Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Wisnon,

I saw 2 rooms with Lampy. The Big 7 room was very good, but I'm not a huge fan of those speakers. It's always hard to identify what, In a show room, is holding the room back but in that room I think the speakers were the limiting factor.

The main room downstairs with the Golden Gate was exceptional. Big big big speakers, but the music was there and very enjoyable. Interestingly, they were using an Antipodes DX as source along with some killer Lamm gear and the very intriguing Plasmatron power conditioner, which I will eventually have to pull the trigger on.

There were lots of Aurender W20's and lots of Lumin in various models at the show. Only one Antipodes. A few others as well. Startups as well as several well established one guy shows (ie. Music vault, Scaena music server, etc)

Overall a way better show then Montreal. I won't go back to Montreal. Axpona was WAY better and bigger.

Merrill Audio showed with their affiliate speaker, a massive horn system that was stunningly musical, fast and engaging. They also had a relatively unknown music server running their music, Blue Smoke Systems running through the brand new MSB V DAC. There was NOTHING holding this room back. Every step of the signal path was doing what it should. I have considered the MSB DAC before; now I will take a more serious look.

To me, the Lampy Golden Gate took the step that many have been waiting for Lukasz to make with his product, from gear looking like it was made by 4 guys in a basement to well manufactured top tier audiophile equipment. Congrats to him.

I also heard, In a few rooms, the Bricasti M1 DAC which sounded excellent. The current top tier DAC stuff is, I think considered by all, the premier digital rig to own. But it's multi unit system with interconnects and power cords and space and cost and all makes it insane for all but the most die hard of listeners.

I only had one day at the show. If any can get there, it's a good show and a lot of fun.

Cool. thanks for sharing Matt.

Just read my last post. Auto correct changed DCS to DAC. Sorry. Maybe that will make more sense. Maybe not. Lol.

Hi Matt, I have been raving about the plasmatron component for a very long time, two years I believe, you are talking about the huge gas tube conditioner?, if so, Chris there at vh-audio sales them, they come in two different sizes, the big model is the one to get, these add color realism.

I found the second smaller room with the Lampi 7, Ginkgo speakers and Dana cables to be excellent sounding. In some ways better sounding than the Vapor room. The Vapor room was hot sounding to my ears on the first and second day. The third day was much better so I assume the speakers needed burn in time. I also noticed the Raal tweeter pads were placed on the driver and that helped. I have the same tweeters and they can be hot and problematic to deal with.

The room that most impressed me was the Triode of Japan and Accoustic Zen Cresendo room. That room placed beautiful music. All with a $3200 Triode of Japan CD player. That certainly garnered my attention.