Lampizator Owners & Discussion Thread

[Gryffles]

Welcome to the Lampizator Owners Thread. 
The place to discuss all things Lampizator!

 

To get things started I’m wanting to hear from folks who are using a Lampizator dac with volume control and no external preamp. 

 

Of course I can find many opinions on various forums however would like to hear from some locals.

 

Shout out if you have experience or tried it and didnt like it

 

Currently I’m using an older Big 4 dac that still holds it own nearly 10 years later 

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Gryffles

[georgehifi]

1 hour ago, Gryffles said:

Looking to hear from folks who are using a Lampizator dac with volume control and no external preamp. 

 

As most Lampi Dacs I know are tube output which means higher output impedance vs solid state ones.

It "not" the best of impedance matches to have a volume control hanging off them after the tube.

 

Cheers George 

[Gryffles]

14 minutes ago, georgehifi said:

 

As most Lampi Dacs I know are tube output which means higher output impedance vs solid state ones.

It "not" the best of impedance matches to have a volume control hanging off them after the tube.

 

Cheers George 

Might have something to do with the mixed feedback. A lot say using a preamp is better.

Likely depends on the amp that’s been driven too

[georgehifi]

2 minutes ago, Gryffles said:

A lot say using a preamp is better.

Yes a preamp would be preferable for a dac with a tube output, but for the life of me I don't know why one would use a tube on the output of a dac which cause impedance matching problems as well.

 If you want a tube colouration just use a tube preamp.

Cheers George

Edited December 9, 2023 by georgehifi

[Gryffles]

Just now, georgehifi said:

Yes a preamp would be preferable for a dac with a tube output, but for the life of me I don't know why one would use a tube on the output of a dac.

 

Cheers George

Well I trust Mr Fikus as his dacs sound superb. Guess he knows a thing or two 

[georgehifi]

7 minutes ago, Gryffles said:

Well I trust Mr Fikus as his dacs sound superb. Guess he knows a thing or two 

 

You need to hear a MSB or similar discrete R2R dac with it's volume control direct into a power amp/s, you may/will have an out of body awakening

 

Cheers George

Edited December 9, 2023 by georgehifi

[davewantsmoore]

9 minutes ago, georgehifi said:

If you want a tube colouration

Not for the coloration, but for the interesting circuit design.   Just like their solid state counterparts. eg. CCS JFET, SIT ... and things like powerdrive (tubelab).   They're great ways to design amplifiers IMVHO.

 

They not going to rate on noise and distortion leaderboards, naturally... but this doesn't matter in a real world system, if care is taken.

 

The lampizator dacs have quite high output impedance (eg. 300 to 3000 ohm), and if Ben mean a volume control, like a "passive volume control" ... then results could vary.   If it's a volume knob in an "integrated amp", then it depends on the the design.   Many amplifiers will be totally fine (zero audible changes) driven from >> 300R, but <shrug>

 

[georgehifi]

3 minutes ago, davewantsmoore said:

The lampizator dacs have quite high output impedance (eg. 300 to 3000 ohm)

 

Yes and they don't bode well for a volume control pot hanging off them.

If he used cathode followers for the tube output stage which he doesn't I believe, "there was a chance" for a passive to be used, but the power amps/  would also have highish >33kohm input impedance.  

[Gryffles]

Anyone with actual experience here folks?

Feel free to chime in

[Gryffles]

1 hour ago, georgehifi said:

 

You need to hear a MSB or similar discrete R2R dac with it's volume control direct into a power amp/s, you may/will have an out of body awakening

 

Cheers George

Would love to but I think it’s outta my league 

[PKay]

1 hour ago, georgehifi said:

 

You need to hear a MSB or similar discrete R2R dac with it's volume control direct into a power amp/s, you may/will have an out of body awakening

 

Cheers George

If you were going to look at cd players what is the closest to the MSB without spending say more than $5k second hand. My experience with digital is that the diminishing returns is significant. 

[georgehifi]

1 minute ago, PKay said:

If you were going to look at cd players what is the closest to the MSB without spending say more than $5k second hand. My experience with digital is that the diminishing returns is significant. 

I'd look at a good transport and a used upper end R2R multibit from Audio-GD that uses Burr Brown PCM-1704 dac converters

 

Cheers George

[PKay]

6 minutes ago, georgehifi said:

I'd look at a good transport and a used upper end R2R multibit from Audio-GD that uses Burr Brown PCM-1704 dac converters

 

Cheers George

Thanks and apologies for off topic. 

[davewantsmoore]

On 9/12/2023 at 6:12 PM, Gryffles said:

Anyone with actual experience here folks?

Feel free to chime in

Only with Lukaz's very old DAC circuits (pre-about-2010).... but other experience with generally high impedance outputs (like the Lampizator DACs are).

 

It will change (harm) the sound if you just use a volume pot (or "passive volume controller") on the output ---- but it will depend a lot on what the input of the amplifier you are using looks like (as in its impedance).

