3,
". It's only slight draw back is the way it forces all music to feel too relaxed which could be a drawback for the rockers and head bangers."
That's why one should never have the 40 tube. Limited! A tube such as the EF 80/800 you can do the Amperex or Tele. You get both worlds . The 182 tube is the same. You want more more energy? Bendix 6900.
I feel sorry for all the 40 tubers that got hood winked by L.
3 you don't have the 40 do you? |
I built a CAPS and now use a Mac Mini. Followed Nugent's advice as well. Have to say both are very good and could have lived with either. I just prefer the Mac OS. That being said Sonore Audio has the right approach with Linux. |
FWIW, I still have a highly modified (software/power filter) 2010 MM and LPS. But in my system, my CAPs based server sounds better paired with the Big Six. Not worlds better, but definitely better, just smoother, quieter, and more detailed through the mid-range. Bass is pretty equal. The MM has a bigger stage and sounds warmer, so I think it could work better in a slightly "cool" system, but overall sounds a bit veiled in comparison. This comparison reminds me of the Joule OTL sound vs. my Coincident/Yamamoto SETs, the OTL just let the music through unfeathered, while the SETs added a bit of color (of the good variety) to the music.
I haven't heard a stout 2009 MM rig in my system, so not sure how it would fare in my system. I agree with Charles1dad, the server that will work best in ones system will depend on the other components and synergy. Both are great solutions if you pay attention to all the little details. I'm very curious about the SB, Lamp transport, and other solutions, but you still need to send the bits to the DAC and if that's not up to the task it's all a bit futile.
Back to the thread topis, I agree that L4/G4 Lamp is a special DAC. It is supremely musical and involving. The most 3D presentation I have ever heard, music floats. It's only slight draw back is the way it forces all music to feel too relaxed which could be a drawback for the rockers and head bangers.
My Big Six is involving, but to me not at the level of the L4's musicality, at least not yet. I've got about 200+ hrs on the Big Six and it's more of a "grab you by the throat" kind of DAC that has awesome resolution and can delineate images that the L4 left blurred, especially with complex passages. If it can float music out there instead of projecting it then the Big Six will probably be the last DAC I have. I'm hoping it has the 3D gene in its DNA...
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Bill, what mods did you incorporate? Steve is a business man first and foremost and very utilitarian. He (and Larry Moore formerly of UltraFi) teach people how to optimize their puters, add a SS drive abd add an external PS. That's the most they do. I have people say SS drives make little difference, and as Gary intonated, the 09 with PS and more recent mini with stock PS is indistinguishable. What does that tell us? The guy who builds my front end also offers mini mods but he actually does surgery on the internals, adds audiophile caps, mu metal shielding, SS drive, etc. I considered that route at one point ( http://www.db-system.fr/bd_system/MacMini_modifications_db.html)
Steve Nugent wrote a great piece on jitter a few years ago: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/0509/
I have spoken with him on numerous occasions although it has been many years. His reclockers make sense and are a good way to improve digital audio.
All that being said, when Lucas comes to the us in Oct, they should do a shootout with his transport and a "modded" Mac mini. As Gary Anderson would say, people will piss their pants... |
The trick in the Lampi Transport is the digi-Lampizator inside. |
Hi Andrew, my MM is anything but stock and so much more than what you compared it to. Steve N of Emperical audio is no neophyte on this subject and I follow his best of show advice on my MM ..... Pretty much every single detail. To make the MM sound as mine does does take the kind of attention to detail you mention in your post.
Oh yes the USB cable matters big time! The USB port used on the MM also matters and on and on the small details go! |
Have a friend with CS and his '09 MM with LPS and MM is as good as the CS. |
Howard, CAPS is a Windows-based product. My guess is that it will best a mini, modded or not. Against the Lampi transport? Who knows. If you really want to go the whole hog, consider the Sonore transport which is also tossed around on Computer Audiophile. More $$ but Linux based. Another product of some interest to me in the past was the cMP which was a Windows-based DIY attempt at a memory player that you could use with and without a dac. |
During the CD era, I used to hear people say that the transport was as or more important than the dac itself. I think I agree with that statement. The debate as to why is fairly involved.
I have used computers since the late 70s and used Apple products for past 10 years, including mac minis and wireless receivers. The mini is nice since it is small and fanless and not as "audibly noisy" as a chunky pc with a fan. The advantages beyond that are relatively minor. They are both cesspools of electromagnetic radiation. A PC is a hell of a lot easier to mod than a mini. I have broken a few adding RAM and fiddling when I should not have been.
