by Michael

Annoucement: Lamm ML3 Signature Power Amplifier

December 26, 2006

The ML3 Signature Power Amplifier

LAMM INDUSTRIES, INC. is proud to introduce its crowning achievement, the ML3 Signature power amplifier. The ML3 is a single-ended amplifier with a separate power supply utilizing a very powerful direct-heated triode GM70 (plate dissipation 125W).

The ML3 continues the fine tradition that began with the Lamm ML2 single-ended amplifier, and takes it to unimagined heights of performance attainable only now.

The ML3, along with the renowned Model ML2.1 amplifier, is practically the only single-ended amplifier on the market capable of reproducing the entire range of audio frequencies. The ML3’s midrange is beautifully rendered, along with a natural and extended bass, and unparalleled high frequency reproduction, up to now only available in our ML2, ML2.1, and ML3 models.

The ML3’s innovative circuitry enables a recreation of the original spectral balance and harmonic structure of the recorded material without loosing a strand of low-level detail or nuance. Another unique aspect of the design enables the ML3 to recreate a three-dimensional soundstage without boundaries or limitations, while maintaining an extraordinary transparency of perceived sound. The ML3 truly demonstrates what a properly designed single-ended amplifier can do.

Technical Aspects in Brief

The ML3 is a 32 Watt, no overall feedback pure class-A single-ended amplifier. It’s built on one of the most sophisticated power supplies ever used in audio, and its most prominent features are:

* Separate plate and filament transformers
* Six filter chokes
* Six rectifier tubes
* Highest quality film capacitors used in high-voltage power supply feeding the output stage
* Refined soft-start and delay circuits
* Option for turning the amp on/off controlled via Lamm preamplifiers

While the ML3 has no overall loop feedback, the amplifier features an option allowing the user to introduce small amounts of local feedback in the output stage. You can choose between two levels of feedback: NFB1 and NFB2, which differ in their levels. This allows for three feedback options: No feedback, NFB1 or NFB2.

A multi-turn trimming potentiometer, accessible through a special opening in the amplifier’s chassis, along with a set of test points, allow the user to adjust and measure the plate current of the output tube via an external voltmeter.

Absolutely unique custom-made output transformers, along with our unique output stage and sophisticated power supply, allow the ML3 to drive most real-world speakers yielding tremendous sonic impact and stability under the most dynamic conditions. Although the ML3 can drive most speakers, their full potential is best realized with high-efficiency speakers of 92dB and higher.

The design goal of the ML3 was to use best modern technology and processes in a style reminiscent of equipment from the golden age of vacuum tubes. Each amplifier is carefully constructed and handcrafted of the finest materials and world-class parts, some of which include military-graded DALE metal film resistors, PRC wirewound resistors, CADDOCK power film resistors; BOURNS multi-turn potentiometers; CORNELL DUBILIER and UNITED CHEMI-CON electrolytic capacitors, ELECTROCUBE, ROEDERSTEIN and ELCON film capacitors; HAMMOND chokes; gold-plated NEUTRIC and FISCHER connectors; military-graded low-noise long-life vacuum tubes.

Special attention was given to designing the plate and filament transformers that have no mechanical contact with either the transformer cover or the chassis, and are suspended in a special encapsulant that almost completely absorbs even residual mechanical vibrations. This plays a significant role in assuring absolutely unique clarity and micro-resolution.

Tube Complement:

* One 12AX7/ECC83
* Four 6N30P-DR / 6H30П-ДP (cyrillic)
* One GM70 / ГМ70 (cyrillic)
* Six 12AX3/12BE3

The ML3 is designed to function on AC line voltages throughout the world — 100/120/220/230/240 V — and can be internally adjusted without elaborate modifications.

