Yes, its $109 at Amazon for 35ft cable. It works well with the original Regen green, but the next evolution (Regen amber) apparently doesnt need it anymore as with the inclusion of some resistors to ground (>3ohms in the PCB itself). According to Uptone the former benefits of the Corning cable are now heard with any decent normal USB cable feeding the Regen (amber). Us early adopters will get a chance to buy the upgraded amber board for $45 to excahnge with the green board.
Lampizator Golden Gate
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
Yes, its $109 at Amazon for 35ft cable. It works well with the original Regen green, but the next evolution (Regen amber) apparently doesnt need it anymore as with the inclusion of some resistors to ground (>3ohms in the PCB itself). According to Uptone the former benefits of the Corning cable are now heard with any decent normal USB cable feeding the Regen (amber). Us early adopters will get a chance to buy the upgraded amber board for $45 to excahnge with the green board.
No, the story is that the NEW REGEN, from next shipment on is modified to have the Corning benefit from most any decent cable. the cable Uptone provide is very short and meant to be used to join Regen to the dac where flexibility is needed due to spacial limitations. They prefer you to use the solid adaptor though. You still need a USB cable from source to Regen.
Its fine enough. The failures seem to be from a bad batch in Europe.
- Thread Author
- #144
Really enjoying this tube compliment:
Emission Labs Anniversary Globes
Psvane Replica 274B rectifier
Also in the system for the first time is the Aurender N100H. Sounding wonderful and I LOVE the app.
As I remember, the Aurender is limited to DSD 128fs and doesn't handle DSD 256fs files. Is that still the case?
My understanding of the music server market is you need to go with the DigiBit Aria to get DSD 256fs and Multichannel DSD support.
The other limitation is that the music servers don't typically feature upsampling.
Maybe in future editions?
- Thread Author
- #146
That could be true, I haven't checked the specs. But it's important to keep things in perspective. There just isn't enough DSD256 or multichannel DSD albums to worry about.
There's more Multichannel DSD (over 700 albums) than DSD 256 downloads (over 20 albums) at the moment. But it's nice to have both supported - especially in light of the pricing of these servers.
Hopefully more vendors will follow Aria's lead in doing both.
Mike,
This is one sweet music server and DAC combo. How is it sounding so far? I heard your GG on AVShowrooms and it sounded absolutely terrific! Are you still planning to change your GG to balanced from SE to go with your Lampi amps? I suppose I would have the option of running SE or balanced with my Soulution 520 preamp.
Best,
Ken
This is one sweet music server and DAC combo. How is it sounding so far? I heard your GG on AVShowrooms and it sounded absolutely terrific! Are you still planning to change your GG to balanced from SE to go with your Lampi amps? I suppose I would have the option of running SE or balanced with my Soulution 520 preamp.
Best,
Ken
The globes are very good , best 45 I have heard or own. More meat than the bottle head 45. It's shame there is no way to buy them. I was lucky to have three pairs of my own. My new favorite is the elrog 300 B. That recti I plan to own soon too. Glad ypur rolling Along .
Enjoy
Enjoy
- Thread Author
- #152
I have some Elrog 300b's (and 211's) coming. But they are quite delayed.
New GG write up from Axpona!
Impressions: AXPONA 2015
The Lampizator/Lamm Audio/Vapor Audio/VH Audio/Verastarr
room
Old friends are good friends. This was another room that offered
great new surprises, but it did so on the foundation of an excellent old friend,
Lamm Audio. The presence of the Lamm ML 2.1 Signature Preamplifier and
(especially) a pair of the ML 1.2 Reference Monoblocks made the output
electronics a deeply familiar zone for me. I had reviewed a pair of the 1.2's a
good while back for Positive Feedback (see Issue 34),
owned a pair of the 1.2's for years, and have reviewed a couple of different
Lamm preamps and phono amps. Viktor does very fine work, and his preamps and
amps always make great music. Like I said, an excellent foundation.
