Lukasz Has Done It Again

[Steve Williams]

just want to understand how your lamm pre versus my 727 preamp are reacting to the 360 vs aphrodite. pretty straightforward question. sounds like u have had to turn your preamp up alot. easy to infer all other preamps will need to be turned up

I didnt have to turn my preamp up. First off I listen at realistic levels and secondly I wanted to see how much headroom there is and I can tell you there is plenty. Did I need to settle on 12 ..."no"but that's here I had it to get a handle on this DAC,. You have a solid state preamp and a nighty amp. Mine is an all tube system and I believe you are comparing apples and oranges. Whether that remains my sweet spot is too soon to tell. Relax and wait. I believe you will find everything to your liking and the big question is whether that trove of tubes on your table in front of you will become a thing of the past. I truly love what Im hearing and my curiosity although still there is but a flicker right now

 

[hifirabbit]

I didnt have to turn my preamp up. First off I listen at realistic levels and secondly I wanted to see how much headroom there is and I can tell you there is plenty. Did I need to settle on 12 ..."no"but that's here I had it to get a handle on this DAC,. You have a solid state preamp and a nighty amp. Mine is an all tube system and I believe you are comparing apples and oranges. Whether that remains my sweet spot is too soon to tell. Relax and wait. I believe you will find everything to your liking and the big question is whether that trove of tubes on your table in front of you will become a thing of the past. I truly love what Im hearing and my curiosity although still there is but a flicker right now

Hi Lukasz,
Great work as usual!
What is the stock Aphrodite DAC (RCA & Balanced ) audio output levels?
I know you mentioned that we can request the Lampi factory set it for our preference before the DAC ships.
Have you considered a selectable set of output level such as 0.6, 2, 6 volts that the user can switch by remote that are available in the Wadax or DCS DAC’s?
As we all have different preamplifiers and also very helpful for us owners as we may change preamplifiers in future.
This may truly make the Aphrodite not only the best and also extremely user friendly.

 

[Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus]

Hi Lukasz,
Great work as usual!
What is the stock Aphrodite DAC (RCA & Balanced ) audio output levels?
I know you mentioned that we can request the Lampi factory set it for our preference before the DAC ships.
Have you considered a selectable set of output level such as 0.6, 2, 6 volts that the user can switch by remote that are available in the Wadax or DCS DAC’s?
As we all have different preamplifiers and also very helpful for us owners as we may change preamplifiers in future.
This may truly make the Aphrodite not only the best and also extremely user friendly.

Of course this is possible but I wont do it because it is too much of a compromise. This dac is radical no compromise design. And I dont follow wadax. Horizon has more choice - 63 steps. I have been there already.

 

[hifirabbit]

Of course this is possible but I wont do it because it is too much of a compromise. This dac is radical no compromise design. And I dont follow wadax. Horizon has more choice - 63 steps. I have been there already.

So then should we pick the most universally accepted CD player/ DAC output level of 2 V for the stock Aphrodite?
This output level most commonly available as it is in the MSB , DCS, Wadax, Total DAC , Meitner, etc.

I thought the whole reason to get rid of volume control is to make the Aphrodite more preamp friendly in addition to best Sonic’s.

 

[dminches]

Of course this is possible but I wont do it because it is too much of a compromise. This dac is radical no compromise design. And I dont follow wadax. Horizon has more choice - 63 steps. I have been there already.

In your opinion does the Horizon sound as good at 55-60 as it does at 63? I thought 63 was the “purest” sound.

 

[Iamrael]

Of course this is possible but I wont do it because it is too much of a compromise. This dac is radical no compromise design. And I dont follow wadax. Horizon has more choice - 63 steps. I have been there already.

A lot of attention has been focused on the necessary fire (fuse) protection required on electrical components and the toll meeting standards it takes on the overall performance our components.
Have you done anything “outside of the box” in this vain to circumvent issues, and if not can you please tell us why?
This to me seems like a starting point to make “no compromise” component.