Suggested retail price (preliminary): $126,290.00/pair

See you at the Venetian at CES, Suite 34-309!

in CES 2007 / High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo / Lamm / Show Reports 3 comments
 by Michael

Predictions for the New Year

1. We will see people cryo’ing entire amplifiers, cd players, and pre-amplifiers.

2. TAS will finally match Stereophile in number of subscribers and number of copies printed.

3. Somebody will make a blu-ray high-end audio cd player which will not sell well.

4. Somebody will make a blu-ray high-end video player that sounds almost as good as the best high-end audio SACD players which will open the market for true high-end Audio+Video systems and the dredging up of all sorts of video to go with the large, currently video-less, music catalogs from the last 100 years. This will stave off the recording industries demise until broadband is capable of downloading the equivalent of a 70GB blu-ray disc in finite time.

5. The official CES High-end ‘High Performance’ Audio Show and the Stereophile Home Entertainment Show continue to dwindle.

Wishes for the New Year

1. We see larger and larger diamond drivers culminating in six-foot tall diamond drivers for a high-resolution single-driver speaker.

2. The current bear market for high-end audio turns into a bull market (i.e. it becomes popular) and drives down costs by a factor of two every six to eigthteen months (like the digital video market today) and today’s $150K speaker costs $5K in 5 years.

3. The recording industry goes bankrupt (fiscally this time) and the resulting Laissez Faire environment which allows actual talent to rise to the top results in a new revolution in music similar to that which occured in the 60s.

4. Someone will make a component that has built-in vibration mitigation from, say, HRS, a custom designed power cord and internal wiring that was tuned for the component from, say, Nordost, the best capacitors and resistors and silver transformers from, say, Audio Note, and…etc…. so that there is no need for aftermarket tweaks or modders to do any work on the piece. Oh! And it comes broken in already. REALLY broken in. So it sounds good as soon as you take it home.

5. Mike will learn how to spell, or at least get a spell-checker for the blog.

Humor for the New Year

1. Every single home audio company will now offer a $2oK turntable…. no matter if they are a cable company, an equipment rack company, a speaker company or an amplifier company.

Including Bose.

……………………… And Rockport.

All of which will receive rave reviews.

2. The Stereophile Show collapses and gets split up into 50 shows per year, one per state capital, and once per week. This ends up putting many overly exuberant show attendees out of work and overly exuberant exhibitors into bancruptcy court, and the court creates a new ‘Chapter 50’ for these poor souls.

in High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo / Humor 0 comments
 by Michael

Everyday is Christmas here at Audio Federation

Everyday is Christmas here at Audio Federation, what with all the toys that keep arriving all of the time…

Everyday is also Thanskgiving here as well.

I consider myself very fortunate to be here at this time.

I have always felt that one must be cognizant and always appreciative of one’s good fortune, but also that fortunes can change in the blink of an eye, a quake of the earth, a hurricane of the ocean, a misplaced bus here or there.

We also try to share our good fortune with others in various ways. Yes, including some of our fave charities, like many of you out there.

We also share our listeningrooms with anyone who makes an effort to make it here, and we have this website and Blog so that those who can’t make it can see upclose what some of the finest craftspeople in the world have wrought.

If we were an antqiue shop, or an art gallery, or a greenhouse, or whatever, it would be the same: trying to communicate the beauty of these marvelous works wrought by humans and nature through photos and prose.

Because it is NOT all just about the music, it is all about the appreciation of ‘works’, works created out of nothing but ideas and atoms. And appreciation and respect for the effort and skill and talent and sweat and mystery and inspiration and luck and love that went into their creation. Whether that be music, or equipment, or album covers, or a well-designed system, or the gestalt of it all roled together in one big sometimes awe-inspiring mess.

As anyone knows who has been around for awhile, nobody owns anything. It is only borrowed for a little while. And then it dies, or the borrower dies, or it is sold, or it breaks, or it is lost…or crumbles into dust.

We are all just Custodians. And all we can do is try to be the best darn custodians we can be.

Happy Holidays Everyone!
-Mike & Neli

in High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo 0 comments