Here is a lovely L4 DSD only Dac for sale for a super price $2,300:
FS: Lampizator DSD only DAC - level 4 gen 4
FS: Lampizator DSD only DAC - level 4 gen 4
LampizatOR DSD Only DAC Generation 5
- Thread starter Dpod4
- Start date
It is not dual mono DSD. It is dual stereo DSD module. Both modules are run in parallel, which accoriding to Łukasz improves the sound.
Dual DSD module can be fitted in both SE and Balanced Lampis.
The Golden Gate is exactly the same size as the big7.
Funny you should ask, as its a point Lukasz made to my pal and invited us to touch it. Not quite ice cold, but not sure if it was perceptibly above room temp and it has a copper case. Apparently copper is the best dissipator of heat behind silver.
My B7 does not get hot...just the rectifier.
My B7 does not get hot...just the rectifier.
No, you can remove tubes with bare hands when it is on. My Trinity DAC probably generates more heat than the Big 7. Same for the Golden Gate.
Dpod4
New member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2013
- Messages
- 1,321
- Thread Author
- #49
Thanks all - I am going to ask about including dual chokes and dual transformers. With dual DSD my understanding is the main benefit is complete extension in upper frequencies. If I was 20 years old I would get that but in my 40s I did the hearing test and my upper frequency limit is around 12-13
FlexibleAudio
Member
I have a question as a digital neophyte planning to buy a dac after axpona. It seems that the latest thinking (Berkeley as an example) is that making a dac capable of running both DSD (as DoP or otherwise) and PCM is a sonic compromise. Berkeley, Soulution and others have recently cast their vote for PCM only and PS Audio and others have voted DSD only. Then there is the whole crowd doing both.
So assuming I only want a single dac and am leaning more toward a Koetsu (Lampi) sound than Lyra sound for my digital, would the Lampi gurus recommend buying the Big 7 DSD only and converting all my stuff to DSD (with Saracon or HQ) or going with a Lampi that can do both PCM and DSD? In other words, doing the polar opposite of what the Berkeley Reference users must do in converting all from DSD to PCM. As an aside, I do not have a huge digital library.
So assuming I only want a single dac and am leaning more toward a Koetsu (Lampi) sound than Lyra sound for my digital, would the Lampi gurus recommend buying the Big 7 DSD only and converting all my stuff to DSD (with Saracon or HQ) or going with a Lampi that can do both PCM and DSD? In other words, doing the polar opposite of what the Berkeley Reference users must do in converting all from DSD to PCM. As an aside, I do not have a huge digital library.
Hi Paul, nice system btw.
If most of your music is redbook and you have a redbook only transport now, then I would recommend a L7 which can run both redbook and DSD.
When you do decide on a transport that can play DSD, you will ready to rock. You will also have the best of both worlds IMO.
If most of your music is redbook and you have a redbook only transport now, then I would recommend a L7 which can run both redbook and DSD.
When you do decide on a transport that can play DSD, you will ready to rock. You will also have the best of both worlds IMO.
Lampi is 2 separate engines in the same box.
You can thus do what you like. PCM only, DSD only or both.
Adam is running DSD only (on the fly) as he upsamples all to DSD256 via HQP and AO/Win2012/Core Mode CAPs server.
I play back natively PCM or DSD straight from my library. Everybody is happy and I can try Adama's approach later, especially when I upgrade to DSD256.
You can thus do what you like. PCM only, DSD only or both.
Adam is running DSD only (on the fly) as he upsamples all to DSD256 via HQP and AO/Win2012/Core Mode CAPs server.
I play back natively PCM or DSD straight from my library. Everybody is happy and I can try Adama's approach later, especially when I upgrade to DSD256.
Remote and one less component in the signal path (no preamp).
Not sure the box can fit balanced components (doubled) for the DHT implementation. 20 power supplies for SE, so 40 for balanced!
FlexibleAudio
Member
Thanks guys for your input. I understand what the options are on the Lampi gear, but my question is about what would be the best sq not operating flexibility. I guess to reframe my question would be to ask if anyone has compared sq of a DSD only Lampi playing converted PCM to a PCM/DSD Lampi playing native PCM?
I am presuming that, on the margin, having two modules in the same box is suboptimal. Is that compromise greater or less than the impact of converting PCM to DSD to run in a DSD only system? I know some think conversion of PCM to DSD is actually an improvement to start with and would thus follow the PS Audio path of DSD only. My question would be for both RB PCM and High Res. Am I making sense?
