Yes, that M2 is a great amp. I have always had a soft spot or Thor amps as they are very special. I owned a set about 12 years ago and loved them.
World class sound that is more SET like than the M2, but also 30 watts of dynamic punch. I will soon post my virtual system as I have a couple of final touches left including silver speaker cables and a killer CDP/transport.
My speakers need more than 8 tube watts in my larger room and the Thor's are a gem. |
Mitch2
You will love it. Tell me about which options you ordered. No worries as once burnt in you will love it! |
Hi all. I use both the USB and RCA input on my Lampy. I have always wondered if a great USB to RCA converter would sound better than using the USB input on the Lampy.
I will soon know as I am trying an Empirical Audio Offramp converter tomorrow. Want to get the most out of this fine dac! |
Charles, I am using several amps including a 45, 2a3 and some others I am doing some work on. However, my main amps are Thor TPA 30's with some nice mods done. These are wonderful tube monoblock amps using the EL34 tube. They are very special and my favorite thus far.
I am selling the 45 and 2a3 as the Thor is very, very good with my speaker.
Seems the TVIII likes a little power to really open up. |
Ok, I want to report on my findings using the Empirical Audio Offramp. The Offramp I have is;
Offramp 4 with Turboclock, updated 5 tranny, Hynes USB, and BNC to BNC cable.
I had been going from my Mac Mini USB out directly into the Lapizator 4 USB input with my Wywires USB cable. Now I go from the Apple 2009 Mini USB output into the Offramp USB input. Then from the Offramp using the BNC connector into my BNC Lampizator input.
Is there any improvement? Ha, well I wish I would have done this months ago when I started this whole computer audio thing. Still learning and so much more to learn. Yes, it sounds better. I won't go on for paragraphs, but here are the overall improvements.
In some ways I am hearing my Lampy for the first time as compared to its USB input. Music is more at ease and natural. Stage is wider and bigger overall. Digital glare that was there at times on certain recordings has all but vanished. The biggest and most important change for me is the sense of ease in the upper mids and highs. Instruments have more body and improved tone. Enough Aphile terms. I just want to listen more and longer.
This is with the Wall Wart power supply. I understand the Dynamo power supply from Empirical takes it all up another notch. This Offramp is expensive however and well as all the possible upgrades.
So I am now learning more about WAV vs AIFF as I understand WAV may sound better and all my CD's were put into AIFF. Yikes! We will see. I will report back on my findings..... |
Charles, Agear and I have fun with this one and we don't see it exactly alike based on experience. He is a great guy and we will continue to jab on this one topic. I greatly value and respect his opinion....usually:-) |
I also have a Apple Mini and yes WAV is an issue in terms of CD covers and meta data, but it sounds soooooo much better that I don't care. Must be a way to work around it, but I don't know of it right now. In terms of sound, WAV kills AIFF! |
I am not a patient guy and this computer audio world is difficult for me. So many little nuances make a difference. Part of me wants to just spin discs again due to the imense learning curve for someone like me. I am not computer savy and force myself to learn.
What I have been hearing is why I do this as my cd spinning transport is not in the same league, but what a pain!I will say it again...what a pain. I am venting.
Love to hire a person to now come in and convert all my aiff to wav files. |
Here is my front end transport....
2009 Apple Mini (SSD drive,software optimizations, Mojo Audio Joule Linear power supply, expanded memory) - Amarra 2.6 w/EQ activated - Wywires USB cable - Ultra Fi USB filter - Empirical Audio Offramp 4 (Turboclock, Hynes USB) - Empirical Audio BNC cable - Lamizator 4/4 dac
Best digital front end I have owned or heard. |
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I have compared aiff to wav for hours today. Many CDs and each one sounded better in WAV. No doubt about it. A no brainer folks. Each CD file in WAV always sounded more natural and analog if you will. Easy to convert to wav in iTunes. The art stays and the order stays. The sound is better in an obvious and thrilling way.
More body
More foundation to the music
Larger stage
Less forces and more natural highs
Removes last vestige of digital glare and nasties in the highs
I compared aiff and wav played off my SSD drive with Amarra playlist and the result is absolutely conclusive in my system. Anyone hearing would Agee. |
Steve your Offramp and BNC cable are an awesome addition. Yes, I will trial the Dynamo power supply soon!
Your Offramp combined with the WAV revelation has me smiling more and more.
