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Lyngdorf TDAI-3400

Well, after reading all the rave reviews of the Lyngdorf TDAI-2170 both here and other places, I decided to order a TDAI-3400 for myself.  I must admit I am still skeptical that such a diminutive piece of equipment can sound better than the Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP tube amp weighing more than 50 lbs, but I have been so intrigued by everything I have read I simply had to pull the trigger. 
I just unboxed it today, hooked everything up, and am listening to it for a while before setting up Room Perfect. 
I really want to hear the what the amp sounds like as-is for a bit to understand it better. 
First impressions:  Without Room Perfect it sounds like very nice solid state amps I've owned in the past, but to be honest, I don't find the sound to be particularly moving.  I moved to tubes after years of solid state, and I swore I would never go back.  That is where I'm coming from.  I should also add that I always try to keep an open mind.  While my initial take on it might sound like I don't like it, I hope folks just read this as me being as honest as possible about what I hear.  I know the tendency when buying new gear is to want so badly to love it in order to justify the expense that it's easy to fool oneself into believing it's an improvement over what you had before, even when it's not.  Of course I really want it to be as mind blowing as it has been built up in my mind to be, but if it's not I am OK with simply moving back to what I have liked so far.   
I have only been playing records through it so far.  Analog makes up 98% of my listening so that's where I am starting with it.  I have a nice CD transport that I will connect to it in the next day or so just to hear the DAC in the unit.  I will also experiment with playing files from USB sticks, computer audio from my MacBook Pro, and whatever else I decide.  I am not prepared to purchase a music server just yet, but it's something I have thought about for a while.  
My system:  speakers are Harbeth Monitor 40.1's.  Turntable is an SME 20/2 with SME IV.iv tonearm and Kiseki Purple Heart cartridge, fed to a Parasound JC-3+ phono preamp.  Power conditioner is Audioqest Niagara 7000.  CD transport is a Wadia 8.  
I will report back as I have more time to experiment and let the amp break in.  

snackeyp

Showing 3 responses by olesno

olesno
87 posts
 

Sorry to hear that Jonathan.  As you know I also have the Encores and the Lyngdorf 3400 but since I was lately very busy at work I did not have a chance to really sit down and play with the unit.  The only thing I noticed initially was that the Lyngdorf was getting hot (like class A amp) at higher volume, let's say -8db.  I contacted Lyngdorf and was assured that that's OK.  I hope to have more time very soon so I can really spend some time with my rig.  BTW, I bought my unit from Tony at Ellington and also highly recommend him.  Thanks to "grannyring".

Hope things will work out for you.  Maybe just a glitch of some type.

olesno
87 posts
 
Just wanted to share my latest experience with the 3400 and the Encores.  I'm going to add the Oppo 205 to this, as I use it as my digital source for everything but streaming.  That is taken care of by Tidal/Roon/Nucleus +.  So, I have about 200 SACDs, some DVDAs and a few Bluray audio discs.  In all my previous setups I had to listen to all of the above via analog outs on my Oppo.  Digital out could only be used to handle Red Book CDs.  As good as the sound of all those high resolution disks was I slowly started losing interest in them.  Once I got the Lyngdorf, I started experimenting with the digital out in my Oppo via HDMI out (Main) and the HDMI input of my Lyngdorf.  Since the TDIA accepts only PCM through the HDMI in, I had to make sure that PCM and not DSD is being sent by the Oppo.  I connected both units via pretty generic HDMI cable and listened to several of my SACDs, mostly jazz and vocals but also some classic rock like Pink Floyd, the Stones, etc.  This was the best experience in my room ever!!!  The sound was so incredibly good that I couldn't stop listening.  To me it was more real than ever before.  I'm not great in describing the sound in "audiophile" terms but I can tell you that the combination of Oppo, Lyngdorf and the Tekton Encores (via HDMI) created unbelievably  realistic music in my room with real sounding instruments and voices.  BTW, Red Book CDs sounded awesome too.  So, now I am tempted to look for a good HDMI cable even though I can't imagine how it could make it sound better.  But..., you just never know ;)
olesno
87 posts
 
I got my 3400 for about 2 months now and couldn't be happier. I use it to stream music from Tidal via Roon through Nucleus+ to the 3400 via USB.  I also use it to play all kind of disc media from my OPPO 205 via HDMI connection.  I have the best sound ever in my dedicated room.  Room Perfect is just great and adds a lot to shape the sound in my room.  Makes a big difference.  Also, few days ago I was comparing some power cords feeding the 3400.  It did make a difference.  The one I had on hand that was clearly the best among few others was made by Soundstring.  It's the Generation II Platinum Series SE power cord.  In my set up it brought up the imaging, clarity, focus, tonality... to another level.  Don't know why, but it just works so well with the 3400.  BTW, I plug the 3400 directly into a dedicated outlet in the wall.
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