New DAC recommendation after Lampizator ?

Upsampling does not improve most music on my GG. The latest consensus among a group of Lampi power users is that it's a bandaid that is NOT needed with a proper front end Server. Upsmapling DSD is always a losing proposition and only Some PCM benefits. HQP native rate kicks butt and can easily be controlled by Roon. Roon itself is also getting better.

Every 6 months things change in this game and thats why I appreciate Lukasz keeping his stuff updated with constant improving.

The latest trinket I see from him on Facebook is a Lampisized Tascam 300 ADC that he claims give the SWEETEST vinyl drop to DSDrip he ever heard. i goota get me some of that!

https://www.facebook.com/FikusLampi...403362&notif_t=like&notif_id=1508913116394489
 
Paul said:
You are the second person went to T+A. Must be nice sounding dac.


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I have a reviewer Buddy who had one and a SGM at the same time. He was initially smitten and send back his GG gen1 for a refresh before sale to finance the SGM/Dac 8 combo. He said the PCM on the Dac 8 was "Meh", but the upsample to DSD512 was superb with the SGM ...a $20K combo.

Long story short, when the GG came back with new firmware and Superclocks...sale cancelled immediately and the prospective buyer was PISSED! Hahaha. He said the PCM was now virtually equal to the Lampi chipless DSD!

Version matter, tubes matter and with auto switching between the R2R PCM and DSD, flexibility mattered too.

You must do what is right for you, so trust your own instincts.
 
wisnon said:
Upsampling does not improve most music on my GG. The latest consensus among a group of Lampi power users is that it's a bandaid that is NOT needed with a proper front end Server. Upsmapling DSD is always a losing proposition and only Some PCM benefits. HQP native rate kicks butt and can easily be controlled by Roon. Roon itself is also getting better.

Every 6 months things change in this game and thats why I appreciate Lukasz keeping his stuff updated with constant improving.

The latest trinket I see from him on Facebook is a Lampisized Tascam 300 ADC that he claims give the SWEETEST vinyl drop to DSDrip he ever heard. i goota get me some of that!

https://www.facebook.com/FikusLampi...403362&notif_t=like&notif_id=1508913116394489
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Agree with upsampling always found the results negative ....
 
a.wayne said:
Agree with upsampling always found the results negative ....
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Agreed - and it's no different, IMO, at the Mastering level. If the master is 24/96, the 24/192 usually sounds worse. Leave it the heck alone. It's nothing but a money grab for HD Tracks and others. Another reason I love MQA. No post Mastering upsampling BS.


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Mike said:
Agreed - and it's no different, IMO, at the Mastering level. If the master is 24/96, the 24/192 usually sounds worse. Leave it the heck alone. It's nothing but a money grab for HD Tracks and others. Another reason I love MQA. No post Mastering upsampling BS.


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+2

Upsampling in my opinion has always degraded the sound in every system and with every DAC I’ve ever owned. I’ve done exhaustive comparisons. At times there has appeared to be a bit more detail but the midrange almost always became thinner and the treble more edgy. I always play at the native sampling rate now.

Ken
 
wisnon said:
Upsampling does not improve most music on my GG. The latest consensus among a group of Lampi power users is that it's a bandaid that is NOT needed with a proper front end Server. Upsmapling DSD is always a losing proposition and only Some PCM benefits. HQP native rate kicks butt and can easily be controlled by Roon. Roon itself is also getting better.
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So are the power users now saying that 512 DSD is no longer needed? Why bother paying for it if it does not provide any benefit.
 
shadowlight said:
So are the power users now saying that 512 DSD is no longer needed? Why bother paying for it if it does not provide any benefit.
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For the record, I’ve never owned Lampi or upsampled to DSD 512. I primarily listen to PCM. So your results could most definitely vary!!!

Best,
Ken
 
Right now it connected directly to the DAC (with a ifi power inbetween). I will be setting up a control computer this week to see how that sounds.
 
shadowlight said:
So are the power users now saying that 512 DSD is no longer needed? Why bother paying for it if it does not provide any benefit.
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Cause the 512 engine sounds better at EVERY native rate than the 256 engine!

Also, not what I said, upsampling (using the best in class HQP) does NOt help every song. Clearly it does help some, but not all and perhaps not even the majority.
 
Alpinist said:
+2

Upsampling in my opinion has always degraded the sound in every system and with every DAC I’ve ever owned. I’ve done exhaustive comparisons. At times there has appeared to be a bit more detail but the midrange almost always became thinner and the treble more edgy. I always play at the native sampling rate now.

Ken
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It dépends on which algorithms you use, the source material and the filter selection. JRiver cant compare to HQP. Even when using HQP, you need to figure out the right filters to use from a huge selection permutation.
 
the major benefits of upsampling in the s/w is its more flexible and easily up-gradable - you don't need a h/w update to get to the next level of modulators/filters algo. One of the reason why FPGA based DACs, like PS Audio are still able to deliver significant improvements over time just FREE of cost. I agree that some DACs doesn't benefit from upsampling but not ALL. There are possibly pros and cons to both approach and IMO its mostly DAC dependent.
 
wisnon said:
It dépends on which algorithms you use, the source material and the filter selection. JRiver cant compare to HQP. Even when using HQP, you need to figure out the right filters to use from a huge selection permutation.
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Sounds complicated , Digital adjusting of VTA and VTF .... :)
 
Alpinist said:
+2

Upsampling in my opinion has always degraded the sound in every system and with every DAC I’ve ever owned. I’ve done exhaustive comparisons. At times there has appeared to be a bit more detail but the midrange almost always became thinner and the treble more edgy. I always play at the native sampling rate now.

Ken
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Hi Ken,

Agree. My experience matches yours. Playing at the native sampling rate has sounded better with the better DACs.


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cmarin said:
Hi Ken,

Agree. My experience matches yours. Playing at the native sampling rate has sounded better with the better DACs.


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In general true.

There are exceptions though, for some songs. Never good for DSD to DSD.
 
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