 

[Steve Williams]

I’m trying to understand why people feel there will be a problem with their preamp and the Aphrodite. What is it I’m not understanding. Is there a perfect matching that one has and another doesn’t? The hook up on mine was under 10 minutes and it sounds awfully darn good.

 

[dminches]

I’m trying to understand why people feel there will be a problem with their preamp and the Aphrodite. What is it I’m not understanding. Is there a perfect matching that one has and another doesn’t? The hook up on mine was under 10 minutes and it sounds awfully darn good.

People don’t know what the output level is and how it would match with their preamp. While I am not getting an Aphrodite, with my Horizon I can’t put the volume control past 6 (out of 28) on my preamp. That is not ideal. I can lower the Horizon volume to below 63 but I thought 63 produces the best sound. I would like @Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus to opine on that.

 

[Steve Williams]

People don’t know what the output level is and how it would match with their preamp. While I am not getting an Aphrodite, with my Horizon I can’t put the volume control past 6 (out of 28) on my preamp. That is not ideal. I can lower the Horizon volume to below 63 but I thought 63 produces the best sound. I would like @Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus to opine on that.

Your'e talking H360 and Im talking Aphrodite. I get it about the H360 as I had the same issue. I dont have the problem with Aphrodite and AFAIK all good preamps should function just fine with Aphrodite

 

[dminches]

Your'e talking H360 and Im talking Aphrodite. I get it about the H360 as I had the same issue. I dont have the problem with Aphrodite and AFAIK all good preamps should function just fine with Aphrodite

Understood. My point is that until you have something in your own system you don’t know how it will work with your other equipment. I am not suggesting there will be issues with the Aphrodite, but I can understand people being a little nervous until they get it going.

 

[Steve Williams]

Understood. My point is that until you have something in your own system you don’t know how it will work with your other equipment. I am not suggesting there will be issues with the Aphrodite, but I can understand people being a little nervous until they get it going.

This is why I made comments about the ability to increase the gain on my preamp from its previous 5-6 to 12-14 without any issues.

I truly believe there will be any issues for Aphrodite users and their preamps

 

[hifirabbit]

This is why I made comments about the ability to increase the gain on my preamp from its previous 5-6 to 12-14 without any issues.

I truly believe there will be any issues for Aphrodite users and their preamps

Hi Steve,
I think you misunderstood what we are asking.
From the Aphrodite spec sheet, it appears that the audio output is 3 v .
Likely RCA .
May be it is 6 V Balanced.
Now it seems that Lukasz want us to specify what we prefer for our system and have factory set the volume level before shipment of the Aphrodite DAC ???
That would be an excellent approach. however, what if you change preamp or amplifiers? Do you ship the heavy unit back to Poland to change that level configuration
We all have different audio systems. At this level I doubt any one be using a solid state op amp based preamplifiers.
Being able to operate one’s preamp with the volume control in your system sweet range I think is important to a lot of us. That is why I mentioned that 3 competing Uber DAC all can have DAC output selectable by the user. ( MSB, DCS, Wadax, Total DAC etc.) I know Lukasz doesn’t want to do that because of state of the art technology/ purity. I know he can care less about what other manufacturers do. But sometimes listening to what your competitors are doing may bring you to a better level. Competition does not have to be always negative.
Some preamps sound better with 2 v input and some with 6 volts. It all depends on your system.
For example, the Spectral DMC 30 SV likes 6 volts.
When you switch to a Dagastino Relentless preamp, the 2 volt sounds best.
Then when you change to a Doshi or Conrad Johnson, the preferred DAC outputs be different.

Audio dealers won’t mess with that.or make any recommendations.
We just want to know as like you we all want the best configurations for the best sound.
Like changing to NOS tubes or uber expensive footers or power cords
If you spend 88’000 Euros for a car, I think you’ll be provided with more details on your purchase?

