[BrandonB]

The RCA connectors were shit and so was the internal analog wiring so I replaced both with ultra-polished silver wire and ETI silver/copper connectors. 

The stock GE 5670 tubes are OK but not great, so I changed out the tubes to Penta Labs 5670's.

The stock power supply is the biggest weak point.  I bought a linear power supply off eBay using an R-Core transformer.  I'm not sure why but R-Core's sound better with digital gear. 

After those changes, the iDSD Pro sounds pretty damn good now.

I was surprised you moved on from the Lampi.  Everyone raves about them online.  Did it seem soft or not dynamic?  That is a significant amount of upgrading on your ifi.  I bet it sounds much better than it did stock.  I assume it gives you all the positives of tubes or you wouldn't have kept it.

[Tyson]

The Lampi uses an OTL tube design.  Many people love it that type of design but I don't.  The Lampi is a great DAC, very lively and dynamic.  But for me I like the mellower more relaxed sound of the iFi. 

It's the same reason I never warmed to the new Linear Tube Audio gear. 

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Just curious Tyson, what Lampi did you own?  The Lampi's that I have heard sounded very organic and laid back somewhat.  Of course, there is system synergy.

[BrandonB]

The Lampi uses an OTL tube design.  Many people love it that type of design but I don't.  The Lampi is a great DAC, very lively and dynamic.  But for me I like the mellower more relaxed sound of the iFi. 

It's the same reason I never warmed to the new Linear Tube Audio gear.

How things can be perceived.  I would have thought that the Lampizator would be the more mellow laid back and the Ifi would be lively and dynamic.  That is great info to know.

[Early B.]

How things can be perceived.  I would have thought that the Lampizator would be the more mellow laid back and the Ifi would be lively and dynamic.  That is great info to know.

I agree with Tyson -- my Lampi is lively and dynamic which is what I like about it. Obviously, tube choice can alter the sound significantly, so this is a generalization. Nevertheless, if you want laid back, look elsewhere.

 

[Tyson]

I agree with Tyson -- my Lampi is lively and dynamic which is what I like about it. Obviously, tube choice can alter the sound significantly, so this is a generalization. Nevertheless, if you want laid back, look elsewhere.

Yes, exactly right! 

Re: the sound of the Lampi, I am not 'right' and you are not 'wrong'.  We both hear the same thing and just have different reactions to it.  Which is great and one of the things that makes this hobby great.

[BrandonB]

Yes, exactly right! 

Re: the sound of the Lampi, I am not 'right' and you are not 'wrong'.  We both hear the same thing and just have different reactions to it.  Which is great and one of the things that makes this hobby great.

Are you using the Ifi as a volume control (preamp) also.  Can you connect to with toslink.  I looked it up and didn't say it could.

[Tyson]

Are you using the Ifi as a volume control (preamp) also.  Can you connect to with toslink.  I looked it up and didn't say it could.

It's pretty mediocre as a preamp.  Use is at a DAC only for best sound. 

Toslink can be used but there's a limitation.  You can use Toslink OR you can use SPDIF but not both.  Because for some stupid reason they decided to make the Toslink and the SPDIF use the same input plug.  Crazy. 

It was a problem for me in my downstairs system (my HT) because I have a BluRay player that uses SPDIF and a Roku device that uses Toslink.  I figured out a workaround.  I had the SPDIF cable built with a standard RCA connector on one end and a locking BNC connector on the other.  Now I plug in my Roku device using the Toslink and my BluRay player into the BNC input on the iDSD Pro.