The GAT is a little tough on tubes. I think I may have put in a pair of Gold Pin EH to replace the noisy last set. I probably go through a set in every year or a little longer. My stereo is on a lot :D
 
Joe

As a general rule the NOS and Military spec tubes will usually last longer than the new production stuff, but not a guarantee. You could have a "good" set for serious listening and use the current production tubes for background listening. Doesn't look like those tubes are to hard to get to. Should cool off in just a few minutes so you can use cotton glove.
 
joeinid said:
Thank you Jack. I am starting to realize what I have is superb. The Modwright looks interesting and I'll try and check it out. The Supertube thing worries me too. I think that's why I gravitate towards my GAT, even the Gold Lion 6922's are really good in it. I just love the tone of the CJ gear.



I ordered some tubes for the GAT that Kevin Deal recommended. When one of my current tubes goes bad, I'll pop them in. http://www.upscaleaudio.com/6h23-6922-type-3/

6h23type3__51455.1307728828.1280.1280.jpg
Click to expand...


Joe

How much is Kevin charging for these?

IMO, the absolute best by quite a distance are the telefunken 6922's Kevin sells. They sound wide and open like pure running water - some might say a bit too detailed. The GAT loves these tubes. Been using it for 18 months now and no tube issues

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/telefunken-e88cc-6922/

cheers
 
I paid $116 a pair plus shipping for them. I have not put them in yet so I am curious. Those Tele's should be nice too.

XV-1 said:
Joe

How much is Kevin charging for these?

IMO, the absolute best by quite a distance are the telefunken 6922's Kevin sells. They sound wide and open like pure running water - some might say a bit too detailed. The GAT loves these tubes. Been using it for 18 months now and no tube issues

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/telefunken-e88cc-6922/

cheers
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joeinid said:
I paid $116 a pair plus shipping for them. I have not put them in yet so I am curious. Those Tele's should be nice too.
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The tele's are over 3X more expensive :exciting:


Once you have tasted filet mignon, hard to go back to normal cuts :D
 
Jack,

I'm to lazy to swap like that :D

Seriously, I don't want to damage the sockets or tubes with constant swapping. Stuff happens. I have no problem spending a little on decent tubes and leave them in. It only takes 2, thankfully :)



Jack said:
Joe

As a general rule the NOS and Military spec tubes will usually last longer than the new production stuff, but not a guarantee. You could have a "good" set for serious listening and use the current production tubes for background listening. Doesn't look like those tubes are to hard to get to. Should cool off in just a few minutes so you can use cotton glove.
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I am sure the price has gone way up. The price is not even displayed now. :(

Cryo worth it to you?



XV-1 said:
The tele's are over 3X more expensive :exciting:


Once you have tasted filet mignon, hard to go back to normal cuts :D
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I have not asked Kevin but I have bought other tubes for a low watt amp and had them cryo'd. Huge improvement. I thought I was crazy but a friend heard the difference too and I never said a thing. Quieter, seemed to last longer, smoother. Almost like a veil was lifted.

http://www.upscaleaudio.com/cryo-tubes/


I bought tubes from this place ...

http://www.cryoset.com/catalog/about_us.php?osCsid=6f68ba9de26f3d30b97374ac3ae859da


XV-1 said:
never done cryo Joe. have you? thoughts

Did you ask Kevin what cryo does?

chers
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Joe

One balanced preamp I forgot about is the Aesthetix. CD had one for a while and I think Mike C has had one for a fairly long time. Price is not bad if you find one used like CD did.
 
I thought about that one too. Honestly, I think the heat is off on the balanced pre for the moment. I absolutely love my GAT. Why I did not try it sooner I'll never know.

I bet the GAT would be great with the Odyssey amps too :D


Jack said:
Joe

One balanced preamp I forgot about is the Aesthetix. CD had one for a while and I think Mike C has had one for a fairly long time. Price is not bad if you find one used like CD did.
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