Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

I just had a very humbling experience that we all intellectually know but rarely experience as dramatically as I did with the help of the Nordost System Set-Up and Tuning Disc.

The disc has a set of low frequency tones in both a slow sweep and individual tracks. Track 25 is a timed frequency sweep starting at exactly 20 seconds into the tracks and the second counter on the player corresponds to the frequency being played. It sweeps to 100hz I believe. The next tracks are individual frequency tracks from 18hz to 90Hz (21 total tracks).

Track 25 gave me a solid idea of how low my system actually plays. But the individual tracks proved to me just how important speaker and seat position are.....

I walked around the room while these tracks were playing and these tones went from completely absent to easily audible based on both my X/Y location in the room as well as my Z position. That phenomenon goes away around 57-63Hz in my room at which point is just becomes a matter of how loud or soft the tone is. But below 57, some tones were completely inaudible at several of my most sought after listening positions. It was amazing to see just how obviously significant speaker and listening position really is.

I found that my trust old Radio Shack SPL meter is helpful as well.

All should consider buying this, or a similar disc, to help determine if their speakers and listening partition are located as well as possible.

Cheers!

It seems that the best outcome is when you can do a full frequency analysis based on test tones and a microphone set up in your listening position. That being said, you still need to use you ears to dial in the listening room. All rooms have "problems" and the question is the sound from your speakers musical?

Correct. My point was a fascination with the fact that the point in my room with the flattest frequency response will almost unquestionably not be a spot I would want to, or even could, sit. My guess is that the spot with the flattest response is either just up against the back wall or a bit behind the center of the room, about 5-6 feet off the ground.

Since my gravitation defying hover chair is broken and I don't want to sit 3 feet from my speakers then I'm obligated to find the next best spots. It's a simple matter of trial and error to find the best spot. But the complete vanishing of certain frequencies at certain heights and locations just screams how important room treatment and proper setup can be.

I just find it fascinating!

Well this guy (Mike) was a Lampi doubter till he heard one and now straight away bought a Golden Gate. If you search the site you will see we had rollicking aruguments beforehand.

http://audioshark.org/lampizator-186/lampizator-big-7-review-7213.html

His latest GG Dac feedback (only 2 weeks old - and we all know those Mundorf caps take 4-5 months to break in) is here:
http://audioshark.org/lampizator-186/lampizator-golden-gate-7223-page16.html#post128035

"I know audio memory is very fickle, but I would venture a guess that with this tube combo and the Aurender N100H providing the sweet music, the Lampi PCM now is on par with the best I've heard....and you already know about the DSD....it sounds like nothing else digital, period."

Yes, Mike has heard the Berkeley Ref in his system (outstanding PCM Dac) as his pal lent him his for a few days and he has heard plentyin his system, as Mike is an unapologetic gear swapper.

So, yes, there is a lot of great gear out there, but I am telling you guys Lampi is waaaay up there.

Finally, I am getting jaw dropping feedback of the great sound by the Monaco "Sound Galleries" room in Munich, where they used a Lampi Big7 with Regen device with Uptone LPSU, a Windows10 CAPs Server (slightly OS optimised with i7 processor and top motherboard/battery powered SSDs) running HQ Playing upsampling all to DSD128, Corning Optical USB cable, Audiopax amps (3 pentodes in SE triode operation) and Avantegarde Duo speakers. They ran it in normal and Realtime priority modes and blew people away with the switch. Lots of engineers need to go scambling back to the drawing board. Details at the computeraudiophile forum and perhaps some writeup to come from Audiostream.

thanks Wisnon. I heard the GG/Antipodes room and it did sound wonderful. I'll look for the GG at the Newport show. Especially with the new DHT quad balanced option.

The new MSB V DAC is out now as well and looks to be a statement contender as well.

With my wonderful little ODSE I feel no pressure to upgrade. But it's always fun to look.