DAC Shootout - Tons of Fun

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by joel_hifi

Excellent shootout, great fun to read, thanks for sharing!

My humble suggestion, you should try to include a Meitner MA1 in your shootout, believe they trade around that same price range on the used market. Since you’re showing some interest for tube DACs, another option is the Aqua La Scala which sounds really great. And in case you’d consider Chifi (not everyone does) then Denafrips Terminator, Holo May KTE, Doge 7 (tube) and Musetec LKS-005 are all serious contenders, I’m told the later has gained good reputation in the HK audiophile circle.

We actually invited a guy with the Aqua La Scala. He couldn’t make it unfortunately.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

I’ll be sure to report!

Plus, you'll want to roll some tubes into the Lampi B3. Heard great things about red base RCA 5692s for the 6SN7 position and you'll want to play with the rectifier tube, as well. I'm using a mesh-plate 274B from EML that I like a lot.

The Lampi is another tube roller's paradise and trust me when I say it punches WAY above it's "weight" class. I've got a Holo May KTE here as well, and what do I listen to? The Lampi B3. 'Nuff said.

[Rtan]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Plus, you'll want to roll some tubes into the Lampi B3. Heard great things about red base RCA 5692s for the 6SN7 position and you'll want to play with the rectifier tube, as well. I'm using a mesh-plate 274B from EML that I like a lot.

The Lampi is another tube roller's paradise and trust me when I say it punches WAY above it's "weight" class. I've got a Holo May KTE here as well, and what do I listen to? The Lampi B3. 'Nuff said.

+1

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Plus, you'll want to roll some tubes into the Lampi B3. Heard great things about red base RCA 5692s for the 6SN7 position and you'll want to play with the rectifier tube, as well. I'm using a mesh-plate 274B from EML that I like a lot.

The Lampi is another tube roller's paradise and trust me when I say it punches WAY above it's "weight" class. I've got a Holo May KTE here as well, and what do I listen to? The Lampi B3. 'Nuff said.

UPS says it is out for delivery!!!!

[Levitator]

Exciting! Are these DAC’s all brand new Grasshopper?

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

UPS says it is out for delivery!!!!

That's great. Keep us posted.

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by Levitator

Exciting! Are these DAC’s all brand new Grasshopper?

No. All burned in!

I prefer to buy used when I can.

[dkorbal]

I see there is another Baltic 3 for sale. If I wasn’t so involved with my new subs I might be tempted. Jason I’m waiting on the edge of my seat to see what you think about yours.

[Grasshopper]

I’ve just had less than an hour with the Lampi.

First, first impressions- I tried the high gain setting and it sounded awful.

It was a very distorted sound, like clipping. Seemed like an impedance mismatch.

I lowered the gain and listened and didn’t like that sound much either.

Figuring operator error, I remembered reading a reviewer who had a similar issue.

Apparently the factory told him to go back to high gain, & lower the volume from his streamer back to 85%.

I did just that and the sound is much better.

I’m surprised at the level of detail this offers.

Time will tell if it’s the sound I’m after, but it doesn’t sound “tubey”.

Pretty crazy stuff.

I’m all ears for the best way to dial in the Lampi.

@puma cat if you have any wisdom to avoid the impedance issues, I’m all ears.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

I’ve just had less than an hour with the Lampi.

First, first impressions- I tried the high gain setting and it sounded awful.

It was a very distorted sound, like clipping. Seemed like an impedance mismatch.

I lowered the gain and listened and didn’t like that sound much either.

Figuring operator error, I remembered reading a reviewer who had a similar issue.

Apparently the factory told him to go back to high gain, & lower the volume from his streamer back to 85%.

I did just that and the sound is much better.

I’m surprised at the level of detail this offers.

Time will tell if it’s the sound I’m after, but it doesn’t sound “tubey”.

Pretty crazy stuff.

I’m all ears for the best way to dial in the Lampi.

@puma cat if you have any wisdom to avoid the impedance issues, I’m all ears.

I use mine on the low gain setting and it sounds fantastic.

First things first, you need to allow time for the DAC to settle; you just took it off the truck today and vibration really upsets clocks in digital devices. Allow 48 hours for a digital component to settle.

Then, you need to allow time for the tubes to burn in....a quick impression right of the box is not gonna cut it.

I'd give it a minimum of 100 hours burn-in before starting to form any opinions or draw any conclusions.

200-300 hours to let it finish burning in and time for the caps to form.

Strong recommendations:

1) Use a Shunyata USB or S/DIF cable from the network bridge or streamer to the DAC. Do not directly connect a computer to a DAC.

2) Shunyata Delta NRv2 or better PC to power it.

3) Get some other tubes to roll into it.

4) Exercise the patience and discipline of a samurai.

5) All good things come to those who wait.

Lastly, I don't know what you mean by "impedance issues". What data indicates that impedance specifically is the problem?

Cheers.