 

[Steve Williams]

Hi Steve,
I think you misunderstood what we are asking.
From the Aphrodite spec sheet, it appears that the audio output is 3 v .
Likely RCA .
May be it is 6 V Balanced.
Now it seems that Lukasz want us to specify what prefer and have factory set the volume level???
We all have different audio systems. At this level I doubt any one be using a solid state op amp based preamplifiers.
Being able to operate one’s preamp with the volume control in a sweet range I think is important to a lot of us.
Some preamps sound better with 2 v input and some with 6 volts. It all depends on your system.
For example, the Spectral DMC 30 SV likes 6 volts.
When you switch to a Dagastino Relentless preamp, the 2 volt sounds best.
Then when you change to a Doshi or Conrad Johnson, the preferred DAC outputs be different.

Audio dealers won’t mess with that.or make any recommendations.
We just want to know as like you we all want the best configurations for the best sound.
Like changing to NOS tubes or uber expensive footers or power cords
If you spend 88’000 Euros for a car, I think you’ll be provided with more details on your purchase?

I totally understand and the manual states specifically that your preamp not use an op amp . I truly believe that this DAC will have a sweet spot for every preamp used with it. There is so much headroom that I believe this is a non issue but maybe Im wrong. Im using a preamp that Ive had for 15 years and it is a tube preamp

 

[Steve Williams]

Now it seems that Lukasz want us to specify what prefer and have factory set the volume level???

where did he say this???

 

[dminches]

where did he say this???

Post #300

Post in thread 'The Amazing Lukasz Has Done It Again'
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/the-amazing-lukasz-has-done-it-again.41306/post-1082686

 

[Steve Williams]

We set the volume level, so we can give you what you need. Just ask

Not sure he meant that but I could be wrong

Let me give you my findings...I had the high output H360 and my preamp was limited to position 5 (of 24) and sometimes 6 0r 7 but never higher.

I always had my Horizon out to my preamp at 63

When I started the Aphrodite I started where I left off, to wit my preamp was at 6 and I was hearing a very pleasant but subdued sound . I played all of my forever used demo tracks and found initially that the new sweet spot on my preamp was 12-14 which is dead center in my preamp. For my ears anything more made my ears bleed and on some tracks I Dialed back to 10-11

Lukasz never once asked me what preamp I am using but he did say to all of us that the tubes he selected bring out the best in every system. He also suggested to me that I could reverse the row position of my PSVane and KR KT 88

The rear row is for the the PSU and he told me ....
So front row is 3x more audibly significant.
Btw, you can swap rows and try ACME. More lush sound less analytical

Post 300 "just ask"to me is very confusing and this seems to be where everyone is hung up. I might be wrong as to what he meant but you never know. I do know that doing nothing but plugging mine in and pushing play was all I needed to do

There is nothing n the user manual that suggest people reach out and ask to have him set their preferred voltage but again I might be wrong

 

[Steve Williams]

I plan to reverse rows of the KT 88 at my event and let the listeners decide as I often like "lush sound and less analytical

I also wonder if moving position of part of the row of each will also change the sound but right now im really enjoying and might switch row before he comes If you run balanced then you have 4 in each row and perhaps mixing 2 and 2 or in my case mixing 1 and 1 would also change things as these are all KT 88

Finally I have not even explored the filters which can be used

 

[hifirabbit]

I totally understand and the manual states specifically that your preamp not use an op amp . I truly believe that this DAC will have a sweet spot for every preamp used with it. There is so much headroom that I believe this is a non issue but maybe Im wrong. Im using a preamp that Ive had for 15 years and it is a tube preamp

Steve,
I am not doubting the Aphrodite is a fantastic state of the art unit.
People on this post all have already ordered the units.
However, every piece of equipment needs to be fine tuned in one system to make the system sound the best.
One does not know how these state of the art equipments interact as we all use units from different manufacturers.
You use Lampi with LAMM. Etc..
Someone be using the sane DAC with Soultion or Audio Research or Burmeister.
I still think being able to select DAC level output be an advantage and not a hindrance for some of us.

 

[fbhifi]

Finally I have not even explored the filters which can be used

Go west, young man, Explore!

 

[Steve Williams]

totally understand but once again, maybe I got lucky with my preamp as I am hearing zero issues