Lampizator head dac

[bmoura]

Al,
 
How is the updated HeadDAC performing with your planar headphones?  I'm wondering if the HeadDAC has enough output wattage to drive these models effectively.

 

[ALRAINBOW]

Luk is in sigapore. And I have not rec the head dac as yet . Maybe today. Regarding power it did for any headphone I had. Except the HE6. He removed the output transformers . So it has more power than before but not imp matching anymore due to no transformers. But with headphones ther is no cross overs so it matters a lot less. Let's see what I hear I will post in honestty . If it needs to go back it will. But I did loan a couple of pairs of my flagships . And he does have a pair of headphones I cannot recal the name right now. But I had them and they are about 85 percent of the hd800. So he does have a good perspective to judge by. He said in an email for him to be able to drive the he6 he would need big transfermers. He is right the woo amp has them at about 8 times the size and weight . Given they use the same output tubes I would think its possible. For me it's about tonality and presetstion. The dac has a digital board he loves and it does dsd256 now.

Al

 

[bmoura]

Luk is in sigapore. And I have not rec the head dac as yet . Maybe today. Regarding power it did for any headphone I had. Except the HE6. He removed the output transformers . So it has more power than before but not imp matching anymore due to no transformers. But with headphones ther is no cross overs so it matters a lot less. Let's see what I hear I will post in honestty . If it needs to go back it will. But I did loan a couple of pairs of my flagships . And he does have a pair of headphones I cannot recal the name right now. But I had them and they are about 85 percent of the hd800. So he does have a good perspective to judge by. He said in an email for him to be able to drive the he6 he would need big transfermers. He is right the woo amp has them at about 8 times the size and weight . Given they use the same output tubes I would think its possible. For me it's about tonality and presetstion. The dac has a digital board he loves and it does dsd256 now.

Al

 
I'm definitely looking forward to the new digital board.  And trying out DSD 256 on the Lampizator DSD DAC.  Sounds pretty great already at DSD 128... 
 
A suggestion for you and the HeadDAC.  Check out the Binaural DSD edition of the album Misa Criolla from Cobra Records over on Native DSD.  It's a dummy head binaural recording in native DSD 64fs.  Designed for headphone listening.  Pretty impressive here with the headphones - even without a HeadDAC!  Better yet, they let you buy the album tracks one by one in case you want to sample one before buying the full album. 
https://cobra.nativedsd.com/albums/misa-criolla

 

[wisnon]

So I heard that AL's HeadDac shipped today and that means he should get by Friday.
 
Now let the fun and games begin!
 
i wish I could be there to go for the first " test-drive" with him. Should be tons of fun.

 

[ALRAINBOW]

Well it's been a while but it's back. And playing right now I'll post some pics over the weekend. And it will be seen and heard at the headfi meet on babalon in the coming week
And it will be playing from my ref server and my hd800 headphones. So far it's just amazing. I dare anyone who hears this not have a tear in the eye when it's not there turn Hahhaaha. This is the jam. It's has the didgital dsd 256 board. It will be heard with the eml anniversary globes and a tungsol vt99 driver and Sophia princess Recti
What a combo. I have plenty of my own time to helping it's options for us headphone people. Enough of the two speaker stuff this is our turn to shine now. And this head dac is a b7 so it's also a dac without the amp if need be. So it's a one stop shop for audio nirvana be it headphones or speakers.
So far it's just amazing and man I missed this dac. Luk thanks for getting it to me.
See you guys there. I'll be the old fat guy smiling by the lampi. Lol. Looking at the faces of you guys.
Al

 

[wisnon]

HHHMMMMM…it seems like BMicheals should have waited then. The Lampi seems like a slam dunk!

 

[ALRAINBOW]

Well it's another day in lampi heaven. The head dac is exitrenly transparent getting me right there with headphones or as a ore out. The new dsd board does native dsd over K stemming up to dsd 128 then it's native dsd over asio.
I have played a few dsd 256 files and they are clean as for better not sure but it's clean and sounds and has great sound. For me it's more air around the music. Not sure if that matters or not. But I must say the dac section is current as a thing out there and beyond most made as of now.
The sound for PCM is the best I have yet to hear from any dac to date. I know a big claim but it will be shown first hand at the meet on Long Island
It should be show stopper.
So far it's only draw back is my beloved he6 headphones. But luk gave it s really good try many hours of trying to have the cake and eat it too. In the end I have a great head dac as good as my B 7 and it's amp drives any thing I have short of them. I have done side by side with both dac s. Head phones out. The head dac has a little more low end and is used with the hd800. Just to get those headphones to sing is a feat by itself.
Very happy so far. I want to hear some other dacs there at the show but I cannot imagine this not being the one that all will be taking about long after the show. It does both dsd and PCM perfect for me.
Please ask me any questions here or at the show.
I might swap out the anniversary globes for eml 300b. Why cause it's available for all. So if someone wants the get one they have a clear understanding of how it will sound.
Al

