Lampizator Golden Gate

LampizatOr said:
I checked with out factory, and all our amps always have black terminal grounded. I wasnt sure in the beginning.
I thought that you understood an obvious joke about killing. 25V AC hasnt killed anybody ever, even in a bathtub. Especially that as you described, if a floating circuit is present somewhere, the current will NOT FLOW because it is not closed. But I am not to educate here. If Got wanted to kill you by his "act" He would have used a more efective way.
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Lukasz I am not looking for you to educate per se I was just trying to understand. I have kids and this is kinda important to me. I don't want to be a jerk here so maybe someone else can tell me where I am wrong with the following; I am only trying to understand and this is very serious stuff.

First you said the black is supposed to be isolated by the transformer and float with no ground and carries a charge. Either it carries a signal opposite to the positive circuit or it doesn't. It can't carry a an electrical potential in relation to earth ground and be earth grounded at the same time.

Volts don't kill, amps do and it only takes .1 amp to do so; .05 amps is a very severe shock which can results in breathing difficulty and paralysis; .01 amps is classified as a severe shock. The 211 has 85 watts which delivers about 2.6 amps at 26 volts depending on your power correction factor. Skin resistance is about 500 ohms when moist meaning 26 volts will move at least .05 amps into the body. If voltage is not fully regulated it could be more. Any more can cause death.

There is a reason AES Standards exist and I would guess there might be a reason folks don't use this technique to run a balanced configuration into a two wire system. I wonder if they are related? I understand for many such a risk maybe ok and that is perfectly fine; I just want it to be understood.
 
I think this discussion should be moved to private messaging since it seems to be more about electrical engineering than the Golden Gate.
 
dminches said:
I think this discussion should be moved to private messaging since it seems to be more about electrical engineering than the Golden Gate.
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Peachy keen, but at a minimum I hope everybody realizes, for this unit, the universal use of the color Black or Negative for neutral on the terminal ain't neutral it's HOT just like the other terminal; and it will bite your butt just like the Red or Positive. And as I said, 85 watts at 26 volts may not kill you but under some conditions it won't be pretty. If people have no interest in such things that, as I said, is..peachy keen.
 
Well, after several days, there is no doubt in my mind that the Balanced Lampi GG represents the pinnacle of Lampizator DAC's. It's quieter, sweeter on top and a slightly fuller sound than the SE version IN A BALANCED ENVIRONMENT (Pass Pre or Lampi Balanced 211's in my case). In a single ended environment (my air tight), I liked the full SE setup. Here, the Lampi GG SE was a touch sweeter.

The bottom line? If you're running a balanced setup, get the balanced. If you're running SE, stay with the SE version.

Surprises? I wasn't prepared for just how much better the Balanced Lampi GG would be over the SE Lampi GG running into my Pass XS Pre and Pass XS150's.

I can summarize it this way: the lower noise floor and additional gain of the Balanced Lampi GG allowed the DAC and the entire system to really deliver sonic excellence.

I found the best fit, for me, was the Balanced GG Lampi with the exceptional Pass XS electronics. That's not to take anything away from the Lampi 211's or AT gear, they are excellent and depending on your listening preferences, may represent nirvana. But one has to wonder, on certain albums (hard driving, punchy, dynamic albums like Hugh Masakela - HOPE), if Lampi DAC + tube preamp/amp is not just too much of a good thing.

Sometimes I like a little Ying with my Yang. [emoji39]
 
dminches said:
I think this discussion should be moved to private messaging since it seems to be more about electrical engineering than the Golden Gate.
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I don't agree! When it comes to product safety, the manufacturer has a statutory requirement to meet. It is simple. All Lukasz needs to do is answer my earlier post. If the products have electrical safety compliance certification in the USA, Australia and the like and are labelled with an approval mark on the chassis, then there is no need to question the engineering with academics. How he makes his product is his business. Our business is to know that it is merchantable and fit for purpose.

SIMPLE QUESTION: Is the Lampizator Golden Gate and any other Lapizator product electrically certified safe to use? Yes or No?

If yes, demonstrate compliance evidence. If no, it is not merchantable because it is unsafe, so don't buy it. In Australia it would be illegal and the manufacturer/importer would be subject to recall, refund, fines and penalties.
 
Mike,

many thanks for your very helpful comparison and comments.

I assume you only used your mega buck NOS WE300b's for this comparison. or did you try different tubes in the various configurations? not to say that that would have changed your preferences, although a more neutral tube may have changed the synergy with the Lampi 211 amp possibly. maybe 'less' of a good thing and more balanced overall?
 
