The new Lamm ML2.2 amplifiers driving the Verity Lohengrin II speakers had a polite, almost sweet sound and was quite Enjoyable . Neli was there a lot longer than I was, so if you want to know more details about the sound, you might want to call her.

As for the Lohengrin II, in about 6 weeks we should know a lot more about how the Lamm ML3 (not the ML2.2) sound on these speakers in a much more controlled environment.

As for the new Lamm ML2.2, the replacement for the ML2.1, in this configuration two pairs were used in a bi-amp configuration to drive the speakers [see below]. There was a sense of ease to the sound – which no doubt was aided and abetted by the use of two pairs of amps instead of one.

The sound, as far as I could tell on the somewhat unfamiliar speakers and familiar but not completely understood cables and racks/amps stands – compared to the ML2.1 – is more smooth in the midrange/upper midrange and airy on top. The ML2.1 have a slight tendency to highlight some subtle details, and to be slightly diminished [as opposed to rolled off] in the very tip-top highs, and these amps appeared to have none of that. What I heard seemed to indicate – and it is something I would like to see, so perhaps I am somewhat blinded by desire – that these amps might be a blend of the best from the previous two generations: the Lamm ML2 and ML2.1 amps – along with some nice improvements [like more air on top].

Neli and other room visitors listening intently.

The new Lamm ML2.2 monoblock 6C33C-based SET 18 watt amplifier

The Lamm ML2.2 in a bi-amp configuration. Interesting, huh?

The amps from behind.

A 15 inch woofer on the back of the Verity Lohengrin, and a somewhat problematic bi-wire setup [you can use long jumpers from one binding post to the other or 2 separate single wire runs, one to each binding post, or two amps – like here – or …]

Neodio digital, Lamm L2 2-box linestage, a Lamm LP2 phono stage, and…?

A Redpoint turntable

The inside of the new Lamm ML2.2 amplifier

For comparison, the inside of our own previous generation Lamm ML2.1 amplifier

A few additional comments about the Lamm / Wilson room.

The Lamm ML3 controlled these large speakers very well – at low to high volumes. The reason I would have given this room one of the Best Of Shows, if I was giving best of shows, which I am not, is that there were few if any other rooms playing challenging music – from a real source (CD or LP) – that generated a large scale presentation with such ease, that had this kind of decent separation and top-to-bottom evenness… and in the end just a calm constant convincability.

It is typically very difficult to reproduce music that is playing in a Lamm room at a show – mostly classical, some Jazz, and some others picked seemingly at random. This makes for a very nice place to just sit and listen. Very civilized and respectful, different from your average room at an average show [many are just about stirring up hype and attracting reviewers. Ours, for better or worse, are seemingly much more of a party atmosphere where people typically talk a lot and share their favorite yet somehow strangely weird and bizarre music by playing it on our system :-)]

The sound was indeed the tiniest bit soft, as has been noted elsewhere, because [and this is based on our experience with the ML3 amps as well as with these speakers on an Audio Note Ongaku, Emm Labs XDS1 and Nordost ODIN cabled system]

1) the speakers are slightly forgiving
2) the cables are slightly more forgiving
3) these equipment racks have unpredictable effects in our experience, in this case softening effects I believe based on what I have learned over time about 1) and 2) above
4) the sound in the Lamm rooms are typically setup to be a little soft – that is the way they like to do rooms at shows [more of an oasis effect as opposed to the WWIII effect]

There was a absence of real solidity to the image between the speakers, making me think that the speakers were too far apart. Although Lamm typically does speaker setup at show, including Wilson speaker setup, this time – because of the size and weight and perhaps other reasons – the Wilson factory setup the speakers.

Neli and Florian are smiling up front. Jim (encinitas) behind in green.

Rack with 4-box LL1 linestage driven by the Neodio 2-box digital

The inside of one channel of the Lamm LL1 linestage (preamp)

DaVinci turntable