Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

I am not here for any agenda on the Lampi or anything else. I simply suggested a tube change that in my system, which excels in 3D presentation, might give the reviewer here another view into the Lampi sound. And with the CAT amps/SoundLab pair, I can compete with all but the very top systems at the frequency extremes as well.

Solid state designers have many amplification devices to chose from. Tube designers are stuck with a few limited choices which are in high supply, sadly poor performers compared to the past tubes. But the consumer can resolve this with a little effort.

If I based any listening sessions to the tube products I have owned over the years with their stock tubes, I likely would never have been satisfied with any of them. The stock tubes barely give even a glimpse of a tube product's potential…..I don't care what any tube product manufacturer says about this.

I will soon try a number of rectifier tubes in the L6 and share those findings in a new upcoming thread.

GrannyR,

Except for L7, the Lamp Dacs run the tubes at only 20-25% of rated capacity, so they should last 10+ years. Tube aging is NOT an issue. Indeed at about 20w output, you can leave them on indefinitely without a big energy bill and they will always be "ready". I often do that, except when away on a trip or something, so really no different from SS. In my L4, I have found great Tungrsam NOS tubes for as little as $10 locally and $25 on Ebay with shipping included.

Lukasz told me he made arrangements in case of his untimely demise to immediately release all his schematics publicly online, as he would never leave his loyal customers in a lurch.

In terms of the global economy, small boutique places will likely survive BETTER than larger entities with BIG fixed overheads, etc.

Interms of Transport, that is a different discussuion. DallasJustice had the Empirical Dac with all the trimmings and abandoned it for a TotalDac with Legato 16/44 transport and I think moved on to TotalDac Server and USB converter. I have heard the TotalDac and its very good, but didnt induce me to want to change from lamp.

Many claim the Lampi SB Transport is the best they have for RBCD, especially when fed by Ethernet. I cant say as I never had this experience. I can saw that Lampi DSD is sublime and if any solution is not doing DSD well, I am not interested.

This is all personal taste and preference! I love tubes FYI !

Matt, thank you for the time you are putting into sharing the results of your DAC testing with us.
I read your 6/7 round 1 results with interest because your conclusions were strikingly similar to the reasons I chose the Metrum Hex over the L4G4. I am not suggesting a SS vs. tube comparison, or even implying virtues of NOS, but I do suspect the Lampizator DACs have a "house sound" that many here find to be near-perfect, but not everyone. Lukaz should be applauded for creating a line up that appeals to many, and gets better as you move up the product line. However, at those levels, the choice is not so much right or wrong, but personal preference that can be influenced by sonic attributes as well as other factors.
You have some other great choices coming up so I look forward to hearing your continuing impressions.