I am presuming that, on the margin, having two modules in the same box is suboptimal. Is that compromise greater or less than the impact of converting PCM to DSD to run in a DSD only system? I know some think conversion of PCM to DSD is actually an improvement to start with and would thus follow the PS Audio path of DSD only. My question would be for both RB PCM and High Res. Am I making sense?
I did a lot of comparos.
The first Big 7 Łukasz borrowed me was one with both the ESS DAC and their pure DSD engine.
You could listen to PCM files in a number of ways on this DAC:
1. Play native PCM via ESS DAC
2. Play PCM upsampled to DSD via ESS DAC
3. Play PCM upsampled to DSD via pure DSD engine
The #3 option won hands down to my ears. This is what made me buy this DAC.
For this reason, the Big 7 I ordered had no ESS DAC onboard at all. So my Big 7 is DSD only.
Of course, that doesn't mean you cannot play PCM files on it. You can, but you have to upsample all PCM files to DSD. I do it on the fly on my computer.
You can use Jriver or HQ Player to do that on the fly on Windows machines (I see no reason to do it offline - it would be a waste of time and storage space). You can also upsample stuff on Macs (I'm not a Mac guy, buy AFAIR you can use PureMusic to do that).
Having your DAC DSD only has another sonic advantage. Not only there is less circuity inside (less radiated RFI/RMI inside) but there is no capacitor in the signal path between the two 'engines' (PCM / DSD). No capacitor = shorter signal path = better sound.
This is my second Lampi. I have first bought the Lampi DSD level 5 gen 5 two months ago, as a proof of concept (I have very few DSD files). I loved what I've heard, so I decided to get the Big 7.
The results are absolutely stunning, and at this price, the price to performance ratio is almost silly good.
The first Big 7 Łukasz borrowed me was one with both the ESS DAC and their pure DSD engine.
You could listen to PCM files in a number of ways on this DAC:
1. Play native PCM via ESS DAC
2. Play PCM upsampled to DSD via ESS DAC
3. Play PCM upsampled to DSD via pure DSD engine
The #3 option won hands down to my ears. This is what made me buy this DAC.
For this reason, the Big 7 I ordered had no ESS DAC onboard at all. So my Big 7 is DSD only.
Of course, that doesn't mean you cannot play PCM files on it. You can, but you have to upsample all PCM files to DSD. I do it on the fly on my computer.
You can use Jriver or HQ Player to do that on the fly on Windows machines (I see no reason to do it offline - it would be a waste of time and storage space). You can also upsample stuff on Macs (I'm not a Mac guy, buy AFAIR you can use PureMusic to do that).
Having your DAC DSD only has another sonic advantage. Not only there is less circuity inside (less radiated RFI/RMI inside) but there is no capacitor in the signal path between the two 'engines' (PCM / DSD). No capacitor = shorter signal path = better sound.
This is my second Lampi. I have first bought the Lampi DSD level 5 gen 5 two months ago, as a proof of concept (I have very few DSD files). I loved what I've heard, so I decided to get the Big 7.
The results are absolutely stunning, and at this price, the price to performance ratio is almost silly good.
To my ears no compromise…and its not the same chassis people worry about, but the (to their mind unnecessary) switch needed for having both in the same box, as both engines are almost completely separate, sharing only the USB input and output tubes….but never at the same time.
So as a purist, I can see wanting one or the other but as someone who used to have the Lampi boxes for DSD and PCM sepate and now with a B7 with both, I am not missing anything.
So as a purist, I can see wanting one or the other but as someone who used to have the Lampi boxes for DSD and PCM sepate and now with a B7 with both, I am not missing anything.
So you got the B7 yesterday??? Do you have the DSD Direct option on it? Unfortunately he did put it on mine…its the feature where you can bypass the output cap! AL loves it for certain tracks.
BTW, the ESS chip is only in the Amber.
The diff between the B5 and B7 would be the PCB design and the DHT output tubes instead of small signal tubes. DSD LOVES DHT. The switch totally shuts down PCM when DSD is in action, so no RFI interference. The purity point is only about having the swicth in the signal path for the combo Dac configuration.
You can upsample on the fly with Mac with HQP and JRiver too.
FlexibleAudio
Member
Adam,
Thank you very much for this very valuable insight. Your findings regarding #3 are exactly what I suspected would be the case. As long as PCM sounds better when converted, why go PMC at all in the DAC if you are willing to convert on the fly. I know you have listened to a great deal of the better dacs in the market and you have immense credibility imo in digital. Anyone willing to sell his Diamond MSB stuff for a better sound (Trinity) has done his homework.
I am curious if you have ever found a difference in the SQ of DSD conversion software out there (example: Saracon, HQPlayer, JR, others)????