Steve, I thought you said in another recent post you were buying an LS-5? What gives?
Since no one else has posted yet, I'll post some analogous impressions. I have not listened to an L1 at any length, but have listened to its successor, the L2 (which I almost bought) and the LL2 extensively. While the L2 is, like the L1, solid state in the signal path, it does not sound like solid state at all, it sounds like music. Compared to the LL2, it does not have the slight bass fullness of the tubed unit, so the bass is actually more extended even though you might think you're getting more bass out of the LL2. And it is a much more resolving unit--more low level detail. And the highs and dynamics are smoother, with less distortion. All in all, it is a more refined version of the LL2, with a similar overall sonic character. Once I listened to the L2, I didn't want to buy the LL2, even though I am a tube guy. I don't know the difference between the L1 and L2, though--perhaps some of the reviews on the Lamm website can describe those differences for you. Most of the changes in Lamm units seem to have been evolutionary rather than radical, if my experience between the ML1 and 1.1 amps is any indication. Hope this is of some help.
Since no one else has posted yet, I'll post some analogous impressions. I have not listened to an L1 at any length, but have listened to its successor, the L2 (which I almost bought) and the LL2 extensively. While the L2 is, like the L1, solid state in the signal path, it does not sound like solid state at all, it sounds like music. Compared to the LL2, it does not have the slight bass fullness of the tubed unit, so the bass is actually more extended even though you might think you're getting more bass out of the LL2. And it is a much more resolving unit--more low level detail. And the highs and dynamics are smoother, with less distortion. All in all, it is a more refined version of the LL2, with a similar overall sonic character. Once I listened to the L2, I didn't want to buy the LL2, even though I am a tube guy. I don't know the difference between the L1 and L2, though--perhaps some of the reviews on the Lamm website can describe those differences for you. Most of the changes in Lamm units seem to have been evolutionary rather than radical, if my experience between the ML1 and 1.1 amps is any indication. Hope this is of some help.