The room list:
Lamm Audio ML 2.1 Signature Preamplifier, $16,000
Lamm Audio ML 1.2 Reference Monoblock Amplifiers, $27,000 per
pair
Lampizator Golden Gate DSD DAC, $17,600
Vapor Audio Perfect Storm Loudspeakers, $26,995
Vapor Audio Rack System, $6,500
Antipodes DX Reference Music Server, $7,500
VH Audio Plasmatron 3 power conditioner, $3,999
Verastarr 1.5 meter Grand Illusion Statement Power Cord,
$3,899
Verastarr 1 meter Reference USB Cable, $799
Verastarr 3 meter Grand Illusion Signature Speaker Cables,
$4,999
Verastarr 1 meter Grand Illusion Signature RCA Cable,
$1,599
Most of this was new to me; only the Lamm gear was well known. The
thing that really caught my eye and ear, though, was the new reference DAC on
bold display: the Lampizator Golden Gate DSD DAC with volume control. My
Associate Editor Brian Moura, a DSD specialist like me, has been covering
Lampizator with raves over the past year, and had strongly encouraged me to make
the connection while at AXPONA. Given the regard that I have for his take on
things audio, I made sure that I did so.
And I'm delighted that I did.
Certainly the rest of the system sounded very well while I was there,
and filled the rather large Higgins Room fully with quite satisfying music. The
Lamm ML 1.2 monoblocks are 110 WPC, but they are definitely quite beefy Watts,
and the Vapor Audio Perfect Storm Loudspeakers certainly sat right up and paid
attention to the quality signal that the Lamm system was passing.
But the source feed via server (PCM) and notebook computer (some
sample Double DSD recordings) to the Lampizator Golden Gate really lit up
the room. Capable of up to Quad DSD (and high-rate PCM) playback, and outfitted
with no-holds-barred components at all stages of design execution, the Golden
Gate DAC represents a unique and highly artisanal assault upon the challenges of
DSD. Theoretically DSD can be done in the analog domain, without recourse to a
DAC chip or even a FPGA array. Lampizator has now done this. What has been done
is to take their already splendid Big 7 DAC, and outfit it with the best at all
stages. According to Lampizator's Web site, this
includes the following elements that were requested by their customers in a
survey for the Golden Gate:
1. Silver WBT solder used throughout
2. Furutech IEC inlet AC socket
3. WBT gold/silver RCA output sockets
4. Furutech RCA digital input
5. ATOM Vishay first capacitor after the tube
6. Mundorf M-Lytic HV electrolytes in second stage of PSU
7. Mundorf Foil MKP capacitors in third stage of power supply just
before the tube anode
8. Metal-Film laser cut resistor MLT in Anode Load
9. Teflon sockets for all 3 tubes
10. Output capacitors are the huge Jupiter-Copper 1uF caps, bypassed
by Duelund Pure Silver caps. Yes, a hybrid, best of both worlds, supposedly
beating even pure silver one-cap solution.
11. All wiring is 26 GA stranded silver in Teflon
12. Rectifier tube is Emission Labs monstrous Mesh Plate
5U4G
13. Music Tubes are Western Electric Replica 101D / Metal base
Psvane
14. Digital input SPDIF capacitor is Jupiter Wax Copper
100nF
15. Packing in a special customized stage case
16. Chassis/box is made of pure copper stamped and powder
clear-coated for 100 years of immaculate shine. Copper provides also head
dissipation and the best EM shielding possible.
17. A set of ceramic/steel roller-block feet supports the
DAC
Quite a remarkable list!
At last I was able to hear the full glory of what Lukasz Fikus and
team have developed over in Poland, with their use of analog filters and tubed
output for DSD. Eschewing digital DACs, Lampizator is attempting that very
thing: To tackle DSD without digital chips.
The results were simply extraordinary. Even though we had to settle
for Double DSD recordings from Lukasz's own Apple notebook, and even though I
must make allowances for show conditions and very unfamiliar speaker and cables,
the quality of the sound that I heard was as good as I've ever heard Double DSD
sound…and I've heard a lot of it.
To say that the Lampizator Golden Gate is "really good" would be a
sin of terrible understatement. It was simply superb.
Fred Ainsley (left) of Lampizator North America and Lukasz Fikas of
Lampizator with the Lampizator Golden Gate DSD DAC
I got to talk with Lukasz and Fred briefly after our listening.
Lukasz is a very intelligent designer with a deep commitment to great tube
designs, but also a person who has come to a real conviction about the
excellence that DSD has to offer audiophiles everywhere. It was a pleasure to
talk with him, though our time was necessarily limited by show circumstances and
various interruptions. If you would like to read a recent PF interview
with Lukasz Fikus by Brian Moura, check out Issue 74.
It will give you a sense of the man.
The good news is that Lukasz and Fred have agreed to ship me a
Lampizator Golden Gate within the next few weeks. I'll have an opportunity to
hear the GG in the intimately-known confines of our reference listening room
here at PF Central. Then things will certainly get very
intriguing!
But there's no gainsaying the fact that one of my Audio Oasis! Awards
belongs to the companies in this room.
