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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
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
The secret from Kondo is the high gain. Most compare "something" but in 99% it is always the same "result". The louder unit wins.
This has nothing to do with performance or specs. The Kondo is a soft sounding unit, it has no bite and the transients are not among the fastest. It is a nice unit for harsh and analytical Hardware or for Jazz. Try some old Deccas or mercuries with some fast stops on go (SXL 6355) and the cheap Jensen will show you what's all about. There is something more out there than high gain (btw. in the highest gain position is the SFz the worst solution).
But, like I wrote, there is much worse out there.
Happy listening.
thuchan
1,009 posts
 
Syntax - Fully agree. This is why I matched my old Monos and Deccas on my EMT R80 with the Lamm MM and a very special SUT (not the Kondo). And this is also the reason why it is better to have more than one tonearm or phono pre or TT...

Vusi_khumalo - using SUTs in an intelligent matching is a fine piece of work, and maybe this is what makes analogue experimenting so interesting. You are able to produce results which are so different and really make a wonderful lively reproduction possible.

Best & Fun Only - Thuchan
suteetat OP
435 posts
 
Thanks all for the comments so far. So far I have been going back and forth between Ortofon T100 and built in Jensen on Lamm and Jensen unit is growing on me everyday.
As I said before, with Air Tight PC-1 Supreme, Jensen 1:10 provides me with adequate gain so no problem there. Soon I will be mounting a second arm. Not sure what will go there, most likely either Koetsu Onyx or Miyajima Kansui, both of which will require something a bit more than 1:10 SUT. My plan to go to Hong Kong and look at Kondo is going to be delayed a bit but wonder what other SUT would also match well with Lamm. A friend really likes Audio Tekne but it is rather difficult to find one currently. Lots of people are talking about Bob's Device, Hashimoto SUT etc, how are those compare to Kondo or other top SUTs. What other SUT should I be looking at? The rest of the system beside Lamm phono are Lamm L2 Reference, M2.2, mixture of Stealth and Synergistic Cable (slowly migrating from SR to Stealth but for now some Sakras, some SR Apex), Usher Be-20.
thuchan
1,009 posts
 
I enjoy the discussion on this thread very much. Having at least too many phono-pres - now the EMT JPA 66 has arrived (No. 5) - I am considering selling my wonderful lammLP2 DeLuxe with Western Electric tubes etc. for a reasonable amount. If you have any questions about the improvements pls. let me know. I have a huge room but space is running short...

Best & Fun Only - Thuchan
suteetat OP
435 posts
 
Thuchan, I wish you mentioned this earlier. After extended audition at home, I just told me dealer to go ahead and order a new unit for me but with 20:1 SUT. But I suppose since my local dealer loan a unit to me for several weeks, I should not get the unit elsewhere anyhow :)

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