Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hi Al,

I’m a laid back guy and enjoyed meeting you at Deepaks. I don’t want to get into an argument and appreciate what you tried to do for us. I know you had mentioned a stomach bug at the time, but wasn’t aware it was serious... I sincerely hope you are feeling better.

I’m not upset about how the meet went down or what happened in the past... Life happens! I also do welcome feedback and discussion good and bad. It’s a subjective hobby and we cannot win them all, but I felt some critical information was omitted.

1. You heard a prototype of the DAC and you absolutely loved it:

“After several hours of listening to the system including DSD from SACD through the EMM LABS Father Richards was gracious enough in letting Lukasz put in his DSD DAC. I brought some DSD files that Lukasz could add to what he planed on playing.

But before I describe what happens next let me tell you that Lukasz gave us a brief description of his work on DSD and thoughts on Audio. He also spent time in awe while listening to music through the system before we inserted his DSD DAC.

It only took a few bars of music for EVERYONE in the room to be able to hear what Lukasz's DSD DAC could do for the playback of music. You could hear people all over the room surprised at how well both Lukasz's DSD DAC and DSD done right could sound. AWE STRUCK is not significant enough to describe it.

Even Lukasz said he did not know it could sound that great.

ALL felt it OUTCLASSED the EMM LABS.”

2. After getting a dac to you we discussed it on the telephone and you informed me something was wrong and it wasn’t as clean as what you heard previously which led me to the immediate realization you had gotten the wrong unit (an experiment with very poor sounding Chinese polyp capacitors) with from our tech.

I admittedly did not ask you to remain silent with respect to what you or others heard, but I did explain there was a mixup and that was NOT what we wanted anyone evaluating. You understood fully and wanted to schedule another time to hear the Lampi in proper form (which I did and do appreciate!).

3. My Big 5 DSD was a finished product and what I wanted to be heard at the meet. There wasn’t anything funky about the DAC’s setup, but I was going to be unavailable by phone at the time of the meet, so I wanted to make sure you had our tech’s number in case you had any issues at all. I understand with your illness you didn’t get to it. I know your intentions were good and appreciate you trying.

Having said all that, my issue is that despite the above you chose to write about the prototype we never meant to be evaluated as if it were a finished product and rank it below Meitner and Phasure on a public forum.

Gopher and HiFial -

I think I speak for everyone here when I ask that you take this outside please.

I have noting to add until my DAC's arrive, so I welcome anyone elses input on anyting dac related that add's to this threads topic. But I don't think we all want to get in the middle of what you guys are doing...

Thanks.

+1. G.

Gary, thanks for your reply and understanding. But again prior to my postings I was never informed that the DSD DAC I had was a prototype. If I had been informed of that I would have not even bothered to try it, either at the Club meeting or anywhere else. What would be the point. And I sure as hell would have mentioned it on my postings if I had known it was a prototype.

Yes, you did mention that it had base caps and that the better caps would sound better but this was after the meeting not before. There was no mention that it was a prototype and we discussed that maybe it had an issue and you would check on it. I even dropped it off at your repair center for you. I said I would still like an opportunity if you could find one with what I needed for my system (PCM/DSD/preamp/Balanced). I never heard back from you. THIS is the FIRST time I am hearing all this. And it EXPLAINS a lot, possible, I hope. I would have NEVER wrote about what I had heard if I was TOLD it was a PROTOTYPE. What would be the point. The reason for you sending your DAC was the issue about the lack of a preamp section. That was the mix up.

Maybe you thought you mentioned it, but no you did not. Remember you were very busy because of CES so you might have planed to mention it but never got to me about it.

Lets just agree that there was miscommunication and leave it like that.

But I must add to that the EMM LABS was an older model I have since been informed.

I will have an opportunity to hear a Lampi against a current Meitner sometime soon. So the Lampi will have a chance to redeem its self in my ears. And I have high hopes for it seeing NOW I know the other one was a prototype.

Sorry Matt. I just saw your request. DONE.