Mike - I tried my Replica 300b's in both. It was for only a short period because once you've tasted a perfect filet, it's hard to eat hamburger. I didn't have enough 101d's to try. The WE300b's are off the charts.
 
Mike,

another question. if given the choice and given you own the Pass Labs balanced gear; would you go a Bal GG with 300b replicas, or SE GG with NOS WE300b's?

this is for you personally.
 
Mike Lavigne said:
Mike,

another question. if given the choice and given you own the Pass Labs balanced gear; would you go a Bal GG with 300b replicas, or SE GG with NOS WE300b's?

this is for you personally.
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Balanced GG for sure. I'd then save for WE300b's or Takasuki's. The Elrog's sound wonderful too. But at the end of the day, the black backgrounds gained from the Balanced Lampi, along with the increase in gain and also, much quieter volume and input switching operation was what put it over the top for me.

The SE version could make some strange noises when switching inputs, increasing the volume. I haven't found any of that with the balanced.

Also, the balanced Lampi has a BNC input. Need to explore that a little further. Wonder how/if it handles DSD?

Sometimes they're like the prize in the bottom of the Cracker Jack box. [emoji3]

Mike, if you're thinking Lampi - go Balanced GG - you won't be disappointed.
 
Mike said:
Balanced GG for sure. I'd then save for WE300b's or Takasuki's. The Elrog's sound wonderful too. But at the end of the day, the black backgrounds gained from the Balanced Lampi, along with the increase in gain and also, much quieter volume and input switching operation was what put it over the top for me.

The SE version could make some strange noises when switching inputs, increasing the volume. I haven't found any of that with the balanced.

Also, the balanced Lampi has a BNC input. Need to explore that a little further. Wonder how/if it handles DSD?

Sometimes they're like the prize in the bottom of the Cracker Jack box. [emoji3]

Mike, if you're thinking Lampi - go Balanced GG - you won't be disappointed.
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I see the Lampi GG like i see a cartridge. there are systems that need high gain and other things like switching from a dac, and other systems that are so quiet and explosive that refinement and delicacy is where it's at. double the circuits (with differentially balanced) is double the stuff in the signal path. the additional horsepower helps when it helps. but things are rarely quite that simple.

yet no doubt I respect and enjoy it when a source has more authority and pace, as long as it's not at the expense of nuance. and I am not inferring that the BAL GG may not be more nuanced than the SE GG. but that is a question yet to be answered as far as how that might work in all systems.

your feedback is much appreciated.
 
Mike said:
Well, after several days, there is no doubt in my mind that the Balanced Lampi GG represents the pinnacle of Lampizator DAC's. It's quieter, sweeter on top and a slightly fuller sound than the SE version IN A BALANCED ENVIRONMENT (Pass Pre or Lampi Balanced 211's in my case). In a single ended environment (my air tight), I liked the full SE setup. Here, the Lampi GG SE was a touch sweeter.

The bottom line? If you're running a balanced setup, get the balanced. If you're running SE, stay with the SE version.

Surprises? I wasn't prepared for just how much better the Balanced Lampi GG would be over the SE Lampi GG running into my Pass XS Pre and Pass XS150's.

I can summarize it this way: the lower noise floor and additional gain of the Balanced Lampi GG allowed the DAC and the entire system to really deliver sonic excellence.

I found the best fit, for me, was the Balanced GG Lampi with the exceptional Pass XS electronics. That's not to take anything away from the Lampi 211's or AT gear, they are excellent and depending on your listening preferences, may represent nirvana. But one has to wonder, on certain albums (hard driving, punchy, dynamic albums like Hugh Masakela - HOPE), if Lampi DAC + tube preamp/amp is not just too much of a good thing.

Sometimes I like a little Ying with my Yang. [emoji39]
Click to expand...

Nice comparison, but like ML says, very tube dependent. 300b will give that bit sweeter sound, with 101ds it will be different.
 
Mike said:
Well, after several days, there is no doubt in my mind that the Balanced Lampi GG represents the pinnacle of Lampizator DAC's. It's quieter, sweeter on top and a slightly fuller sound than the SE version IN A BALANCED ENVIRONMENT (Pass Pre or Lampi Balanced 211's in my case). In a single ended environment (my air tight), I liked the full SE setup. Here, the Lampi GG SE was a touch sweeter.

The bottom line? If you're running a balanced setup, get the balanced. If you're running SE, stay with the SE version.

Surprises? I wasn't prepared for just how much better the Balanced Lampi GG would be over the SE Lampi GG running into my Pass XS Pre and Pass XS150's.

I can summarize it this way: the lower noise floor and additional gain of the Balanced Lampi GG allowed the DAC and the entire system to really deliver sonic excellence.

