Pacific dac: Lampizator's new top of the line dac

wisnon

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Dec 12, 2011
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Seems to be using PX4 DHTs (Based on the position of the selector switch), what rectifier?
 
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CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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LampiNA

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astrotoy

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I'm curious about the comment about 20 bit/ 176 kHz being the future of pcm? I though we were regrettably locked into multiples of 44.1?

AFAIK, 176 is a multiple of 44.1. (times 4). That is why Keith Johnson uses 176 for his digital recordings, so he can easily downscale to 44 for his CD's. He could just as easily use 192, which is the upper limit of the Pacific Microsonics Model Two. That is what I use for my vinyl and tape conversions, since I don't have worry about creating CD's.

Larry
 
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moby2004

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Jan 21, 2018
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hello

I am very interested in the Pacific DAC but unfortunately had no opportunity to listen to it yet ( only tge GA model which already gave me a good impression and Pac is supposed to be much better in every aspect ?). My current system is high efficiency horn speaker (Avantgarde ) and classA power amp.I am going to test very soon a tube amp (with 300B XLS Emm Lab Tube to be precise) .
1) which tube would you recommend for the Pacific with a classA power amp and with a tube amp ?
My musical taste is very eclectic and I like transparency and dynamics. But more density would be appreciated as well !

2) I understand the USB input is optimized so for server streamer it's perfect. As I am also a CD/SACD spinner, I would need to use the coaxial or AES input as well. Any gap vs the USB input ?

Thanks
Alex
 

Golum

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Jun 7, 2018
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Hi,

Despite the fact i don’t own Pac I heard it many times and the best combo was with PX25 tube followed by 242 tube. I’m sure you can find all answers in the thread about Lampi tube rolling and the gear associated. We had on hand SET KR amp and Aries Cerat tube preamp driving Horns Universum speakers...hope this might help you a bit.

Cheers,
G
 
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wisnon

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Dec 12, 2011
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hello

I am very interested in the Pacific DAC but unfortunately had no opportunity to listen to it yet ( only tge GA model which already gave me a good impression and Pac is supposed to be much better in every aspect ?). My current system is high efficiency horn speaker (Avantgarde ) and classA power amp.I am going to test very soon a tube amp (with 300B XLS Emm Lab Tube to be precise) .
1) which tube would you recommend for the Pacific with a classA power amp and with a tube amp ?
My musical taste is very eclectic and I like transparency and dynamics. But more density would be appreciated as well !

2) I understand the USB input is optimized so for server streamer it's perfect. As I am also a CD/SACD spinner, I would need to use the coaxial or AES input as well. Any gap vs the USB input ?

Thanks
Alex
Where are you located Alex?
 

marslo

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May 2, 2014
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hello

I am very interested in the Pacific DAC but unfortunately had no opportunity to listen to it yet ( only tge GA model which already gave me a good impression and Pac is supposed to be much better in every aspect ?). My current system is high efficiency horn speaker (Avantgarde ) and classA power amp.I am going to test very soon a tube amp (with 300B XLS Emm Lab Tube to be precise) .
1) which tube would you recommend for the Pacific with a classA power amp and with a tube amp ?
My musical taste is very eclectic and I like transparency and dynamics. But more density would be appreciated as well !

2) I understand the USB input is optimized so for server streamer it's perfect. As I am also a CD/SACD spinner, I would need to use the coaxial or AES input as well. Any gap vs the USB input ?

Thanks
Alex
Hi Alex,

I tried many tubes with my B7 SE replaced then with PAC SE.
As you can see my setup consist of Duo Mezzo XD and Ayon Crossfire SET integrated.
My personal preference goes to KR PX 25 , 242 had to much gain but I tried it only with B7.
I also play cds using La Fontaine player as a transport , the cable is a simple BNC generic cable. IMHO this is the best way to play 16/44,1 music , I put it above the same files played with W20 and usb connection. For higher resolution and especially DSD files usb is the top notch choice . I tried also RJ 45 input of my PAC but only once and during a short presentation of LDMS server.
As far as I know Lukasz is for now in favour of RB and uses modified Esoteric transport and consider spdif as a perfect standard of transmission.
For AES/EBU connection between La Fontaine and my PAC I have no experience because the French player has only BNC output available.
 
