View Full Version : Lampizator Level 7
Have another pic:) Note XiangSheng in front of the monoblock.
I still love it. It is my "reality reset" DAC, meaning I return to it just to see how it compares with the Lampi. Stops me getting carried away.
While a Lampi is fun it is an expensive toy, especially considering that the price of even just those RK 300Bs is 11 times the price of the Xiang.
Sobering thought and it shows just how great the Xiang VFM is.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180624/6908cfdfeec12bd7516fc7ec9be62ea3.jpg
yup, ive not been tempted to change mine.
Were you at Cranage the day before or something?
Yes, yesterday.
KR makes great sounding valves.
Have a pair of their Balloon 300Bs in my SET power amp, and they don't give anything away to the Elrogs I had in there before.
Great looking system, bravo.
KR makes great sounding valves.
Have a pair of their Balloon 300Bs in my SET power amp, and they don't give anything away to the Elrogs I had in there before.
Great looking system, bravo.
They are good.
With the DAC in its current configuration, the PX4 is actually not as good as the other KR offerings. In fact, I would rank all the other valves in the last valve pic above it. Reading my last PX4 post, I think I over-hyped it. I'm fessing up to my inner "judge" here.
The KR 242 is very popular among Lampi owners, and now works in the DAC's current configuration, which has had it's output level dropped. However, it is still an extremely high gain option, and 9 o'clock on the volume control is about the same as 11:30 with, say, the KR 300B RK, according to my DB meter. 6 o'clock is zero volume.
It is fine using my Air Tight passive, which has super fine volume control. However, I still prefer it with the active preamp, so I have ordered some Rothwell attenuators for use with it.
The PX25 is also high gain, though not quite so high as the 242. Of all of the recent batch, the PX25 is my least fave, but it is still good. Definitely better than the PX4.
Whilst I mentioned the EML Special 45 in my earlier post on the PX4, it is in fact quite superior to the PX4 in the current set up. And far better than I remember an EML solid plate 45 as being. It has a really sweet, delicate mid range, presenting detail in an almost delightful fashion. But the bass is still very good, as is the soundstage. The problem is it really was a limited edition. I had given up on EML a bit, but this really is good. If available new I would definitely buy it. Word is it isn't going to happen. Shame - it should be in every self-respecting Lampi owner's arsenal if it gives the same result I am hearing now.
The Special 45 isn't necessarily the best, but it offers a flavour that is up there with the very best.
More later, especially when I have had more time with the replacement RK 300Bs and the attenuated 242.
The Rothwell ttenuated 242 didn't really work. You're better off not using the attenuators at all, it would appear, for this particular case. They just seemed to strip the life out of the sound.
However, the KR 242, KR PX25 and Lampi Anniv 45 are now gone since the owner came round for a listening session, and I let him have my KR RK 300B for a while. I also gave him a brand spanking NOS Chatham 5R4WGA rectifier. An incredible beast of a rectifier used in B52s and rated up to 60,000 feet and 900G. 900G FFS?? WTF? Seemed only fair to give him that and the KR RKs.
So, here is some capacitor porn:
https://kgbatw.db.files.1drv.com/y4mNGyYH9b6XavD9_ydTLlxxrU66MfN-Bgxo8-Woj36_aNF2CCYc97-KbpDGOKAgb7x4i0aTlsMgCGGIkwb3bpqZs5mncoGkBmjTLgKvy gl_B5VG4NHGdrgrcWNlkS5knD7uAUefzXRH0nWt6MLdFmHvlC8 y3hZs3ebpTS1zbqivUOeXUgOgCuWHDaBsUAloCHc8rVo-J0y3Ho9N-3vnNWzyQ?width=4608&height=2304&cropmode=none
I have my preamp set up so you can switch between the Jupiter and Dueland output capacitors at will via the remote and flick over fairly quickly to the Xiang by changing the optical input.
The difference in caps is subtle. Quick flicks (5 seconds on each) and you can't hear much difference. But when you listen to entire tracks you most definitely can.
The Jupiters are warmer and more relaxed and confident. Duelands are more accurate, but less warm and confident. But it isn't a fair comparison as the Duelands are 4.5 times less capacitance than the Jupiter.
Then again that cap rating in Dueland wouldn't fit in the box and would cost a fortune.