Learning more every day! |
Bruce the Offramp BNC cable combo improved everything including the bass. Bottom line is the music is just more pleasing to me. I want to listen more. |
Tim, how does your dac sound now? |
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Agear, not sure I can do this with Offramp....it does not have a wireless option? Perhaps his reclocker unit does? |
Steve I was going to say the same thing. The wav and aiff differences are real and some folks can't hear it or their systems don't reveal it. I posted on CA and received lots of help on how to convert to WAV. Some folks could only ask why as they hear no difference. Well some folks don't hear the difference between cables etc....but they are still there and real.
All I can say is just try it. If you don't like it better, then don't do it. I do and am converting as I type! |
AIFF files converted to WAV don't sound quite as good a ripping in xld to WAV from the start. Oh my, I can't re-rip all my CDs , but will have to settle for the WAV conversion. |
Forgot to mention that Positive Feedback wrote a nice article and defined all these file formats and also reported that on an Apple computer WAV files sounded better than AIFF. |
Ya some don't. Who knows, but I am not crazy as my wife hear the improvement also. Also, wav files play directly from my Mini SSD drive sound a tad better then those played from my outside storage device.
Best sound is SSD drive with wav files on my system, with a Mini, in my room......Ha! Nice big improvement.
Again, many experience the same thing as it has been written about and reviewed. Many factor perhaps. |
Steve, I blame your Offramp converter as it opened my eyes to working at maximizing the performance of my computer based front end. The improvement it brought really opened my eyes and surprised me.
It could be only Apple based front ends reflect the wav file improvement? I don't know and have not done enough testing with different computers, hard wired vs. wireless etc....
Like JWN has done, just try it and if no improvement comes, then no need to deal with the work and hassle involved with file conversion. |
I see JWM. Interesting.
Agear, no placebo effect here in my system. Down right easy to hear within 20 seconds of the track playing.
The tech explanation has to be this. While the data IS the same the storage or housing is DIFFERENT .....kind of like wire. The data going thru the wire is the same, but the housing or storage is different. Yes, wire sounds different. Bottom line is I don't really care about the technical explanations as my ears and feet tapping know the difference:-)
Plenty of engineers say wire and amps should sound the same blah, blah, blah, but my ears now better. Exactly the same!
Andrew you know this. You also know what is happening in one system may not be repeated in another. Trust you ears.......yes I did blind listening! |
The room correction feature is awesome! Ya, I was told to try 88 instead of 96 on Wave Editor...I may do this! Some feel it sounds even better. |
....and that I am crazy hearing the difference between wav and aiff! Ha! I must be hearing things. Me and my wife are nuts....also my local Aphile friend! All crazy.....oh well..
I don't think the Apple is any more a jitter nerd then any other computer. The Empirical Audio Offramp has greatly helped all kinds of computer and dac combinations. The Apple holds no special nerd award Andrew. No, I on the other hand way well! |
Read this link as I may not be crazy or at least I have even more company. Audio Asylum now has even greater appeal to me.
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue63/aiff.htm |
Thanks Steve. I am getting close to wanting to try your Offramp power supply! |
Enjoying my Lampy more than ever as I learn how to maximize the sound of my computer based transport. Something else I learned from Steve and Empirical that is yet another upgrade in sound.....
Use a program called Wave Editor and up sample your 16/44 files to 24/96 using the program. I am using the 15 day free trial and the full program costs $75. Cheap upgrade folks. The same type of gain I experienced going from aiff to wav. The upsampled wav files sound even more natural and relaxed removing yet another slight degree of digital artifact. The details can be found on the Empirical Audio site with a link to an Audio Circles thread on the topic. Read it and learn. |
Interesting point Steve. Love to hear what the Lampy builder would say as his tube dac, is digital, and quite special. As for a converter? |
I will report back on 88! |
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Has anyone compared the Lampizator USB converter to the Offramp? The Lampy website sure makes it sound like the best? It is a tubed unit which is interesting. I do know this. The Offramp makes the USB input on my Lampizator 4/4 dac sound almost broken. So the USB input on my Lampy is certainly not up to the standards of the Offramp. Now the Lampy converter? That is interesting to me. |
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Agear, never said my dac is deficient. I said the USB input does not sound nearly as good direct from a computer vs the Offramp.
