- Thread Author
- #321
Paul - the balanced has SE and XLR outputs.
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Lampizator Golden Gate
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
MDP
Behavior Moderator (be nice police!)
Looks great Mike!
I bet those tubes were cheap.............
I bet those tubes were cheap.............
So glad to hear it,Joe. I know I percieve my Golden Gate as a sizeable upgrade over the Big7, but I was holding my breath in hopes you'll feel the same.
I'm admittedly biased, but I don't think there's another digital source like it.
I sure don't miss my analog front end...
I'm admittedly biased, but I don't think there's another digital source like it.
I sure don't miss my analog front end...
the professor
Well-known member
Aren't you busy at the show?
Just playing with ya - besides you are probably tired of the demo by now, since you gone through it 100 times.
Just playing with ya - besides you are probably tired of the demo by now, since you gone through it 100 times.
Fred,
I am truly amazed at the difference. I can't believe there was another step up and better dac than the Big 7, but the GG is superb. Even with my Psvane 300B HiFi and fav rectifier, I am ecstatic.
Thank you Lukasz/Fred/Rob. Nothing compares to my Lampi gear.
I am truly amazed at the difference. I can't believe there was another step up and better dac than the Big 7, but the GG is superb. Even with my Psvane 300B HiFi and fav rectifier, I am ecstatic.
Thank you Lukasz/Fred/Rob. Nothing compares to my Lampi gear.
Audiophile bill
New member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2015
- Messages
- 144
Hi Joe,
Congrats on your golden gate. When you get a moment, I would really like to hear from you in more detail about the upgrade to golden gate from big 7. Also piccies!
- Thread Author
- #331
I'll hopefully have some feedback later on my Lampi journey from Big 7 -- GG SE -- GG balanced. Let's just say, the GG Balanced is "digital destination" for the tube sound lover.
There's more detail without being harsh or bright. The sound is clearer but more natural. The soundstage is bigger and wider with better separation. The GG has more air and is perfect top to bottom. Vocals are superb. There seems to be a slightly fuller bottom but more articulate. I am not even broken in yet and I think it will smooth out a little. I absolutely loved my Big 7 and did not feel I was missing anything. Just swapping in this GG gives me a permanent smile.
Mike Lavigne
Member
it seems the real question on SE GG verses Bal GG is how each works in the specific SE or Bal system.
it seems logical that a Bal GG might be optimal with a true differentially Bal all the way thru system; particularly one with a true differentially Bal Lampi amp. so how relevant to the question will switching from SE GG to Bal GG in a Bal system with Lampi amps?
but it also may be just as logical that an SE GG might have equal performance when used in a system that is optimized for SE sources.
the question and what many might wonder is whether a Bal GG will sound better in that 'SE' system than the SE GG.
is the net performance in all cases better with the Bal GG?
is there a good reason to go the Bal route for ultimate performance?
maybe feedback on this question with the Big 7 SE verses Big 7 Bal might be helpful if someone knows.
besides the initial cost difference if you are doing some quite spendy tubes it might be a lot more dollars.
FlexibleAudio
Member
Mike I have tried to address this same question and received some push back that the Lampi balanced design is somehow inherently superior to a dual mono, single-ended version even if the it is in a low noise environment and it is a dual-mono, single-ended system from front to back. As I have said I find this reasoning a tad hard to understand but am always open to learning something new. As I think about it, there are a two scenarios where I guess these improvements would be theoretically possible.
1) If the dac has such a high internal noise condition that the benefits of common mode noise reduction within the dac itself exceeds the negative effects of adding a combiner to the signal path and as such SQ will improve over the unbalanced version in the form of a lower noise floor; or
2) Upgrades to other parts of the topology in the balanced dac versus the single ended dac (besides the fact that the dac is balanced) are creating the SQ improvements being observed. In this case, the fact that the improved dac happens to be the balanced version is causing the SQ improvements to be mistakenly ascribed to the dac being balanced.
If someone can enlighten me as to how else this could be happening I am always looking to learn.
Mike,
You raise an excellent point. The balanced GG will sound better because it is paired with the balanced 211 amps. The SE GG would need to be paired with SE 211 amps for it to be a totally fair comparison.
Ken
- Thread Author
- #336
Not exactly boys. If I use my Pass XS preamp, then it's a fair comparison or at least as fair as we can get.
Paul,
I think Scenario 2 is a real possibility with the Balanced GG. With my Esoteric K-01 DAC, its balanced circuit is just plain superior to its SE circuit. As most owners run it with balanced circuits, this is where Esoteric put the most time and effort in designing. Consequently, almost nobody uses its SE circuit.
Ken
Excellent Mike! So you'll run a fully balanced Pass Labs system with the balanced GG and a fully SE Pass Labs system with the SE GG?
Ken
I have a friend and customer that received a balanced big 7 yesterday and previously owned a current gen big 7 SE and before thst a 2 box L7... Out of the box he says:
"The new DAC sounds incredible. Surpasses anything I've ever heard."
"My old b7 or level 7 never sounded like this."
"The new DAC sounds incredible. Surpasses anything I've ever heard."
"My old b7 or level 7 never sounded like this."
FlexibleAudio
Member
And I think you need the dual-mono, single-ended for an accurate comparison to true differential.