They are both copper foil paper and wax caps and so they shouldn't be expected to sound too different, I suppose, but generally these caps do tend to get reviews that suggest they are about the best going commercially.
Might swap out the Duelands at some stage for something else. Having two outputs is interesting and adds that little bit extra to an already super flexible DAC.
Justin,
out of interest where did you get the white base KR 300Bs?
I wanted a set of those to rellace the Elrogs I had in before, but was told the improved white base ones were for the American market only and were unavailable.
Black base standard 300Bs sound great but if my next set could be the better ones....
anubisgrau
23-07-2018, 07:45
these lampi top level products freaks me out - i have amber II and i just can't imagine digital sounding much better than that.
Justin,
out of interest where did you get the white base KR 300Bs?
I wanted a set of those to rellace the Elrogs I had in before, but was told the improved white base ones were for the American market only and were unavailable.
Black base standard 300Bs sound great but if my next set could be the better ones....
From Frank at Best300B. Frank is actually Lucasz Fikus's brother. They were quick to send them out.
I forgot to mention the chap that owns the KR 242, PX25 and Lamp Anniversary 45s also came round with a KR white base 5U4G rectifier (not the RK version).
In our opinion, the Chatham rectifier provided a better sound than the KR 5U4G. I am not surprised by this. The Chatham is a beast of a mil spec rectifier made to incredible standards.
I won a FIVRE 5U4G recitifer on ebay that should be here soon. It was a lowball bid I really wasn't expecting to win it! FIVRE have a good rep, so it should be interesting.
I have ordered some CMC Teflon UX4 sockets, and some WBT Ag Topline RCA sockets, which should go in soon. Not expecting much change in sound but I have just decided to keep dumping really high grade stuff into this DAC, because, well, why not?
So my valve ranking head reckons the best available valves in this iteration of the DAC are the KR 300B RK and Lampi Anniversary 45. The KR RK has a strong sound especially when it come to bass. But its mids and highs are nice too. It is supremely detailed but not quite as sweet as the Anniversary.
The classical music man who lent me the valves reckoned PX25 was best on classical and I'd have to agree it was, even though I don't listen to it. Just seemed to work really well with strings.
I am asking JAC Music what the difference between the EML Mesh 45 and Lampi Anniversary is because internally it looks identical. Just the sockets and globe shape glass appear to be the only visible differences (apart from screen print).
I am also interested in the EML AD1 - an implementation of the Telefunken AD1. But that would need an AD1 to UX4 socket converter which are available on ebay. Original AD1 are so expensive as to not be realistic, though I'd love a pair.
these lampi top level products freaks me out - i have amber II and i just can't imagine digital sounding much better than that.
It's just one of the first Big 7s, given a circuit change by Lampi recently following their recent discoveries, plus my idea of running dual output caps. Since they were never PCB based they are more flexible, so you can basically mess around with them, which is what I am doing. It is proving to be well worth it. It really is a lot better than it was.
Next up are the transformers. I reckon there's better out there.
I know you might not want to, but have you tried a really good mains cable on it?
I know you might not want to, but have you tried a really good mains cable on it?
Yes Trist. I was deaf to it. It was more than a couple of years ago. Some crazy thick thing with Nordost connectors that cost a lot. Owned by the chap that lent me the valves.
Justin,
out of interest where did you get the white base KR 300Bs?
I wanted a set of those to rellace the Elrogs I had in before, but was told the improved white base ones were for the American market only and were unavailable.
Black base standard 300Bs sound great but if my next set could be the better ones....
The Tak (https://www.takatsuki-denki.co.jp/en/products/ta-300b.html)is supposed to be awesome. Then there's the WE's supposedly available soon...
The RKs are best described as having a strong, dynamic sound but still with a nice, clear mid range and very good quality highs. It does a lot right, and very little wrong. No romance available with it, due mainly to very low levels of perceived colouration. But there is some. It's a valve. It has a personality. As they all do.
Ah, fair enough. Worth trying.
Foo has arrived.
CMC Teflon sockets form a super tight grip on the pins. WBT nice but the price is surely a piss take.
