New Lampizator Level 4/ Version 4 DAC in the house

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...

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...

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?

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...

Interesting observations. Do you have Duelunds in there? Take forever to break in. Old man Glory may be right about the tube selection. Time will tell.

Another capacitor alternative to the Duelunds that has appeared recently is the Jupiter Copper Flats. http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=0msk4f3cesm5tc1u0edukpsis3&topic=119876.msg1261678#new

g,

Yes, my L4 had the stock Mullard ECC40 tubes. If the ECC40 tube was that deficient in sound quality, what gave the L4 its 3D magic and sweetness? Is the Bendix 6900 and others you listed drop-in replacements for the ECC40? And with those others will the 3D presentation be left intact?

I'd like to hear other Big Six owners comment on the 3D comparison between the two DACs. I know some have Duelands like mine and I'm curious if the Jensens have anything to do with the L4 sweetness and 3D-ness. I'm willing to give up some of the raw resolution if the music can pull me in deeper.