David,

Unfortunately, this is the only amp I have tried. I got this amp in quite weird circumstances (that I do not want to discuss here in public).

Anyway, at first I thought that it brought a significant improvement, but now I'm not quite shure. It may lack the ultimate transparency. I will have to do some more testing to pin everything down. I'm also planning to borrow friends JRDG Synergy II by Cytocycle sugestion.

The gain of Lamm amps is not really a problem, unless you use a preamp with an unusually high gain (like VTL 7.5). Lamm's own preamps have a gain of 20dB, which is an industry standard. All preamps of similar gain should work without problems.

Conrad Johnson amps have even higher gain - 35dB in 350SA - and yet, I never heard anyone complaining about that.

If you have any more specific questions about my setup, pls ask them in my system thread. I do not want to hi-jack Steve's thread !

elberoth2 April 03, 2006 10:32

David,

I live in Warsaw, Poland. AQ Sky directly replaced in my system Transparent Audio Reference w/MM balanced cable. There was really no contest between the two.

Valhalla was a closer call. It had slightly better resolution, HF air and microdynamics, at the expense of leaner lower midrange/upper bass.

I prefered the more natural/balanced presentation of the Sky, so that is why I went with AQ.

elberoth2 March 28, 2006 14:52

David - I have a similar system to the one you are trying to assemble - Audio Aero, BAT 51SE, Lamm 1.2 and Eidolons. If you do not mind spending a day and 150 EUR on air tickets - feel free to come to my place and listen.

BTW Steve - I have just borrowed 3 Valhalla power cords. You were 100% correct about the synergy with Lamms !

elberoth2 March 24, 2006 17:48

No surprise you like the King Cobra V2 on AA - I haven't heard this cable, but from what I read, it has somehow similar sonic signature to The One PC.

I'm considering SACD Prestige player too. My dealer has one (with SE mod), so I will probably borrow one from him to see if it is any better than my Capitole mk II SE. First I have to get may Lamms though.

If you decide to get SACD Prestige before I do, make sure that you get one with SE mod - it is worth every penny.

elberoth2 February 04, 2006 10:40

Steve,

It seems that we well have almost identical gear - I just ordered a pair of Lamm M1.2 Reference monos to partner my AA Capitole mk II SE :-)

Your expirience with Valhalla PC makes me wanna try them again - this time with Lamms. I have had them on loan when I had Plinius SA102 and they were really something special ... much better than my Tara The One and Shunyata Anaconda VX (non Helix).

Interestingly, I didn't like Valhallas at all on AA Capitole. Here I much preferred The One over both Valhalla and Anaconda.

I will try the Valhallas again when I heal my financial wounds (the Lamms were a heavy hit for me).

BTW - did you try tube rolling your Lamms ?

elberoth2 February 03, 2006 22:08

Steve,

I have had a chance to compare in my system the regular Capitole to the SE version (borrowed the regular one). The difference (in sound quality; the analog inputs are just a bonus) is night and day. The SE version is oh so much more transparent sounding, the microdynamics is spectacular. You should really try it. You will not look back.

I have also tried the Shunyata Anaconda and Nordost Valhalla. I much preferred the later, although I can't afford it right now. In the next coming weeks I will try the Nordost Brahma, which according to my dealer is almost as good as Valhalla, at 50% the price.

elberoth2 November 30, 2005 08:46

Steve,

I belive that Golebe Marketing is putting the same caps in their SE upgrade pack, together with cryoed tubes and some dampers. It is a little bit more expensive at $700, but you will not loose the warranty.

My player is now completly burned in, and sounds nothing short of stunning.

elberoth2 October 26, 2005 08:42

Steve - yu have to replace the Hovland caps in your Captole with teflon V-Caps, as I did. They put the Capitole in another league. The mod costed me $150 ($80 for 2 caps, and 70 for the labour by local technican; it takes about 30 min to replace them).

elberoth2 October 22, 2005 23:07