So let it be written; so let it be done.
Impressions: AXPONA 2015
The Lampizator/Lamm Audio/Vapor Audio/VH Audio/Verastarr
room
Old friends are good friends. This was another room that offered
great new surprises, but it did so on the foundation of an excellent old friend,
Lamm Audio. The presence of the Lamm ML 2.1 Signature Preamplifier and
(especially) a pair of the ML 1.2 Reference Monoblocks made the output
electronics a deeply familiar zone for me. I had reviewed a pair of the 1.2's a
good while back for Positive Feedback (see Issue 34),
owned a pair of the 1.2's for years, and have reviewed a couple of different
Lamm preamps and phono amps. Viktor does very fine work, and his preamps and
amps always make great music. Like I said, an excellent foundation.
The room list:
Lamm Audio ML 2.1 Signature Preamplifier, $16,000
Lamm Audio ML 1.2 Reference Monoblock Amplifiers, $27,000 per
pair
Lampizator Golden Gate DSD DAC, $17,600
Vapor Audio Perfect Storm Loudspeakers, $26,995
Vapor Audio Rack System, $6,500
Antipodes DX Reference Music Server, $7,500
VH Audio Plasmatron 3 power conditioner, $3,999
Verastarr 1.5 meter Grand Illusion Statement Power Cord,
$3,899
Verastarr 1 meter Reference USB Cable, $799
Verastarr 3 meter Grand Illusion Signature Speaker Cables,
$4,999
Verastarr 1 meter Grand Illusion Signature RCA Cable,
$1,599
Most of this was new to me; only the Lamm gear was well known. The
thing that really caught my eye and ear, though, was the new reference DAC on
bold display: the Lampizator Golden Gate DSD DAC with volume control. My
Associate Editor Brian Moura, a DSD specialist like me, has been covering
Lampizator with raves over the past year, and had strongly encouraged me to make
the connection while at AXPONA. Given the regard that I have for his take on
things audio, I made sure that I did so.
And I'm delighted that I did.
Certainly the rest of the system sounded very well while I was there,
and filled the rather large Higgins Room fully with quite satisfying music. The
Lamm ML 1.2 monoblocks are 110 WPC, but they are definitely quite beefy Watts,
and the Vapor Audio Perfect Storm Loudspeakers certainly sat right up and paid
attention to the quality signal that the Lamm system was passing.
But the source feed via server (PCM) and notebook computer (some
sample Double DSD recordings) to the Lampizator Golden Gate really lit up
the room. Capable of up to Quad DSD (and high-rate PCM) playback, and outfitted
with no-holds-barred components at all stages of design execution, the Golden
Gate DAC represents a unique and highly artisanal assault upon the challenges of
DSD. Theoretically DSD can be done in the analog domain, without recourse to a
DAC chip or even a FPGA array. Lampizator has now done this. What has been done
is to take their already splendid Big 7 DAC, and outfit it with the best at all
stages. According to Lampizator's Web site, this
includes the following elements that were requested by their customers in a
survey for the Golden Gate:
1. Silver WBT solder used throughout
2. Furutech IEC inlet AC socket
3. WBT gold/silver RCA output sockets
4. Furutech RCA digital input
5. ATOM Vishay first capacitor after the tube
6. Mundorf M-Lytic HV electrolytes in second stage of PSU
7. Mundorf Foil MKP capacitors in third stage of power supply just
before the tube anode
8. Metal-Film laser cut resistor MLT in Anode Load
9. Teflon sockets for all 3 tubes
10. Output capacitors are the huge Jupiter-Copper 1uF caps, bypassed
by Duelund Pure Silver caps. Yes, a hybrid, best of both worlds, supposedly
beating even pure silver one-cap solution.
11. All wiring is 26 GA stranded silver in Teflon
12. Rectifier tube is Emission Labs monstrous Mesh Plate
5U4G
13. Music Tubes are Western Electric Replica 101D / Metal base
Psvane
14. Digital input SPDIF capacitor is Jupiter Wax Copper
100nF
15. Packing in a special customized stage case
16. Chassis/box is made of pure copper stamped and powder
clear-coated for 100 years of immaculate shine. Copper provides also head
dissipation and the best EM shielding possible.
17. A set of ceramic/steel roller-block feet supports the
DAC
Quite a remarkable list!
At last I was able to hear the full glory of what Lukasz Fikus and
team have developed over in Poland, with their use of analog filters and tubed
output for DSD. Eschewing digital DACs, Lampizator is attempting that very
thing: To tackle DSD without digital chips.