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moby2004

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Jan 21, 2018
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Hi Alex,

I tried many tubes with my B7 SE replaced then with PAC SE.
As you can see my setup consist of Duo Mezzo XD and Ayon Crossfire SET integrated.
My personal preference goes to KR PX 25 , 242 had to much gain but I tried it only with B7.
I also play cds usig La Fontaine player as a transport , the cable is a simple BNC generic cable. IMHO this is the best way to play 16/44,1 music , I put it above the same files played with W20 and usb connection. For higher resolution and especially DSD files usb is the top notch choice . I tried also RJ 45 input of my PAC but only once and during a short presentation of LDMS server.
As far as I know Lukasz is for now in favour of RB and uses modified Esoteric transport and consider spdif as a perfect standard of transmission.
For AES/EBU connection between La Fontaine and my PAC I have no experience beacause the French player has only BNC output available.

Thanks for your input!
 

Charlie B.

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Nov 8, 2017
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Germany (100km north of Frankfurt)
After using the Golden Gate 1 for over a year I returned it in change for a Pacific (both symmetric with volume control). Both are great machines but the Pacific outmatches the GG in every aspect.
I only heared the Pacific with Kron T100 tubes and feel no need for tube rolling so cannot comment in that regard.
I compared USB and LAN inputs at length and the LAN came out the clear winner.
All this in my environment and to my ears, of course.
If using the volume control version into a power amp, make sure the very high output impedance of 1 kOhm is taken into account. (It works very well with a PS Audio BHK 250.)
 
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christoph

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Dec 11, 2015
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After using the Golden Gate 1 for over a year I returned it in change for a Pacific (both symmetric with volume control). Both are great machines but the Pacific outmatches the GG in every aspect.
I only heared the Pacific with Kron T100 tubes and feel no need for tube rolling so cannot comment in that regard.
I compared USB and LAN inputs at length and the LAN came out the clear winner.
All this in my environment and to my ears, of course.
If using the volume control version into a power amp, make sure the very high output impedance of 1 kOhm is taken into account. (It works very well with a PS Audio BHK 250.)

I fully agree with you that the Pacific is in another league from (my beloved) Golden Gate :eek:
Dammit, I totally forgot to try the T100 tubes as well in the Pacific yet :rolleyes: I only tried the T100 in my GG but there I liked the KR 242 a LOT better :p
Regarding USB vs. LAN, what USB cable did you use? Do yourself a favor and try the FTA Callisto USB cable ;)
In my experience, the Volume Control in the Pacific is REALLY VERY good (tbh. shockingly good) but I still prefer a first class preamp in between by a hair :eek:
 
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Charlie B.

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Nov 8, 2017
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Germany (100km north of Frankfurt)
Regarding USB vs. LAN, what USB cable did you use? Do yourself a favor and try the FTA Callisto USB cable ;)
In my experience, the Volume Control in the Pacific is REALLY VERY good (tbh. shockingly good) but I still prefer a first class preamp in between by a hair :eek:

My USB Cable was Audioquest Carbon and/or a one Inch Uptone Audio adaptor from my Sonore UltraRendu. I experimented with a Uptone IsoRegen and a D to D converter with glassfiber input and AES/EBU output (Acousense).
A (nearly) normal LAN cable into the Pacific bettered this right from the start.
I further improoved the sound by using an Aquvox LAN Switch (the better one) and their top of the line LAN Cable which both helped. But the big step up has been the Jcat Net Card Femto in my Music Computer, powered by a Ultracap LP1, a really great improovement.
So I don´t see myself going back to USB any time soon, sorry.
As I´m in the market for a used (and necessarriely "cheap") Gryphon Mephisto power amp, there will be no further cable experiments for me in the forseeable future, just listening to my music.
Thank you for the recomodation of FTA (looks interesting), I might try the FTA Matis some time later...
 
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cmchan

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Aug 24, 2018
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Hi fellow Pacific Owners. I’ve just moved from a LINUX server to a Windows 10 server. Curious how owners with Windows 10 servers are connecting to the Pacific via Amanero USB. I’ve started experimenting with Roon with WASAPI, ASIO and also JPlay with KS. There are lots of settings to play with. Would be great to hear your experience....
 

astrotoy

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Mine was set up so it wouldn't play DSD256 initially with Win10. You need to flash it change the settings. It works with Linux. Yours might be set up to play DSD256 (it did play lower levels of DSD and all PCM).

Larry
 

Marcin_gps

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Hi fellow Pacific Owners. I’ve just moved from a LINUX server to a Windows 10 server. Curious how owners with Windows 10 servers are connecting to the Pacific via Amanero USB. I’ve started experimenting with Roon with WASAPI, ASIO and also JPlay with KS. There are lots of settings to play with. Would be great to hear your experience....

Hello,

If you're using the Pacific DAC with JPLAY, I'd recommend using this driver:
amanero 1.0.5.7
https://amanero.com/drivers/combo384_drivers_xp_win7_win8_1057.zip

And setting DAC Link in JPLAY Settings panel to 40Hz. KS & UltraStream.

Regards,
Marcin
 

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