Golden Gate DAC arrives.

[Geardaddy]

Thank you for the quantification Adam, For my part, DSD 256 only, balanced BiG 7 or GG would seem to be the most interesting path of consideration.

I would do the GG and have the best of both worlds

 

[Alpinist]

I have a balanced GG 256 DSD only on order.

Adam,

Congrats! Will you go with or without the volume control?

Ken

 

[Elberoth]

Balanced with volume, black, DSD only (and USB input only). I have also asked for Apple TV remote option, like the one I had on my Big 7 (much better than the generic, plastic one ?ukasz is providing).

That will be my 3rd Lampi in 8 months time !

 

[Alpinist]

Balanced with volume, black, DSD only (and USB input only). I have also asked for Apple TV remote option, like the one I had on my Big 7 (much better than the generic, plastic one ?ukasz is providing).

That will be my 3rd Lampi in 8 months time !

Adam,

Sounds really fine. You can't go any higher.

Enjoy,
Ken

 

[CGabriel]

I have just hooked up a new GG, DSD256, PCM, balanced, RCA, XLR and volume control. We are starting off using it as a replacement for our reference preamp to judge its preamp capability. Later, we will use a dCS Puccini as a digital source and then use a Core Technology modified MacMini to test the USB, DSD, Hirez capabilities.

Initial reaction is very favorable as a preamp but obviously it will need some burn in before we get serious about evaluating its performance.

I think it has already been said but the remote operation is very awkward and could use some development work. But you have to take into consideration that they are a small company with a big to do list. The user manual needs a lot of work also. It is way too tweak oriented and needs to be more clear about installation and operation. But the GG itself is a beautiful work of audio art.

 

[MadFloyd]

Caelin, if it's a balanced GG, how does it have RCA outputs?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts as you get to know it.

 

[Alpinist]

I have just hooked up a new GG, DSD256, PCM, balanced, RCA, XLR and volume control. We are starting off using it as a replacement for our reference preamp to judge its preamp capability. Later, we will use a dCS Puccini as a digital source and then use a Core Technology modified MacMini to test the USB, DSD, Hirez capabilities.

Initial reaction is very favorable as a preamp but obviously it will need some burn in before we get serious about evaluating its performance.

I think it has already been said but the remote operation is very awkward and could use some development work. But you have to take into consideration that they are a small company with a big to do list. The user manual needs a lot of work also. It is way too tweak oriented and needs to be more clear about installation and operation. But the GG itself is a beautiful work of audio art.

Congrats Caelin! That sounds like quite a component you just received. How are you liking your Core Technology modified Mac Mini? Do you hear a noticeable difference with this upgrade? I love the flexibility of my Mac Mini as I can load any software I want (i.e. Audirvana, JRiver & HQPlayer) and stream whatever I want (Internet Radio, YouTube, Tidal, etc.). I just wish I could close the performance gap between my Mac Mini and the Aurender servers for example.

Ken

 

[Geardaddy]

I have just hooked up a new GG, DSD256, PCM, balanced, RCA, XLR and volume control. We are starting off using it as a replacement for our reference preamp to judge its preamp capability. Later, we will use a dCS Puccini as a digital source and then use a Core Technology modified MacMini to test the USB, DSD, Hirez capabilities.

Initial reaction is very favorable as a preamp but obviously it will need some burn in before we get serious about evaluating its performance.

I think it has already been said but the remote operation is very awkward and could use some development work. But you have to take into consideration that they are a small company with a big to do list. The user manual needs a lot of work also. It is way too tweak oriented and needs to be more clear about installation and operation. But the GG itself is a beautiful work of audio art.

Caelin, the break in period is substantial. Enjoy....

 

[Geardaddy]

Caelin, if it's a balanced GG, how does it have RCA outputs?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts as you get to know it.

Ian, I thought you had washed your hands of Lampizator. Second thoughts...

 

[MadFloyd]

Hi Ian,

I believe the balanced Big 7 and GG come with both XLR and RCA outputs standard.

Best,
Ken

Perhaps but I find that confusing given RCA is not balanced...

 

[MadFloyd]

Ian, I thought you had washed your hands of Lampizator. Second thoughts...

Second guessing is a human trait to be sure.

 

[Alpinist]

Perhaps but I find that confusing given RCA is not balanced...

Ian,

I think you have the option of running balanced (XLR output) or unbalanced (RCA output). Sounds like you are curious about the balanced Golden Gate. It certainly would slide in nicely in front of your balanced XS Pre. And PSvane Western Electric Replica 101D output tubes are standard. I'm going to check out the GG at the NY Audio Show. Maybe I'll see you there.