The results were simply extraordinary. Even though we had to settle
for Double DSD recordings from Lukasz's own Apple notebook, and even though I
must make allowances for show conditions and very unfamiliar speaker and cables,
the quality of the sound that I heard was as good as I've ever heard Double DSD
sound…and I've heard a lot of it.
To say that the Lampizator Golden Gate is "really good" would be a
sin of terrible understatement. It was simply superb.
Fred Ainsley (left) of Lampizator North America and Lukasz Fikas of
Lampizator with the Lampizator Golden Gate DSD DAC
I got to talk with Lukasz and Fred briefly after our listening.
Lukasz is a very intelligent designer with a deep commitment to great tube
designs, but also a person who has come to a real conviction about the
excellence that DSD has to offer audiophiles everywhere. It was a pleasure to
talk with him, though our time was necessarily limited by show circumstances and
various interruptions. If you would like to read a recent PF interview
with Lukasz Fikus by Brian Moura, check out Issue 74.
It will give you a sense of the man.
The good news is that Lukasz and Fred have agreed to ship me a
Lampizator Golden Gate within the next few weeks. I'll have an opportunity to
hear the GG in the intimately-known confines of our reference listening room
here at PF Central. Then things will certainly get very
intriguing!
But there's no gainsaying the fact that one of my Audio Oasis! Awards
belongs to the companies in this room.
So let it be written; so let it be done.
- Thread Author
- #156
Norman - first a shout out to the Lamm 1.2's. DAMN good - as always. Second, the Vapor audio speakers were sounding big as usual. Third, the Lampi GG, uhh...should I say, my Lampi GG was the star of the show - and the scary thing was it wasn't even broken in nor optimized with the best of the best tubes.
My Elrog 300b's shipped today, so I'm anxious to try those with the EML Rectifier. Should be a good combo...not sure it will beat the EML Anniversary Globes w/Psvane Replica 274B though. That is sweet, smooth and not lacking any detail.
I know audio memory is very fickle, but I would venture a guess that with this tube combo and the Aurender N100H providing the sweet music, the Lampi PCM now is on par with the best I've heard....and you already know about the DSD....it sounds like nothing else digital, period.
I guess the 64 million dollar question everyone wants to know is whether the GG is better than the Big 7. I would cautiously say "yes", but we are certainly not talking major incremental improvements. I would venture to guess that the all silver wiring (once broken in) gives you a tiny bit more overall smoothness without losing any details.
I did a bit of a sp cable shootout yesterday (Kimber Select vs WW Platinum vs Siltech Royal Signature) and found the Siltech Royal Signature complemented the GG beauuuuutifully!
My Elrog 300b's shipped today, so I'm anxious to try those with the EML Rectifier. Should be a good combo...not sure it will beat the EML Anniversary Globes w/Psvane Replica 274B though. That is sweet, smooth and not lacking any detail.
I know audio memory is very fickle, but I would venture a guess that with this tube combo and the Aurender N100H providing the sweet music, the Lampi PCM now is on par with the best I've heard....and you already know about the DSD....it sounds like nothing else digital, period.
I guess the 64 million dollar question everyone wants to know is whether the GG is better than the Big 7. I would cautiously say "yes", but we are certainly not talking major incremental improvements. I would venture to guess that the all silver wiring (once broken in) gives you a tiny bit more overall smoothness without losing any details.
I did a bit of a sp cable shootout yesterday (Kimber Select vs WW Platinum vs Siltech Royal Signature) and found the Siltech Royal Signature complemented the GG beauuuuutifully!
Let me start by saying the picture of YOUR GG is sublime. Real Dac envy, and I LOVE the look of my B7, but the GG is that much more of a looker. The first GG in Holand had a provisional casing that was not as good as yours (and will be replaced with the production version you have).
Then, as to whether the GG is better, that can only be answered starting now, as NO GG was old enuff to be broken in and thus compared to the months old B7s all around the world. Hell, even Lukasz cant keep them long enough to know. What I do know is that it's the same circuit, but with Gucci parts and better chassis (tastefully implemented copper with great EMI shielding), so the improvements should show up in time. The parts upgrade alone will ensure that, plus the copper case…its a slam dung. Whether its that much better in SQ to justify the price increase is the eternal question, but just based on looks, supplied stock tubes and default DSD256…I would say YES to those who can afford it…especially those with Kondo gear!