I found the best fit, for me, was the Balanced GG Lampi with the exceptional Pass XS electronics. That's not to take anything away from the Lampi 211's or AT gear, they are excellent and depending on your listening preferences, may represent nirvana. But one has to wonder, on certain albums (hard driving, punchy, dynamic albums like Hugh Masakela - HOPE), if Lampi DAC + tube preamp/amp is not just too much of a good thing.

Sometimes I like a little Ying with my Yang. [emoji39]
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Hi Mike,

Thanks so much for your terrific review! It is greatly appreciated. My Soulution 520 preamp's inputs are unbalanced whether they're RCA or XLR. Cyril Hammer said they could hear no difference, so they went unbalanced. However, from preamp to amps is fully balanced (XLR) with no unbalanced (RCA) connections. So with this sort of hybrid system, do you think I would reap the benefits of the balanced GG over the SE GG? I know for instance that my K-01 from its balanced outputs into my 520/501 system sounds better to my ears than into the fully balanced XP-30/XA-100.8 I used to own.

Additionally, how much heat are the 5 tubes producing compared to the 3 tubes of the SE GG?

Great job!! Thanks again!!

Ken
 
Mike said:
Mike - I tried my Replica 300b's in both. It was for only a short period because once you've tasted a perfect filet, it's hard to eat hamburger. I didn't have enough 101d's to try. The WE300b's are off the charts.
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OMG, I used the same analogy with somebody (a diplomat stationed in Gva) yesterday about a totally different topic. It was about Athletics. After the terrific World Champs in Beijing when our guys did exceptionally well, I was asked if I was going to the Weltklasse in Zurich tomorrow (the so-called 1 day Olympics) and my reply was that you dont go back to hamburger after having your fill of Kobe steak. LoL

Amazing that we thought of the same analogy!

BTW, I saw a quad of WE 300bs on Ebay and almost had a myocardial infarction! $10K for the Quad. Whoa!
 
Alpinist said:
Hi Mike,

Thanks so much for your terrific review! It is greatly appreciated. My Soulution 520 preamp's inputs are unbalanced whether they're RCA or XLR. Cyril Hammer said they could hear no difference, so they went unbalanced. However, from preamp to amps is fully balanced (XLR) with no unbalanced (RCA) connections. So with this sort of hybrid system, do you think I would reap the benefits of the balanced GG over the SE GG? I know for instance that my K-01 from its balanced outputs into my 520/501 system sounds better to my ears than into the fully balanced XP-30/XA-100.8 I used to own.

Additionally, how much heat are the 5 tubes producing compared to the 3 tubes of the SE GG?

Great job!! Thanks again!!

Ken
Click to expand...

I find the recti always the hottest in the B7.

Tube heat can easily be estimated looking at the specs...it uses a 6.8v heater, so the V differential from the tube to that times the amp gives the heat dissipation in watts. Thus 2A3 is a lot hotter than 300b and 101d. Double that for balanced.
 
bonzo said:
Nice comparison, but like ML says, very tube dependent. 300b will give that bit sweeter sound, with 101ds it will be different.
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I imagine the Replica 101ds will sound more SS than the 300B's no? I dont have 300Bs myself and I have the cheapo 101ds (ceramic) but I do have WE vintage 101ds (ST shape).

Horses for courses, as I really like the EML mesh 45.
 
wisnon said:
I imagine the Replica 101ds will sound more SS than the 300B's no? I dont have 300Bs myself and I have the cheapo 101ds (ceramic) but I do have WE vintage 101ds (ST shape).

Horses for courses, as I really like the EML mesh 45.
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Well I guess the point I want to make is they will sound different enough to have a high probability that the comparison between Pass, AT, and Lampi 211 ends with a different conclusion - I have zero experience with AT and Lampi 211, btw
 
Steve said:
I don't agree! When it comes to product safety, the manufacturer has a statutory requirement to meet. It is simple. All Lukasz needs to do is answer my earlier post. If the products have electrical safety compliance certification in the USA, Australia and the like and are labelled with an approval mark on the chassis, then there is no need to question the engineering with academics. How he makes his product is his business. Our business is to know that it is merchantable and fit for purpose.

SIMPLE QUESTION: Is the Lampizator Golden Gate and any other Lapizator product electrically certified safe to use? Yes or No?

If yes, demonstrate compliance evidence. If no, it is not merchantable because it is unsafe, so don't buy it. In Australia it would be illegal and the manufacturer/importer would be subject to recall, refund, fines and penalties.
Click to expand...

I never said the topic wasn't important. But, maybe you could show some courtesy to have this discussion in private since this is the manufacturer's forum. To suggest in his forum there is a safety issue without really knowing is unnecessary.
 
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