Golden Gate 2 Reactions

Zero000 · Oct 7, 2018

christoph said:
Funny. When I had Normans RK 300b to test I first listened only to the RK 300b and I really liked them. In fact, they reminded me very much of 242
But when I finally i serted my 242 again, it became obvious, that they are really very similar but that the 242 just do everthing a bit better.
Without direct comparison, I would have been happy (enough) with the RK 300b, but as it is, the 242 remains the Queen in my castle

When you factor in price (632 Euros (versus 999 Euros for the RK) or 781 Euros inc 19% VAT, Paypal charges and shipping) I'd say the AD1 looks great for anyone wanting to take a punt. And the RK looks really quite overpriced.

I wish I could use AD1 with the original socket type. Fitting the Lampi with Yamamoto AD1 sockets was a step to far...

Though the valve with UX4 sockets is 50 Euro cheaper.

audioquattr · Oct 12, 2018

User211 said:
I took three pages of notes comparing RK 300B to the AD1 last night over the course of 4 solid hours of listening/swapping. I haven't got the time to type them up this weekend, but basically, in my honest opinion, the RK got trashed (OK harsh - but it didn't win for a large percentage of the time, but on occasions it did).

This is quite significant, as I felt 242 didn't better the RK when I kept cross comparing the two, at least in my system.

When I find the time I will provide more info.

Interesting, i also compared a lot of tubes again last week and also liked the RK300 a bit more than the KR242.
The strange thing (for me) is that since 2 RK300's were broken on my Pacific balanced, i started rolling again all the tubes i have.
Completely new experience than with rolling at my GG. I mean, i can't make the same conclusions. Also the 5 st rotary switch helps a lot.
But the strange thing i mean is that i like the sound better with just 2 RK300 tubes at the back than all 4 in balanced way.

I am looking forward to your notes about the AD1 compare. Do they just fit in the Lampizator?

Zero000 · Oct 12, 2018

audioquattr said:
Interesting, i also compared a lot of tubes again last week and also liked the RK300 a bit more than the KR242.
The strange thing (for me) is that since 2 RK300's were broken on my Pacific balanced, i started rolling again all the tubes i have.
Completely new experience than with rolling at my GG. I mean, i can't make the same conclusions. Also the 5 st rotary switch helps a lot.
But the strange thing i mean is that i like the sound better with just 2 RK300 tubes at the back than all 4 in balanced way.

I am looking forward to your notes about the AD1 compare. Do they just fit in the Lampizator?

It's all explained above re the sockets. Do you not understand something?

So if you ask them to build you some with UX4 sockets, they might do so. And they will fit. The default AD1 socket does NOT fit a Lampi.

audioquattr · Oct 12, 2018

User211 said:
It's all explained above re the sockets. Do you not understand something?

So if you ask them to build you some with UX4 sockets, they might do so. And they will fit. The default AD1 socket does NOT fit a Lampi.

yeh could be my bad englisch. I read about sockets, but i have to read it like AD1 that will fit in UX4 socket.

bonzo75 · Oct 13, 2018

We again compared at Greg's, he had this time swapped out his Emmespeakers (which I really like), and put in his old DIY horns with the 14w EL84 Cube amps.

I found the PX25 to work better than the RK PX4 here, just had more drive, better timing, better flow, and because these speakers are a bit lean, it needed midbass from the PX25.

The RK PX4 had sounded really good on the Emmespeakers, though on those I hadn't compared them to the PX25, but had compared the PX25 and the RK 300b, and preferred the PX25. The amps then used were KR va 200, Thoress hybrids, and the Cubes.

We also tried the Lampi 45s, and the anniversary solid plate EML 45s. The Lampi 45s were the airiest and the best on vocals in the DIY horn system. Compared to the anniversary solid plate EML 45s compared to them were cleaner, lower noise, more attack and drive, and we generally preferred them on all music except the vocals where I preferred the Lampi 45s. Compared to the PX25s, the anniversary solid plate 45s are a different presentation, they have some marginally more natural tone on violin etc but overall not the same level of dynamics, oomph, and drive as the PX25.

The Lampi 45s had not done well in the Emmespeakers system at all.

We also tried the Ayon recti with the RK PX4, but the RK 300b was much better.

We also tried the various 45s in the KR preamp, but while the EML valves lead to a bigger soundstage, in the preamp the quietness of the KR 45s plays a bigger role and leads to a better sound

Zero000 · Oct 13, 2018

Is this Anniversary EML 45 this one Ked?

http://www.emissionlabs.com/html/club/45-Globe.htm

If so, that's interesting. As I didn't like their normal solid plate 45 at all. Either it is a different beast, or it just likes Greg's speakers?

bonzo75 · Oct 13, 2018

User211 said:
Is this Anniversary EML 45 this one Ked?

http://www.emissionlabs.com/html/club/45-Globe.htm

If so, that's interesting. As I didn't like their normal solid plate 45 at all. Either it is a different beast, or it just likes Greg's speakers?