Yes, I know that the PCM would grow on you, as it takes longer to break in. If the DSD also improves on break-in, it will be scary. Just wait till you get the Regen, you may need Pampers. LoL
I am not even sure that USB cable differences will matter that much, though it still may.
Finally, I am not sure what your fav tube set will be, but you are ceertainly playing in the right neighborhood. Those you are getting and what you already have are already forum favourites and I trust you read the diatribe from Greg at ACircle…he has written some great reviews ion tubes there, plus he created a Facebook page called Lampizator Big 7 tube rollers group with even more feedback: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LampizatOr-BIG-7-tube-rollers-group/1527145964228079
AL and SFox also made lots of evaluations of tubes at ACircle and when I spoke with AL today, his endgame is now a Golden Gate HeadDac! Again, he wants to be the pioneer there.
Then, as to whether the GG is better, that can only be answered starting now, as NO GG was old enuff to be broken in and thus compared to the months old B7s all around the world. Hell, even Lukasz cant keep them long enough to know. What I do know is that it's the same circuit, but with Gucci parts and better chassis (tastefully implemented copper with great EMI shielding), so the improvements should show up in time. The parts upgrade alone will ensure that, plus the copper case…its a slam dung. Whether its that much better in SQ to justify the price increase is the eternal question, but just based on looks, supplied stock tubes and default DSD256…I would say YES to those who can afford it…especially those with Kondo gear!
Yes, I know that the PCM would grow on you, as it takes longer to break in. If the DSD also improves on break-in, it will be scary. Just wait till you get the Regen, you may need Pampers. LoL
I am not even sure that USB cable differences will matter that much, though it still may.
Finally, I am not sure what your fav tube set will be, but you are ceertainly playing in the right neighborhood. Those you are getting and what you already have are already forum favourites and I trust you read the diatribe from Greg at ACircle…he has written some great reviews ion tubes there, plus he created a Facebook page called Lampizator Big 7 tube rollers group with even more feedback: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LampizatOr-BIG-7-tube-rollers-group/1527145964228079
AL and SFox also made lots of evaluations of tubes at ACircle and when I spoke with AL today, his endgame is now a Golden Gate HeadDac! Again, he wants to be the pioneer there.
From facebook today (UK).
LampizatOr BIG 7 tube rollers groupHi Michał. Yes ,I do. I was expecting more or less different voicing due to different parts selection and and obvious improvements coming from that, but it is much more. Straight out of the box it is much better DAC. In fact ,the best I ever heard in my life(already told this to Lukasz today). Knowing how long time it takes to settle for Mundorf caps which are now living there in GG guts I am expecting this machine to be fully settled after 3 months or so. Seriously. After first 48 hours it did open up and it still keeps going up.Last Saturday in customers place we did some tube rolling between Psvane WE 101D replicas and EML valves, but as Goldie Girl was so responsive and musically involving and revealing that we decided SHE deserves full Monty and I put one of my original WE 101D pairs in. Once we did it (around 10pm) , the bake off did last till 2:30 am as no one wanted to leave earlier. For quickest description I would say this machine has an insane ability to bring a real image of the event out of your speakers(once your system is capable to show such a differences). It also makes all manipulations made to the mix immediately audible, showing unnatural volume, size or position of the particular voice / instrument when it's wrong.
Like · Reply · 22 hrs
- Michał Walerjan Out of the box do you hear any difference vs Big 7 or does it come up in time?
Robert StanleyHi Michael, so it's my GG DAC. I've owned a Lampi L4 for some time (recently sold only to help finance the GG), and Greg was kind enough to lend me a Big 6 whilst my GG was built by Lucasz. I've heard L5, B6 and L7 at home. Straight away the GG is special even compared to the other models, none of which are poor smile emoticon. It's improved since (only got it this Friday). It's very special imo, and I haven't heard it's native DSD yet, just PCM.
Like · 21 hrs · Edited
Michał Walerjan Hi Robert, congrats on your choice, I am tepted to do thesame. I currently have 2 box Level 7 with V-Cap caps and it sounds really damn good. I have 101D replicas and EML mesh as two sets that I swap from time to time... I actually also have a problem with space for GG... It is to deep for me. About 2 box sollution I really like the idea. To be honest I want not to want it wink emoticon
Like · 21 hrs
Mike,
I have a question for you. Does the Lampi GG have the same dimensions as the Lampi B7? I'm planning my new audio rack to be 20 inches deep and I just want to make sure this is sufficient.
Thanks so much,
Ken
- Thread Author
- #160
Yes. It's a big mamby jamby.