For the utilitarian neophytes (most of the folks on this thread), a mini is not a bad choice as it can do other household duties. For the mini users, this is a good device to pick up (http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2013/04/amr-ifi-announce-ilink-usb-spdif-converter/). Also, believe it or not, the USB cable does make a difference. Rrrr.
Bill, I have done shootouts between my current wifi source and software only tweaked mini and various dacs and it was not close. Not a perfect test though for obvious reasons.
Mr. Gary "Glory" Anderson used to fill my ears about how his Lampi transport killed his Mini. We need to hear more about that. From memory, he did not ditch the transport due to performance but due to finance another cable purchase.
I find it amusing that philes who spend an enormous about of psychic energy gnashing their teeth and obsessing over certain parts of their systems then settle for less when it comes to transports. Trust me, dedicated digital transports are here and they are the future. The Memory Player seemed like such a goofy entity when it first appeared, and many people ragged on it only to copy them later. With recent release of the new ac wireless standard, streaming any file resolution you could desire is right at our fingertips (http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/537-extending-audio-network-using-802-11ac-wireless/) |
THanks Cal and Glory re: Mac Mini vs Lamp Transport. Not to muddy the water but what about the CAPS server vs these options? |
The transport vs computer debate is really interesting.Some swear ripped to hard drive is superior and there are those who have been there and done that and say nope, it isn`t better despite all the hype. Like nearly everything concerning audio there`s a lot of overlap and as expected no absolutes. System,set up and implementation are the usual variables.I will say that those eager to declare spinning CDs passe and dead are wrong,they sound excellent in a well set up system.Choice is good. |
Agear, until you hear my MM vs your standard it is impossible to know. I cannot say you are or wrong... |
Hchilcoat, I have an (unmodified) MacMini 2010 and compared it with an Oppo 93 as a transport. I wouldn't recommend either as a CD spinning transport. But ripped music through the mini absolutely kills the Oppo. Not the same model you're using, but as a transport, the Oppo was significantly worse than an Examplar 2900 from way back in the day. Regardless, I don't really believe in spinning CDs anymore... I heard a drastic improvement playing from a hard drive. Why not take read errors and error-correction processing out of the chain? |
The Mini is a rat's nest of noise. Everyone needs to go to the Lessloss site to review this topic. That's why a dedicated transport free of any computer is where people are headed. Duh. |
Glory,
The Big Six is really fuggin' Big. The perspective changed slightly with more of a mid stadium vs. front and center perspective, but conversely image size and density, dynamic swings and BASS! MUCH bigger and my Duelands are still burning in.
Right now my favored 6SN7 is the Ratheon 6SN7GT and I'm liking a Triode Wire Labs 10+ on it. The stock rectis should be upgraded to unleash the beast.
Agear,
I remember that well. Either Larry Moore does something really profound or auditory memory is to blame. I won't speculate as to which without having heard the MM, but I love my transport.
Grannyring,
I'm sure its an awesome piece. I understand you'll have the opportunity to compare your DAC w/ Jensens to one with Duelands tomorrow? Looking forward to the thoughts on that! |
Don't know as my MM with mods and power supply is quite good! Can't say one would smoke another without a real a/b comparison. Less this it is all speculation at best. |
Let's let Fred make the call on the matter Gearhead! |
I would expect the LT to smoke a mini regardless of mods. Glory used to wax poetic about his and how it made his modded mini with linear ps sound broken. Mistake to sell...at least for Redbook duty.... |
Fred,
Never do the B with my LT. Should have but was told by M/L it would do no good. What do they know? If L can do a LT to do DSD/hiRez I would buy one. 88 just will not work for me.
Is the Big 6 still BIG or is it shrinking? Have you tried all the different 6SN7 tubes? |
Glory,
Did you every change the rectifier tube? I've got the same Benedix in my TranspOrt as in my Big Six and it is a similar upgrade there. I tried one for the sake of experimenting, not expecting much--it is significant.
I'll take the Pepsi Challenge with my LT vs the MM stuff. :) |
He never says what chip he uses. |
What DAC chip does Lampizator use in the L4 & L5? |
Coat,
Had both. LT had that tube sound to it. Did 88 and that was it.
New MM setup by Larry Moore is a different animal than the LT. Let's say I am not running after another LT. |
Chatnoir, in response to your question about replacing the 5U4C with a Bendix, that should work. My Lamp had a 6x5 installed but also came with a 5U4C. I put a Bendix rectifier in my Lamp and it is wonderful. More palpable sound and images suspended at different depths, even more so than with the TungSol recti i had previously.
