Sorry for the tangent, but when you are finally looking for a USB cable as well, I highly recommend the FTA Callisto with any of the Lampizators. It’s quite the noticeable change. May be a touch overboard – pricey, but end game.
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I do like that cable alot, but I would not suggest you spend that for an amber 3 without having a better digital source as well lol
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Yeah, I figured it was overboard, but I am still quite impressed with the cable.
Is it worth waiting for a balanced lampi unit or is SE implemented just as well? Or really is the answer here still the chain.
And what is the use of a volume control on the DAC? mono blocks?
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Basically that. If your amp prefers balanced input, then get a bal lampi. If it doesn’t then don’t worry about it
It can be a preamp for power amps, or you can use it to better gain match an integrated/more finitely control volume for sensitive pieces
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Do it! Get that Golden Atlantic TRP!
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Lol I see youre keeping up with the used market too.
I think a non-golden atlantic trp is my top top (unless the price is foolishly low), and I think a balanced unit would maybe probably be better with the Hegel.
As much as I want another excuse to use some KT77 tubes, I think the Baltic is the sweet spot. I can use it on both the big rig and have the SE out for a side headphone amp.
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Did you ever get your ears on the DHTs?
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I think I’m willing to pounce on a Baltic or GG2 and finally stop, I’m getting tired of playing this game. I just want a little bit more than what I have currently, and what’s in the house is pretty good already but I think just a bit more along with some front end work will top things off. 
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Yes I have a Pacific, with 242’s (which is what I’m using) it’s very clean with great dynamics, but you can still hear the DHT immediacy. With PX25’s or T100’s it richer, still very neutral, with a little more midrange warmth, at the cost of some dynamics.
I don’t really feel it’s very valuable to review it, @M0N already covered it in his high end DAC comparison, and given the cost involved I can’t imagine it’s useful to many.
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Gotcha, I thought you were going to go hear a few over the weekend or that sort of thing. I didnt realise you were already deep into it all.
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I hear ya, same situation here. I’m extremely pleased with the amber 3 and it could very well be the last dac I need but I just have that itch that won’t go away. Baltic 3 or Atlantic trp in my future is very likely for next year 
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Anyone here use the Lampi volume control as a preamp? If so how did you feel about it?
Trying to figure out if it’s worth getting a SE unit to bypass the preamp on the hegel or just stick to finding a balanced out unit and letting the hegel do all the amp lifting.
Probably depends on the Lampizator, given the cost of the unit is in the PSU and output stage, they are probably price appropriate.
If you had a preamp you loved that could deal with the hot input signal, I’d probably skip it, but it is bypassed if you set it to 0.
All Lampizators have hot outputs, high gain on an Amber 3 it 7V SE, the pacific is more than that, potentially a lot more depending on the tube. Hot outputs for pre’s aren’t unusual, but some pre’s do have limitations in input voltages, so you’d have to be careful to match them.
Headphone amps wont for the most part care, because the volume control is usually a divider on the input signal, so you are attenuating before you amplify.
I use the volume control in the pacific to give me more usable volume range on the WA33, I used the digital volume on the Dave to do the same thing.
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You’ll have issues finding balanced units used, they just aren’t commonly ordered.
I’ve seen very few balanced Lampizator’s used, Pacific’s (2), Amber 3 (1), Golden Atlantic (1)
You’ll probably have to order one through Lampizator US.
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Turns out the power amp section of the hegel most likely isnt true balanced so im off the hook here.
Next question, for the general forum. Im looking at an Atlantic TRP and a Golden Atlantic TRP. The price difference is roughly $1k. Is the hot rodding to a golden worth that price difference or is the golden more for flavor?
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Absolutely, the caps are better from my understanding the copper top is an actual copper film to reduce noise, they come with better tubes, the super primo quality WBT RCA connectors, better power and better feet.
Think about why you want the DAC in the first place and then ask yourself the question again.
IMO for most “us” the Baltic is probably the sweet spot especially due to the standard balanced out build, but… I’ve never seen a used Baltic come up for sale in over a year of looking.
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I’d go golden I’d you can given that price difference, but wouldn’t worry too much if you couldn’t
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The guy i posted with the Atlantic the other day actually bought the only Baltic i have seen on headfi. He also bought his Atlantic minutes before i emailed the seller asking about it, it was $5250 which is a dont pass up price.
He wants $5800 for it now but i am kind of soured since he “stole” it from me (not really stole but you get it) and is now selling it for a few hundred higher claiming its just to “make space”. He has an amber, baltic, atlantic, and a GG coming, so def a Lampi guy.
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MUTHEFUKKA! lol
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