J. wanted to hear his Lampizator Golden Gate DAC in our system – mostly because we all thought it would be a lot of fun – while auditioning the Acapella Audio Arts Cellini loudspeakers and Acapella La Musika integrated amplifier.
Lampizator seems like an extremely high-quality company, but we are very, VERY happy with Emm Labs‘ and Audio Note UK‘s digital solutions [also extremely high-quality companies :-)].
The Golden Gate DAC has a builtin linestage so we have many options here:
- Set the Golden Gate’s volume knob to unity gain and go directly to the La Musika integrated amplifier’s linestage
- Set the Golden Gate’s volume knob to unity gain and go directly to the Audio Note UK M9 Phono preamplifier driving the La Musika integrated.
- Use the Golden Gate’s linestage [and volume control] and go directly to the La Musika integrated’s amplifier stage
- Use the Golden Gate’s linestage [and volume control] and go directly to the Audio Note UK Kegon SET amplifiers
- Set the Golden Gate’s volume knob to unity gain and go directly to the Audio Note UK M9 Phono preamplifier driving the Kegon SET amps.
- did I forget something?
We needed more than 3 shelves on our equipment rack, so we setup the Harmonic Resolution Systems‘ (HRS) MXR equipment rack. Precision machining [think: very high-end turntable] on an equipment rack. Who woulda thunk? Such a pleasure to setup.
Can a person HAVE more fun? 🙂