I didn't like their normal solid plate one either

bonzo75 · Oct 13, 2018

Yes that's the one

wisnon · Oct 13, 2018

User211 said:
Is this Anniversary EML 45 this one Ked?

http://www.emissionlabs.com/html/club/45-Globe.htm

If so, that's interesting. As I didn't like their normal solid plate 45 at all. Either it is a different beast, or it just likes Greg's speakers?

Al has a pair for sale...

abeidrov · Oct 18, 2018

Golum said:
Hi Shadowlight;

I did not specify - I just requested, as I'm using the active preamp, to be taken care of that and that they should use as a reference tube 242 (as it's the one with the highest gain). Rest was done by them. Also in the discussion with Lukasz Domansky (one day we'll all hear about his servers) he told me that he is always requesting from them low output voltage setting/s.

And as advised by Norman I'm in Warsaw currently and tmr visiting Lukasz and the factory so will ask for sure.

Cheers;
G

Hi Golum,

Have you had a chance to ask Lukasz about this new option? How does it work? Is it a separate resistor, which is activated only at 242 tube setting? Will it be a standard option on all new dacs? People, who spend around 15K Euro on a DAC, deserve to know about all the available options.

Thanks,
Aziz

Golum · Oct 18, 2018

abeidrov said:
Hi Golum,

Have you had a chance to ask Lukasz about this new option? How does it work? Is it a separate resistor, which is activated only at 242 tube setting? Will it be a standard option on all new dacs? People, who spend around 15K Euro on a DAC, deserve to know about all the available options.

Thanks,
Aziz

Hi Aziz,

I appologize for not getting back earlier. Yes i spoke with Lukasz about that and definately my DAC is the first unit where they’ve implemented this solution where you with the turn of the knob to select the tube type it also changes the output voltage and it keeps it at the levels i’ve mentioned before. I have no idea if they will implement this as a standard but I’ve suggested to Lukasz that they do. So my unit is kind of beta unit regarding this solution. I personally love it, Wisnon is testing my dac this two weeks and than we’ll also take it to Christoph place for additional evaluation. But so far IMHO it’s a very nice (big) step up vs my previous gg bal.

Cheers,
G

abeidrov · Oct 18, 2018

Golum said:
Hi Aziz,

I appologize for not getting back earlier. Yes i spoke with Lukasz about that and definately my DAC is the first unit where they’ve implemented this solution where you with the turn of the knob to select the tube type it also changes the output voltage and it keeps it at the levels i’ve mentioned before. I have no idea if they will implement this as a standard but I’ve suggested to Lukasz that they do. So my unit is kind of beta unit regarding this solution. I personally love it, Wisnon is testing my dac this two weeks and than we’ll also take it to Christoph place for additional evaluation. But so far IMHO it’s a very nice (big) step up vs my previous gg bal.

Cheers,
G

Thanks for the update.

abeidrov · Oct 21, 2018

Hi,

GG2 should support DSD512? My spec sheet says, it has been tested for the DSD512 playback. But Roon shows, the connected dac only supports DSD256. I am now testing Antipodes CX + EX combination and would like to try upsampling to DSD 512.
If you have Roon, please, check, what the maximum DSD rate it shows in settings.

Thanks.

wisnon · Oct 21, 2018

DSD512 ONLY works win Windows. No one has got it to work with Linux/Amanero.

abeidrov · Oct 21, 2018

My test report says:"DSD512x working - LINUX - YES".

wisnon · Oct 21, 2018

Cant help you then. I dont know of Linux 512 ever working, so that is news to me.

wisnon · Oct 21, 2018

Actually, I was wrong Azziz... here is what I found out from Domansky of DMS fame:
use firmware 2002b for Linux dsd512. will not work well with Windows. Best for Windows is still 1096, I believe.

abeidrov · Oct 21, 2018

Thanks, Wisnon, I should have the latest firmware. Interesting, that for other DSD rates, the test report says Mac OS and Linux. For DSD 512 - only Linux. No mention of Windows at all. Maybe other GG2 owners with Roon can check their Roon settings.

wisnon · Oct 21, 2018

abeidrov said:
Thanks, Wisnon, I should have the latest firmware. Interesting, that for other DSD rates, the test report says Mac OS and Linux. For DSD 512 - only Linux. No mention of Windows at all. Maybe other GG2 owners with Roon can check their Roon settings.

What does you spec sheet say? Does it give the FW number? if not just contact Lukasz about reflashing. its fairly easy but you need to open the chassis and use a windows computer.

Alrainbow · Oct 21, 2018

What does Roon report back ? Usb or network

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