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How is LAMM LP2 compares to the more recent phono

I am now using all LAMM pre/power and my LAMM dealer offers pretty good deal on the LAMM LP2 phono deluxe version for me. I understand that 5-7 years ago, it is considered one of the top phono available but have not heard much about it recently and wonder how it might stand up to the more recent phono unit such as ARC Ref2, AMR, Audio Valve, Rhea Signature or Audia Flight etc.
I plan to audition LP2 but other units will be a bit difficult to find and I may not be able to audition them all unfortunately.
Thanks for your comment
suteetat
suteetat OP
435 posts
 
Blue_nose, I am not quite sure I understand you completely. Which 2 mediocre tables would that be, that I own?
I am in a process of upgrading all sorts of things which I already mentioned previously. For now I have one VPI Classic which will be replaced later on this year. Not many people have heard the new Classic 3. I believe HP has a prototype in his listening room that he mentioned briefly in Absolute Sound. I also heard a prototype at my local dealer which I like very much. The detail is not quite finalized yet but it may be possible to use other arm on Classic 3. At the moment, I am planning to get Reed tonearm with its arm pod to use temporarily with my VPI until I can get TW Acoustic Raven AC a few months later. I hope this is acceptable for Lamm.
lewm
13,688 posts
 
Suteetat, In your defense, I think upgrading the phono stage can be "heard" regardless of turntable, since the two devices manifest themselves in very different ways. Then too, a better phono stage prepares you for a better turntable at a later date, not to say there is anything "wrong" with the ones you already own or plan on buying.
suteetat OP
435 posts
 
Lewn, thanks for your comment. I know that some people on A'gon here keep complaining about VPI arm and it is difficult to really compare it to other arms. Since my Reed tonearm will arrive a few months before turntable, that's why I want to get the arm pod so I can try it on VPI table as well and see how different it would be from VPI arm. I agree with you though that with VPI Classic, it was not difficult to hear difference between ASR Mini Basis, Fosgate Signature phono and Lamm phono so far.
lula
213 posts
 
Suteetat, how did the Fosgate compare with the Lamm?
suteetat OP
435 posts
 
Lula, I only use Fosgate MM input with my SUT so far. I think Fosgate has more neutral presentation, a little less tube sound, if you like. Lamm has richer, thicker tone, a bit wider soundstage and more detail overall. The difference is not night and day especially after switching out stock tubes on Fosgate. I had Blackburn Mullard 12AX7 ong plate installed which improved the sound quite a bit. Fosgate is a bit more quiet however. Another good thing with Fosgate is that it has no problem working with solid state preamp. Before I switched to all Lamm electronics, I was using ASR Emitter II. It was rather hard to find tube phono that works well with ASR 10k input impedance.
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