 

[js319]

Hi Al. I think I speak for a many of us when I say I am super envious! I do have a few questions where I would love to hear your views:

You mentioned towards the beginning that you feel the amp section of the Head DAC beats several SS or tube amps you have on hand. Can I confirm what you mean is you compare between feeding the B7 Head DAC straight to headphones, vs. feeding your other amps with the DAC section of the B7 Head DAC, and you feel the Head DAC amp is better? Also, if you don't mind me asking, which were the amps you compared to? Please feel free to PM me if you wish on the last question.

I saw that you were tube rolling with VT99s / 6SN7s, but also 101Ds and 300Bs. I was under the impression the B7 Head DAC takes DHT tubes ... where do the driver tubes fit in?

I think you started out with a 2-rectifier tube design and then went to 1. What would you say are the sonic differences between the two setups? Did you request the change or Luk recommend it, and if so why?

Are there headphones whose sound signatures you feel are a particularly good fit with the Head DAC, and conversely are there any that you don't think offer a good synergy? Or to think about the question slightly differently, are there large enough difference from tube rolling to help tune the system to more or less what you want, regardless of which headphones you are using?

I hope to hear from you if/when you have time. And once again, thank you for having shared your impressions to date - not many examples of these machines in the field!

 

[ALRAINBOW]

Great questions , I'll,do reply later today. I got home very late last night and am up,already. Give me till later today.
I will,also post a
If of the two dacs side by side. Where the b7 is three tubes and the head dac is is four tubes.
B7 is one recti and two outputs. The headac of the same but adds one driver tubes as welll

Thanks for taking an interest.
Al

 

[wisnon]

VT99 and 6sn7 are the driver tubes. The output tubes are DHT, 45, 300b, 6a3, 101d, etc.
 
The single recti tube is the 5v type, whether DH or IH.
 
AL has a regular B7 Dac with headphone outputs and a B7 HEAD-DAc with the driver tube. So, to be clear he has TWO lampis.

 

[bmoura]

  VT99 and 6sn7 are the driver tubes. The output tubes are DHT, 45, 300b, 6a3, 101d, etc.
 
The single recti tube is the 5v type, whether DH or IH.
 
AL has a regular B7 Dac with headphone outputs and a B7 HEAD-DAc with the driver tube. So, to be clear he has TWO lampis.

 
A two Lampi Big 7 household.  Nice!

 

[ALRAINBOW]

There is something magical about a vt99 tube and I do not know why but everytime I use it , it makes improvements I did not know I could.
I wish ps vane or some other replica tube maker made them . In my woo wa5 and especially in my woo wes. The improvement is dramatic. It just adds layers of sound that just seems right. As the headac is very transparent it's magical improvement although many other drivers sound fine that is until you find one of these . I my woo Wes ots a must and I have tried so many other drivers . The head dac is areal end game dsc/ amp combo for sure. To hear one is to know this in seconds.
Al

 

[Raika]

where is the review ? Al

 

[ZERUNG]

  VT99 and 6sn7 are the driver tubes. The output tubes are DHT, 45, 300b, 6a3, 101d, etc.
 
The single recti tube is the 5v type, whether DH or IH.
 
AL has a regular B7 Dac with headphone outputs and a B7 HEAD-DAc with the driver tube. So, to be clear he has TWO lampis.

Wisnon, Al,
Could I request your view.
Presently using DH rectifier for my B7. I was wondering if the IH GZ34 (Metal plate, Miniwatt) would sound better? If so I will go for one (Thankfully only one).
Thanks
Happy B7 camper!

 

[wisnon]

I love my Philips MW metal base GZ34! (expensive).
 
You can also try the GEC/Cossor U52, fat bottle GZ37 (expensive) and double mica 5R4gy military spec (Fivre/Zaerix/Haltron brands). (Cheap)
See discussions at audiocircle.com forum, Lampizator section.
 
Google the article "the sound of a rectifier" for a quick education on Sound differences.