 

 

Is that what you're talking about?  A "volume pot" on the output of the DAC (vs an "active" preamp)? ..... or do you mean volume control on the digital side?  (ie. reducing the volume of the digital signal input to the DAC).

[Anthony1]

A friend has a Lampi Pacific with volume control and its superb in action and sound. Via a remote control.

 

As you would have read, Lukasz from Lampizator believes going direct out gives best/top sound quality. 

If your looking at a modern Engine Eleven build it would have to top rate.
 

I’m a preamp man myself, but until I haul a Momentum HD pre around to hear if its a desirable addition, or not, to a upmarket Lampi, I can’t comment specifically.

 

Just typically a pre will add body and depth and has other connection features, but here we are talking a top shelf specialist Valve DAC design with volume control, rather than a solid state DAC with the same.

[RCZR]

I have just upgraded my Pacific to Pacific 2 with Engine 11-P. I have volume control and am running Argento Flow XLRs directly into ATC 150 actives. On the source end  is Oladra with Master Flow to Pacific
 

The upgrade was absolutely stunning. It’s more of a component leap and must now be coming close to Horizon.  I’m about a week in with the upgrade.  I’ll post pics and more details on the weekend. 
 

I’m surprised there isn’t a Lampi owners thread. I couldn’t find one?
For some background I moved from MSB to Lampi and could never look back. Sold my AR pre too. 
 

The Lampi line up is really interesting now with the Poseidon in the mix! 

[Gryffles]

@Anthony1 thanks for posting your experience. Seems a real mixed bag as to using a pre or not. I think its just a synergy thing provided all the impedances and gain are taken care of. The blokes on WBF reckon it has to be a very good pre (think bloody expensive) to add something to the likes of Golden Gate or modern equivalent models.

 

@RCZR again, thanks for posting. I knew there must be a bunch of Lampizator users lurking around here! Wow, that is a lovely system you have there. I only briefly heard some big ATC actives at GC Hifi a while back. Was super impressed.

Good to know you are happy using the Pacifics in built vol control. I'm assuming all the models use a similar resistor/relay based attenuator. 

Very interesting to hear what yo usold to end up where you are now. There is no Lampizator thread which needs to be remedied really.

I have an older Big 4 and am thinking about moving to a Golden Gate and ditching my pre but was certainly unsure of how that might work out. I'm using an Antipodes K22 

 

 

[Gryffles]

4 hours ago, RCZR said:

I’m surprised there isn’t a Lampi owners thread. I couldn’t find one?

FYI, I asked for a Lampi owners thread however admin informed me there has to be enough conversation about a brand before an ‘Owners Thread’ will be created 


 

[RCZR]

Marc has made this an Owners thread. Thanks! Unfortunately, for some new readers seeing the thread, the original post might appear to limit the scope of the discussion. The change in the title of the thread creates a little confusion about the intended focus of the discussion. 
 

@Gryffles, would you be happy to edit the original post to include that the thread is now an ‘Owners thread’ and broaden the discussion to Lampi products in general?
 

For example, I’m keen to know more about tubes, especially  Takatsuki 274B rectifier and 300B with a Lampi DAC. I would like to learn from other SNA members of their experiences with Lampi and improve my knowledge of tube DAC design. Is it ok for me to develop these types of questions within this thread? 

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by RCZR

[Anthony1]

Lampi Baltic 4 - over time if someone purchases this updated model, myself and forum readers would like to know what your audio/ sound impressions are,  plus, the overall presentation in regard to metal casework etc.

[Gryffles]

4 hours ago, RCZR said:

@Gryffles, would you be happy to edit the original post to include that the thread is now an ‘Owners thread’ and broaden the discussion to Lampi products in general?

Certainly can and good idea

[RCZR]

A couple of Pacific images. I have a gold plated version with a black front. My system is entirely dedicated to streaming now. 

[Gryffles]

1 hour ago, RCZR said:

A couple of Pacific images. I have a gold plated version with a black front. My system is entirely dedicated to streaming now. 

What a beautiful Pacific and system overall. Love the simplicity and I can imagine it’d sound magnificent 

 

Did you own a different Lampi dac prior to the Pac?

Edited December 16, 2023 by Gryffles

[RCZR]

 

3 hours ago, Gryffles said:

Did you own a different Lampi dac prior to the Pac?

I wish I had discovered Lampizator earlier. It would have been nice to have experienced Lukasz’s DACs over a long period.  My previous DACs have been Naim, Auralic and MSB. 
 

The Pacific really does sound as good as it looks! With the upgrade to Engine 11-P, the sound is epic but also incredibly delicate. It’s worth noting how quickly they are developing their entire product lineup to incorporate tech gained from the Horizon. 

Edited December 16, 2023 by RCZR

[xlr8or]

1 hour ago, RCZR said:

I wish I had discovered Lampizator earlier. It would have been nice to have experienced Lukasz’s DACs over a long period.

 

Fully agree and can attest they are excellent sounding DACs with full texture, body and energy. I own this older Buffalo prototype bought directly from Poland a few years ago.

 

http://www.lampizator.eu/lampizator/references/buffalo dac/buffalodac.html