I don't think I have been happier with any single piece of equipment than the Lampizator 4. I hope I don't have to hear a Level 5 or 6 because I don't need to know there is anything better than the 4 and am pretty content with where I am and have spent enough this year.
Speaking of spending more money, has anybody compared the Lampizator Transport to a well set up Mac Mini system? Having said I dont want to spend any more, I do want to move to a computer based system. Using an Oppo 103 as a transport now but frustrating that it can't send high resolution SACD DVD through coax. |
I also thought Glory's comments were in jest. Good to see apologies and forgiveness in action. A needed blessing moment here on the Gon. |
Abruce, is it French for "Bendix tubes are fabulous"? Agon is so educational. |
Abruce you're human and sometimes another person can get under your skin. I'm sure others understand and appreciate your apology.
Charles, |
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Disclaimer: I should not speculate on others. I myself would have just gone for jerk :) |
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Abruce, Life brings us all problems. Your apology shows good character in you. You just had the nerve to make the comment that others here must also have been thinking :) |
Gary and everyone who witnessed my bad behavior
I would like to apologize for my terrible behavior , on Audiogon last night
My problems should not be taken out on someone else
Again I am sorry
Fridays |
Example of an over powering sub conscious mind vort blowing out the hypothalamus. Tom |
Abruce, if you read through the whole thread and understand the context, you would realize that Glory was jesting. That being said, I am glad someone finally called him out for what he is! After reading that line, I laughed for about 5 minutes straight. Funniest thing I have read on Audiogon in some time
What's even funnier is that it somehow made it through the censors....:-) |
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I thought that Audiogon was moderating to control these kinds of personalized and nasty interactions. |
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My L4G4 came equipped with "foreign made" CV3884's (mullard) and a 5U4C rectifier. Can the Bendix 6106 be used in place of the 5U4C ? |
Has anyone done any tube rolling with the Lampi Transport? I currently have a Russian 6U5C rectifier tube and I am wondering if there something better like the Bendix tube was for the Level 4 DAC. |
You are most welcome in advance:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ECC40-CV3884-MULLARD-NOS-BOXED-/270762678745?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Valves_Vacuum_Tubes&hash=item3f0ab699d9 |
Gopher,
The transport is really special. I hope Lucasz can come up with a replacement for the Duet receiver for high resolution above 24/96K.
I notice mention of folks using the Dueland CAST caps in speakers. I have been using them in my level 4 for about a year and a half. They took a long time to break in but I think they are a level above the Jensens which I used for about three months. Darker background, better dynamics, and more weight.
Glory,
I will set the Trans and the L4 on the Sistrum points this weekend. |
Thanks for your reply Gopher. Meanwhile I've found out that they are mullard and to be exact they are labeled CV3884 and not ECC40. Nice description of the feeling you get when u're listening to the Lampi, similar to my L4G4 but yours probably to a higher extent with your BigSix and TranspOrt...
Did anybody try a Brimar 6x5 rectifier in the L4 Lampi ? If so how was it compared to the stock (mine came with an RCA 6x5) ? |
Jim,
The TranspOrt is in the house and making beautiful music with my Big Six. Its hard to describe what I'm hearing other than it being bold, dynamic natural and amazing. Its a very LIVE presentation, more so then I've experienced before in any medium-digital or analog.
Drumiha,
I'm not sure what those ECC40s are, but if they're the ones I had in a brown box with round holders that look like what you'd put coins in, they sounded fantastic when I used 'em! |
The ECC40 in my L4G4 are labeled only as "ECC40 - Foreign Made". Could anybody tell me who's the manufacturer ? I'm asking this because I'd like to do some tube-rolling and I don't wanna end up buying replacement tubes from the same manufacturer :) |
I received the Bendix tube last Friday. It immediately improved the sound of the system similarly to the comments above. As it has settled in, I noted improvements to the soundstage - more depth and wider. I paid $25 for the Bendix - an amazing improvement for the money.
Gopher - Did you get the Lampi Transport up and running? |
Agear,
Your comment concerning your "mediocre" sound is tongue in cheek.
Robert (Star Sound) and Bill have spoken glowingly about your fantastic room. I hope you find the time one day to post your system on this site .
Charles, |
Bill, I imagine that your wallet needs a rest for a while.
Charles, I think his wife is the one who needs a rest. Have you seen her blog? |
Bill/Grannyring, you are starting to sound like Charlesdad with your victory parade. Stop rubbing it in and leave us to our mediocre sound please. |
Bill,
I imagine that your wallet needs a rest for a while.
Charles, |