Best,
Ken

 

[CGabriel]

Caelin, if it's a balanced GG, how does it have RCA outputs?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts as you get to know it.

I am not sure. But it does have both RCA and XLR inputs and outputs. I think the RCA input runs through an audio transformer to derive a balanced signal. I intend to use the RCAs both in and out first and then switch to balanced mode later.

 

[CGabriel]

Congrats Caelin! That sounds like quite a component you just received. How are you liking your Core Technology modified Mac Mini? Do you hear a noticeable difference with this upgrade? I love the flexibility of my Mac Mini as I can load any software I want (i.e. Audirvana, JRiver & HQPlayer) and stream whatever I want (Internet Radio, YouTube, Tidal, etc.). I just wish I could close the performance gap between my Mac Mini and the Aurender servers for example.

Ken

I had a similar experience using a stock MacMini compared to a Lumin music server. I used the MacMini with several different DACs but the Lumin with its internal DAC outperformed the MacMini / DAC combination. Part of the performance difference could be that the Mac needs a USB cable to DAC connection and the USB cable affects performance. I think the Ethernet connection with the Lumin may be inherently superior.

I am currently using Roon with an HP touchscreen computer, iMac client and Core Audio MacMini client. I need to spend a lot more time with this setup but so far it is working out well and may be the best solution that I have found for Hirez music.

 

[Steve Williams]

I had a similar experience using a stock MacMini compared to a Lumin music server. I used the MacMini with several different DACs but the Lumin with its internal DAC outperformed the MacMini / DAC combination. Part of the performance difference could be that the Mac needs a USB cable to DAC connection and the USB cable affects performance. I think the Ethernet connection with the Lumin may be inherently superior.

I am currently using Roon with an HP touchscreen computer, iMac client and Core Audio MacMini client. I need to spend a lot more time with this setup but so far it is working out well and may be the best solution that I have found for Hirez music.

Caelin

How is the touch screen computer used

 

[CGabriel]

Caelin

How is the touch screen computer used

I am testing capabilities of Roon at the moment which is impressive BTW.

But ultimately a PC server will run Roon in server mode with an attached disk array that has all the music files on it. The HP touchscreen will be in the audio room with Roon running in client mode. The HP essentially acts as a remote control of the Core Audio Mini that receives the music stream from the Roon server and sends it to the attached DAC.

 

[marslo]

Balanced with volume, black, DSD only (and USB input only).

Adam,

Is it all black or just the front plate ?

 

[Elberoth]

Adam,

Is it all black or just the front plate ?

Just the front. You could probably ask ?ukasz to get the new Big 7 aluminium top cover and have in anodised black, but to me the GG copper case is a true eye candy.

 

[Elberoth]

I have just hooked up a new GG, DSD256, PCM, balanced, RCA, XLR and volume control. We are starting off using it as a replacement for our reference preamp to judge its preamp capability. Later, we will use a dCS Puccini as a digital source and then use a Core Technology modified MacMini to test the USB, DSD, Hirez capabilities.

Initial reaction is very favorable as a preamp but obviously it will need some burn in before we get serious about evaluating its performance.

I think it has already been said but the remote operation is very awkward and could use some development work. But you have to take into consideration that they are a small company with a big to do list. The user manual needs a lot of work also. It is way too tweak oriented and needs to be more clear about installation and operation. But the GG itself is a beautiful work of audio art.

I think I have seen your DAC two weeks ago when dropped my Big 7 for PCM board fitting (prior sale):

 

[bonzo75]

I have just hooked up a new GG, DSD256, PCM, balanced, RCA, XLR and volume control. We are starting off using it as a replacement for our reference preamp to judge its preamp capability. Later, we will use a dCS Puccini as a digital source and then use a Core Technology modified MacMini to test the USB, DSD, Hirez capabilities.

Initial reaction is very favorable as a preamp but obviously it will need some burn in before we get serious about evaluating its performance.

I think it has already been said but the remote operation is very awkward and could use some development work. But you have to take into consideration that they are a small company with a big to do list. The user manual needs a lot of work also. It is way too tweak oriented and needs to be more clear about installation and operation. But the GG itself is a beautiful work of audio art.

It will takes months to fully burn in. It can be used straight out of the box once you put valves in, but it can be a tweakophile's wet dream if you want it to. Suugest trying 101ds and 300bs to get different sounds.

As for using it as a pre, I prefer other preamps in the chain, though directly it sounds cleaner and faster. I prefer the weight from other preamps, even when I can hear more distortion. That said some of my friends preferred it direct, so that is more preference.

Regarding the volume control, I just use it for DSD on and off, and at the start to put it on and bring the volume up to Zero. So no trouble for me.