So now we have two complete amp systems with different looms which each favoured, (I should note the Goldmund sounded very good on the xlr, but not as good as on se cable)
The Lamm had taken a huge lead now, and the Goldmund was the resident amplifier, and had things optimised for it
The lp component seemed to destroy the Goldmund...but was that possible,
Time to recheck things
Ok the Lamm had shown better bass clarity and piano tone in the jazz
Time to ring the changes in the Goldmund
Having heard what the Lamms could do, I knew the system was capable, but was the Goldmund?
And so I changed turntables to the Monaco and the phono to the Bakoon running current mode
Suddenly things started to even up, one of the things with the single ended cables I use, the are sensitive to being moved and take a while to settle so....
Now I wasn’t swapping cables between the two amplifier, things started to even out.
Also I made sure the xlr cable was out of the circuit when trialing the se by changing the output preference on the Halcro
On LP, slowly the Goldmund seemed to catch up
Piano was still a smidge better on Lamm,
But bowed double bass and bottom plucked notes now had more air and clarity on Goldmund
On Sera Una Noche in dsd, Nublado, the Goldmund now moved in front with greater bloom and note clarity
On Berlioz symphony fantastic the bowed cello and strings sounded with greater clarity with the Goldmund
On Jazz, I think the Lamm still had the edge
On large orchestral the Goldmund was better, with greater clarity, and timbral balance
One of the things about the Goldmund is the ability to hear different string lines from amassed strings not just one massed tone.
In the end I would call it a draw, given the big difference with the cables
My personal preference was for the Goldmund given the increased clarity and layering, but on smaller ensemble and jazz, the tonal weight and purity of the Lamm would have many admirers
The one thing I noticed was the way the Lamm and Goldmund dealt with overtones
On Aquamarine the three blind mice reissue Blow up, the keyboard sounds wonderful on the Lamm fruity and rounded
On the Goldmund overtones can be clearly heard, and it’s less rounded
Also on Isserlis wonderful performance of the Bach cello the Goldmund sounded more woody and resin, the Lamm, almost sounded like a different instrument with darker tones.
Very interesting, given the cables used are almost the opposite from that character
This suggests to me, the cables may be optimal for each amplifier, but don’t overshadow each amplifiers unique character
I will be back tomorrow, to re-evaluate the Lamm again, now they have settled from their spiral journey
Also I will try some different tubes in them
I favour the 6n1p/23 variants but will try different versions of the 6n1p I have and 6922s of which I have a few, posssibly this can enlist a lighter tonal palette from the Lamm.and other qualities, the beauty of valves
I should note the Goldmund is much more powerful than the Lamm
I never got the Goldmund to go into protection mode
On the Lamm this happened maybe 5 times from clipping, I have a big room, so I was pushing the Lamm to the max
Previously I had owned m2.2 and got those to shut down as well
The Goldmund reserves of power and ability to stay unflustered into the CLX load is remarkable...
More coming soon