Lampizator Amber-3 User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Lampizator Manuals
  4. Media Converter
  5. Amber-3
  6. User manual

Lampizator Amber-3 User Manual

Digital to analog converter
Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Amber-3
D
A
C
ital to
nalog
onverter
User Manual
Version 2.0 - Jan 2021

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Amber-3 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Related Manuals for Lampizator Amber-3

Summary of Contents for Lampizator Amber-3

  • Page 1 Amber-3 ital to nalog onverter User Manual Version 2.0 - Jan 2021...
  • Page 2 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual WARNING: as every of our products comes with a 7 days testing period (please to confirm it - ask your dealer first), during this time it is not allowed to open the DAC. The screws are protected with a seal. You have to decide, if you like the sound and you want to keep it.
  • Page 3 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Short description Amber-3 was built on the basis of our 20 years experience with the tube technology. The success of LampizatOr DACs was mainly due to our approach to the analog stage with tubes, backed by the tube power supplies etc.
  • Page 4 Fully tubed, single ended and balanced output stage Zero feedback, zero silicon design Phenomenally transparent and dynamic True analog sound from Lampizator - the tube expert All tube design of maximal purity TrueCopper Lampizator capacitors 2-layer, double copper layered PCB Indirectly heated diode rectifier...

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual A quick guide to a smooth start ............... Introduction ......................... Data formats ....................................................Audio volume level (Hi Gain - Lo Gain) ................The heat issue ........................Optimal placement ......................Power on-off cycle ......................Cabling and cable handling .....................

  • Page 6: A Quick Guide To A Smooth Start

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual A quick guide to a smooth start VOLTAGE: All Amber-3 DACs are shipped with the voltage of MAINS according to the country of destination. If you bought the DAC second hand and you are in different voltage zone - the DAC can be converted by switching the special switch at the back.

  • Page 7: Introduction

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Introduction Thank you for choosing Lampizator Amber-3. We created it with huge research effort to deliver not only world class musical performance, rivalling the most expensive DACs money can buy, but also to offer very long life of the product. Simply speaking – if you adhere to some basic precautions listed below –...

  • Page 8: Dsd

    In Amber-3 DAC - we use AUTOSENSING and automatic switch from DSD to PCM and back. Used doesn’t need to do anything just enjoy. Amber -3 DAC will automatically recognise and switch all DSD speed rates from normal 64 SACD format to 2x (128x) and quad 256x format (with special software only ) .
  • Page 9 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual LampizatOr DAC should not be used with opamp based preamp, no matter how good. Because the op-amp feedback loops will remove the whole joy of music as delivered by the tubed DAC.
 ! of !

  • Page 10: The Heat Issue

    DAC always on, than to switch it on and off more than necessary. The lampizator DAC with tube rectifier has a slow start feature which brings the high voltage supply gradually up, at the rate of two- to five volts per second. The PSU reaches 250 V DC after 90 seconds.

  • Page 11: Cabling And Cable Handling

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Additionally all our DACs have special heater circuits that slow down the inrush current by the factor of 10 and protect the heaters from developing spots and blemishes that cause metal erosion and eventually death (of the tube). Our circuit goes way beyond the tube datasheet recommended protection.

  • Page 12: Tube Rolling And Replacement

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Tube rolling and replacement We sell the DAC with the best tubes we can find in consistent sustainable supply. Therefore we feel you should not be tempted to change them for any reason. If you feel that you MUST try other types of tubes – we need to pre-authorize it in writing.
  • Page 13 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual care, depending on the heater arrangement in our DAC. Another example are completely different tubes that miraculously are perfectly interchangeable - like E182CC with 5687. 4. DHT triodes used in our Level7 and Big 7 DAC are yet another can of worms. Most DHT tubes have the same base (four pin) and the same pinout (two fat legs are heaters and cathode, two slim legs are Grid and Anode.

  • Page 14: Rectifier Rolling

    PINOUT: 2-7 is heater 6,3 V AC. Pin 8 is cathode. Pins 3 and 5 are two anodes. THIS IS THE TUBE WE USE IN AMBER-3 DAC. We supply the popular Soviet made 6C5S diode, but good results can be obtained by using USA made 6X5, with one exception of Bendix brand that uses double heater current.

  • Page 15: Aging Problems

    It al depends on the DEMAND of our circuit. Some Lampizator tube stages demand only 2 mA in total, some can demand 40mA and more. Amber-3 DAC demand in total for 2 channels is 20 mA for the SE or 40 mA for the balanced version.

  • Page 16: Fuse Change

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Fuse Change The DAC is equipped with a non-repairable 20 mm glass fuse circuit breaker inside the IEC-AC socket at the back. There is also one spare fuse provided in the little drawer removable when changing the fuse. The fuses are 1,6A (or 2A for USA/Japan/Taiwan) they are slow blow, and overrated by the factor of 3.

  • Page 17: Volume Control Khozmo Lampizator

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Volume control Khozmo Lampizator (This concerns DACs equipped with volume control modules with display and remote). The volume control is an extremely nice module, that changes the way we use the DAC. It is worth noting that this is THE HIGHEST quality level in volume control domain, mbetter than chips, opamps, potentiometers, rotary switches, motorized switches, autotransformers etc.

