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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.  

128x128snackeyp
woogoob
2 posts
 
I've had my eye on the TDAI-2170 and now the 3400.  I came across this YouTube video comparing I believe a tube setup vs. the 3400.  I know you can't judge sound quality thru a YouTube video, but I definitely thought the snare drum was a lot more believable with the tube setup.  Any one else hear the same thing?

Gary

https://youtu.be/2AEzr6MhYpU

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 ;)
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
No update from 
Mr. waltersalas yet?

I am dying to hear from him on the result of connecting pre out of 3400 to LM 508.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
https://www.opus51.fr/les-tests/item/870-lyngdorf-tdai-3400-le-test

One of the most detailed review of 3400.

It say good things about 3400 but no Karma in the midrange which may be only possible with SET.

It also mention that   3400 sound far superior to what a Devialet 220 Pro can offer,
waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
952 posts
 

@shkong78 Sorry to leave you hanging. My weekend didn't go as planned, so I have not yet had an opportunity to follow through on running the 3400 as a preamp for the LM 508, but I will get to it sometime this week.

In the meantime, I am really enjoying the 3400 as is. I was unable to read the review--is there a way to translate it to English? But it sounds pretty much in line with where I am--the ONLY area where the 3400 doesn't quite match the 508 is in the midrange, but I do look forward to an A/B comparison to see just what the gap may be. There will be gaps in the 3400's favor as well.

Also, as a previous owner of a Devialet D200, I can say without any doubt that the 3400 is far, far better in my system and to my ears. I thought the Devialet sounded clean and clear, but in the long run, it was just not as musically engaging as I wanted it to be. No such issue with the 3400, which is keeping me nights listening and smiling.
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