£221 for that little lot. I am probably a bit mad. Or very sensible. Paying for this level of gear in a GG2 costs a lot more.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180808/6bdd7dda4efbffab37b83d81807e07fe.jpg
Manged to track down a new pair of EML 45 Mesh Globes. They won't have the Lampizator Anniversary branding, but they are the same valves. Can't do without them. They are too good. They have to be owned.
Also, I'm am having a special pair of EML's copy of the Telefunken AD1 made up with UX4 bases.
https://blog-001.west.edge.storage-yahoo.jp/res/blog-e7-4a/musicinforest/folder/1125986/75/18869275/img_0?122580626
EML AD1 (http://www.emissionlabs.com/datasheets/EML-AD1.htm)
After they arrive late September, no more valve purchases for a long while. I'll let Tom (Montesquieu) have a listen to it as his place after that for a couple of weeks or so, if he promises to bring it back. A couple of hours simply isn't enough to get to grips with it. A couple of weeks isn't really but it is long enough to get a good idea.
By my reckoning, he'll have some of the best triodes on the planet to listen to. Nice treat.
EML globe mesh 45s have arrived.
They are sounding stunning straight out of the box.
So glad I managed to get a pair. Absolutely worth the money. Seriously, seriously good.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180815/b37f7c21e49373ec0bdda4916e73d883.jpg
I can't listen to cheap valves. Once you've had good ones it's impossible to go back.
Pics first text later.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180914/620c1d77ef3870b76a06c5f068be3657.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180914/c50d907d7533b18908c58a818e097cdc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180914/948c7410ef245e8f2f41f450b7b8f76f.jpg
Hi-Fi Collective is dangerous. It makes me want to fill all my equipment with the most expensive foo.
As a testament to that, we ended up using these valve sockets in the end: https://www.hificollective.co.uk/content/audio-note-ux4-chassis-mount-silver-plated-base.html as the CMC's weren't such a great fit for the bracket in the DAC.
Since I had the output stage output level dropped, which was done by Lampizator with what looked like Takman resistors, I thought why mess around and had these put in instead: https://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/audionote-2w-silver-tantalum-resistors.html
As you can see the WBTs have been fitted as well.
This post is an unashamed plug for Andy at Amploft (http://amploft.co.uk/blog/), who has made a bloody nice job of putting those resistors in, and the rest of the kit. Better work than Lampizator, I would say.
Whilst Andy does guitar amps, he also does valve based hi-fi. A bod, a dude, even. Does the job, doesn't mess around, gives sound advice. He now has a Hi-Fi Collective account, so if you want some foo fitted, try Andy!:)
DAC now sounds suspiciously better than before. Maybe;)
The FIVRE rectifier mentioned earlier. Quite nice.
The Chatham potato masher is still my favourite, though.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180914/c3da8c395e18afdfe24933285d7c458b.jpg
Er.. mistake - it is Mike and Amploft, not Andy.
Emission Labs AD1.
I am the only person in the world running these with UX4 bases in a Lampizator DAC. Specially made pour moi.
And they are very, very good indeed, I am relieved to say.
Still evaluating... more for the record later.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181005/cad1d29526c58398864eb6e7cef45281.jpg
Well a lot later and the EML AD1 is indeed an excellent sounding triode. With a caveat. It suffers from microphony. In fact all EML and KR valves do to a varying extent.
Enter the Tesla AD1. Tesla Vrsovice has always produced some of the best sounding valves and they are my fave manufacturer of said devices.
This make no mistake a rare valve and it uses the same base as the original Telefunken AD1.
Super low microphony. Excellent sound quality. Definitely better than the EML. The best Lampi triode in my large collection. No question. I have had them a while now and they are definitely ahead of anything else I have.
I have three pairs of these. The valve tester Firebottle got going for me has checked them out and two pairs are beautifully matched and measure as per spec and stronger than spec. The other pair is perfectly usable and sound fine.
Production dates late 40s/early 50s for the two best pairs.
The DAC itself is at Firebottle's for assessment of the power supply. The toroids went noisy, basically. Long story don't ask why Lampizator aren't handling it. Alan will manage to put something very decent in there I am sure.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200206/11f21d637fa06af1f0a12ce714243cc9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200206/6c1f77deb12f37f11464aa0d1ad667ce.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200206/8ba45bb8b3a7ea62cfdc6978274743ca.jpg
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