Is your "start another thread" on EA comment a put-down? Why? Why the anger? Are you telling what I can and cannot ask on this thread. Why go sophomoric on me and us here Agear?
Anyway, just learning and experimenting and asking questions. Let's keep it friendly. |
Wisdom, great interview and I love the way Lucas tests and listens....love it!
I love his dac and thus this thread. I am always open to the best stuff out there including the Offramp! |
Wisnon I mean. I am sure you are full of wisdom however! |
The Offramp helped me get the most out of my Lampi. It has done the same for many with a multitude of computers. All different brands etc....
I looked up the iFi iLink and if this $250 converter is better than the Offramp, then every Aphile should have one and now! It would be the biggest value in digital audio my a country mile......if true. |
Mitch2 thanks as that tells me a lot. |
Mitch , you can try one and send it back if you are not thrilled. You will like it! |
Can someone explain just what the Lampi transport is? No need for a computer? Thanks much. |
Looks like it connects to a computer.....love to hear some comments about it. Sounds like the Lampi room sounded great with Dale's speakers and the TRL Dude preamp. I wish I could have been there. I have only been to one audio show and that was some 20 years ago in NYC! |
Thanks Andrew, ya I was a little too sensitive and your right that I should start my own system thread. I will as soon as I can post my virtual system. |
I have read up on the Lampizator transport and in the end it is really a converter just like the Offramp I already own. It takes the WAV, AIFF etc files and converts them to Spdif before sending to the Lampi dac.
I decided to stick with the Offramp and just purchased the Dynamo power supply for the Offramp. Perhaps someday I can compare both the Lampi converter and the Offramp. Like to hear both in my system.
I know my Offramp converter/Lampi 4/4 combo is just awesome folks. I am sure the Lampi transport and dac combo is also killer!
For those using the USB input on your Lampi dacs I strongly suggest getting one of these two converters and use the spdif input on your Lampi dac. Just a big jump in sound quality folks. |
The direct USB input from my Mini was no match for the Offramp into my Lampi spdif input. Not even close. The difference was so stark I cannot even imagine a different outcome. I use a modified Mac Mini.
I am confused with the Lampi transport I must admit. On the Lampi site Lucas calls it essentially a converter to spdif. Those were his own words in the very beginning of the article on the transport.
Do I still need my Mac Mini or with the Lampi transport can I sell it? The Offramp is simple as it just connects to the Mac mini by USB and to my Lampi with spdif.
Perhaps someone can list the order of gear with arrows when using the Lampi transport/converter device. I know I am not the only Aphile confused on this piece. It would help us all. |
Amen to the TRL Samson amps. Just great SS amps and known by very few unfortunately. Mated with the Dude you have something very special.
I heard that combo with the Lampi dac in a fellow Agoner's system and it was just awesome! |
Thanks Clio09. Ya, your comments seem correct. I will have to compare 88.2 files to 96. Many have said 88.2 sounds best. |
Abruce, time for me to come over with my Dude again and instead of a preamp shoot out perhaps we now compare to the Lampy volume control? |
Abruce's, I just got the Dynamo power supply for the Offramp.......oh my! My Lampi never sounded this good! Trust me when I say the Offramp and Dynamo power supply will not confuse anything....you will know in a nano second how they improve the sound of your system. A nano second.
Feed the Lampi the best signal you can and your ears will be delighted! |
Agear, I would agree with you in that I would like to compare. The Offramp and Dynamo together jumped the performance of my Lampi and digital front end at least 50%.
The DAC is important, very important, but what it is fed is perhaps more important. I will make a bold statement here. I bet my Lampi 4/4 with the Offramp/Dynamo sounds better than a Lampi 5,6 or 7 with no Lampi or Offramp transport.
What I am trying to say is, if you own a Lampi dac and do not use an Offramp or Lampi interface, then you have not really heard that dac! At least you have not heard it's full cababilities. This is based on using the USB input from any computer source...and I mean any computer brand or type. |
I compared the Lampi 4/4 to a Eximus DP1 dac which is said and reviewed to be a better dac than the Wyred. No contest at all. The Lampi is so much more musical and real sounding. Far less Hifi sounding than the DP1. |
Agear, the wallwart on the unit was actually much better than a standard wart as Steve does use/make a good one. The separate Dynamo power supply is much, much better however.
I don't know the science as well as I should regarding jitter, waveform distortion and the like, but boy is my rig smoking good after these last additions! |
