Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon The invisible, toxic sandstorm of COVID-19 was overtaking Chicagoland, and I was very fortunate to drop off my beloved Lampizator Big 7 DAC at my technician's shop across the state line in Racine, Wisconsin just before Illinois' Governor Pritzker issued his Stay in Shelter order. That was a month ago. But for long walks and occasional trips to the store, I'm homebound, isolated, teaching, and conducting nearly all my social interactions online -- except for evenings when my wife, Belle, returns from the retirement home where she works. Taking staff temperatures is part of her job description these days, which stresses her, as she's afraid she may not only become ill, but bring it home to me, as well. Given these challenges, I thought for sure that I'd bug out being apart from my prized Digital to Analog Converter, that soothes with its two large Shuguang 300B-98B Mesh tubes and vintage RCA 5U4G rectifier tube upfront, wrapping me in a comforting blanket of luxuriant and luscious soundstage. Sure, I could spin vinyl on my VPI Industries Prime Scout or, if I was jonesing for a little digital delight, I had a Blu Ray DVD player and an old school Pioneer CDJ 500 (you can read about the Pioneer here) to play a stash of CDs. But it's just not the same as listening to ripped, downloaded and streamed files rendered via my Lampizator DSD music server connected to my Big 7. That said, I get a pleasant surprise when my friend, Michael Laurance (who writes for TONEAudio and his own blog, The Shoestring Audiophile), lends me his Schiit Modi 2 Uber DAC. Scarcely larger than a deck of cards, at little over $200, it delivers a surprisingly pristine signal. This has been a revelation. Although I've often disagreed with Ethan Winer, an outspoken author, musician, and acoustics expert who is sour on expensive hi-fi, I have to admit he's right in saying that nowadays you can get very good and transparent digital playback for a relatively small sum. So, for the better part of a month, I render digital music, movies and TV shows through the Uber Modi and to my surprise, the little Schiit is an overachiever! When used with good equipment, it steps aside and lets the audio flow through unencumbered. The only thing lacking is that its presentation isn't as full-bodied as those of more opulent DACs like my Lampi. Simply stated, my Big 7 is a big and bold, smokey Cabernet Sauvignon befitting Chicago's best steakhouses, while the Modi is a pinot noir -- albeit a tasty one -- served best with seafood, poultry, or salad. Nevertheless, the very natural and uncolored sound the tiny DAC affords makes it an excellent backup unit and a great budget piece in its own right. Reunited and It Feels, Oh, So Good Finally, a week ago, I find myself back in the gritty streets of Racine, standing in the parking lot behind Schmitt Music, where my tech, Ron, rents his shop space that's stacked floor to ceiling with gear. He does good work, is extremely honest, and is very inexpensive -- hence the trips to Wisconsin. I call, notifying him of my arrival and, on cue, he emerges from a rear door, pushing my double-boxed DAC on a dolly. Stepping back a couple yards, he waves me in. I retrieve it, gingerly loading it into our RAV4. Maintaining a 10 foot buffer between us, I introduced Ron to Belle, who tags along for the ride. We swap audio stories and shared a few laughs. It is nice talking in person with a friend, and he is especially appreciative. A slender greying runner in his 60s, he leads a spartan life; clad in running shoes, jeans and short sleeves, he spends his days alone behind locked doors, working on a large backlog of electronics. The Corona Virus makes him nervous, so when customers pick up their gear, it's handled the same way -- a phone call when they arrive and no contact as they make their exchange outside in the parking lot. After hours, Ron clears his mind with a long run and goes home to an empty apartment a mile away. Jumping onto the I-94 highway, Belle and I are chuffed and celebrate by calling in an order for takeout pizza and, donning a mask and gloves, we pick it up on the drive home. I've got some tinkering and fine tuning to do, after all. Rolling in Bliss Plugging it into my system, the Big 7 sounds deeper and fuller than the Modi. "It sounds better," Belle says. "It sounds a lot deeper." It also sounds darker and less defined. Sitting unused for the better part of a month, I kind of expected that and, sure enough, like the sun burning off the morning fog in Southern California, after a day's playback, the dullness of inactivity gives way to brilliance and it's sounding spectacular. Several days later, though, I am playing a DSD recording of Steely Dan's Aja and notice that it's not as articulated as I'd remembered it. In fact, it sounds a touch muffled. Maybe the system isn't as warmed up as I thought? But when I swap in a remastered FLAC version, it sounds more defined. That's just not right. I flash back to a conversation with Ken, a computer maintenance retiree and Navy veteran, who'd gifted me with a handful of 12AX7, 12AU7A and 5814A preamp tubes from his large stash a while back. This is as good time as any to try several in place of the stock 12AU7s in my PrimaLuna Prologue 3 preamplifier (the 5814A can be used interchangeably with 12AU7s), I reason. After all, previously replacing the stock 12AX7s with the EI 12AX7s he'd given me added a new level of detail, so why not? Now, for the unfamiliar, substituting vacuum tubes like this in audio gear is called "tube rolling", and first up, I swap in a pair of CONN 12Au7s. Whoa. Like cleaning dusty windows with Windex, the DSD version of Aja is suddenly clearer. That's more like it! I play Diana Krall's When I Look In Your Eyes in DSD64, then a FLAC file of Cassandra Wilson's New Moon Daughter. Again, it sounds a touch more transparent, but there's also a subtle hard edge to it. Replacing the CONNs with a matched pair of General Electric 5814As, the harder edge disappears and -- wow! The details remain, but it sounds more lush, organic and natural. It doesn't matter whether it's Aja or Krall in DSD or Wison in FLAC, it's like nailing the right balance of vocal effects on a mixing board during worship service. Take me to church! I've hit the sweet spot. I'm satisfied. Introducing the GE 5814As into my preamp has enhanced the synergy in the audio chain and amplified the overall impact of the Lampizator Big 7 and, needless to say, they're keepers. For now, anyways. Speaking of which, it's time for me to roll. Cheers and stay safe! Juan C. Ayllon’s System SPEAKERS
2 Comments
Ken krieger
4/18/2020 10:26:56 am
Nice write up Juan glad your enjoying the tubes...let the music flow.
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3/30/2022 11:06:19 pm
I very much appreciate it. Thank you for this excellent article. Keep posting!
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Juan C. AyllonA writer, artist, educator and owner of Prairie Audio Man Cave, he lives with his wife, Isabel (AKA Belle), and their Goldendoodle, Liam, enjoys listening to high fidelity music and all things hi-fi at their home in the greater Chicagoland area.. Archives
March 2024
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