  • Page 18: Cooperation With The Preamp

    20 K is kind of on a low side, but we can handle that. Lower than 10k is bad news. But our Amber-3 DAC will handle 10 as well because we configure the DAC with additional cathode follower, low impedance buffer stage.

  • Page 19: Digital Inputs

    Usually Toslink ports are installed in cheap low end gear and the power supply to Toslink is completely neglected. Not in LampizatOr DAC. If you have Toslink in your DAC you can be sure it will sound good and not degrade the sound. Of course providing that the transmitter part of the link is at least semi decent.

  • Page 20: Usb Playback

    MAC OS and LINUX work without any need for extra drivers. We use one vendor of USB modules: For Amber-3 we use “LJ-Lampizator” USB module: the driver is at http://www.jlsounds.com/ drivers.html Our USB converter is capable of working with 32 bit files with 384kHz signal frequency.

  • Page 21: Mac Os Operation Of Usb Output

    After plugging the DAC by the USB cable and turning it on, within 3 seconds the device should show up on the MAC. Note: the device will be described as Lampizator DAC. To verify what is going on, please go to the “apple sign” in top left corner of the screen and choose PREFERENCES and then the loudspeaker icon - SOUND.

  • Page 22: Block Diagrams

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Block Diagrams 
 Block Diagram - DAC with Remote Control USB Receiver DSD FILTER ! "engine"! Signal input selector PCM RECEIVER ! PCM DAC DATA INPUT Bi-Phase signals:! Tube Output PCM coding! stage Analog ! preamp inputs...
  • Page 23 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual 
 Block Diagram - DAC without Remote Control USB Receiver DSD FILTER ! "engine"! Tube Output stage PCM RECEIVER ! PCM DAC DATA INPUT Out to an amp Bi-Phase signals:! PCM coding! S/PDIF! AES/EBU! TOSLINK! ! 2 3...

  • Page 24: I Plugged Everything But I Get No Sound

    If you use a computer with USB connection - is the driver recognized ? Is Windows driver installed Is the computer’s output device properly defined to be Lampizator USB and not speakers, SPDIF, Toslink or Intel? Is the computer’s digital volume control set to maximum ? Is the USB cable not of USB1.0 type, not longer than 2 m and not with ferrite rings on it?

  • Page 25: Usb Operation Basics

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual USB operation basics USB operation is very straightforward providing we dont have a very messed up Windows computer. With Windows - normal housekeeping hygene applies. Generally speaking: the better the computer the better the sound. A 10 years old recycled office laptop will play great but not as great as a dedicated music computer, streamer / server.
  • Page 26 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual In the preferences choose the SPEAKER - SOUND icon. ! 2 6 of !
  • Page 27 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual The critical factor is: to see the COMBO384 selection (after 2020 it is LAMPIZATOR USB. If it is visible but not selected - select it and exit this menu. Next go to the top MAC screen right corner and select SPOTLIGHT LOUPE: When SPOTLIGHT search opens - type MIDI and enter.
  • Page 28 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual ATTENTION: it can happen sometimes that the MAC will automatically select 768 kHz and the DAC may not play it and this causes the frustration of no sound from the get go. Please choose 44,1 and listen. It should work. The selection does not require any action like SAVE or APPLY or RESTART - just select and listen.
  • Page 29 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Now it is time to choose MUSIC PLAYBACK SOFTWARE Although iTunes will work and sound nice, the specialized software is MUCH MUCH better. We tried Audirvana JRiver, VLC, Foobar, Roon and all of them work very nicely. JRiver does movies too.

  • Page 30: Linux

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual LINUX In Linux everything is automatic and no settings are needed. It should play immediately. Sometimes when you plug Linux straight after Windows - the driver in our DAC may still remember Windows and not play. Reboot the DAC please by cycling the power at the back for 10 seconds.

  • Page 31: Listening To The Music

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual LISTENING TO THE MUSIC some practical tips Please use good shelf for the DAC. Do not place it on speakers, subs, or even on transports or amps. Again - tubes hate vibrations. If you try the special devices for placement, we feel that: granite or marble is bad (ringing).
  • Page 32 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual 3. The distance of the speakers to the side walls and speakers to rear wall should not be equal. We recommend 1,4 times smaller or 1,4 times larger distance- but not equal. We measure that counting from the magnet of the bass driver.
  • Page 33 LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual The whole system reaches operating temperature plateau after circa 20 minutes and it is ready for serious listening. ENJOY YOUR MUSIC LIKE NEVER BEFORE ! ! 3 3 of !

  • Page 34: Some Q & A

    So here it is - our Lampizator house branded copper cap which matches the 4 known copper brands in quality of sound.

  • Page 35: Specifications

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Specifications
 SPECIFICATION - BALANCED PCM 384 kHz, DSD x512, fully balanced from input to output Output impedance 200 ohm per phase Output level: 2 Vpp (low gain) or 4,5 Vpp (hi gain) @0dB in SE outputs, double in XLR outputs...

  • Page 36: Rear Panel Layout

    LampizatOr- Amber-3 Manual Rear panel layout ! 3 6 of !

This manual is also suitable for:

Baltic-3

Table of Contents