MHDT Orchid or Lampizator Amber 3?

I have heard both and reviewed the Orchard professionally. Both are very musical DACs. However, the Lampizator costs $1,550.00 more and is not a better sounding piece. If you get the Orchid spend 50 bucks and roll in a NOS Western Electric 396 and you will be in for a musical treat.

Hi gentlemen,

I have reviewed the Orchid professionally for Six Moons, gave it a rave review, purchased the demo and still think the stock version is a great piece.

Just recently a good friend who does high quality modding of his gear, brought over his Orchid that virtually had all the parts/modifications that Grannyring recommends.  Yes, it performs on a higher level then the stock Orchid.  However , both the modified Orchid and the Amber 3, in my system, fall quite short of the "magic" that is rendered by the Audio Mirror Troubadour III SE DAC.  Across, on all parameters ( tonality/color, micro-details/transparency, sound-staging /air around instruments/layering, and powerful dynamics) it performed on a higher basis. It also delivered the highest level of liquidity and a sense of intimacy/attachment with the music compared to the other DACs.    These differences were easy to hear on all types of genres of music. So, yes if it's in your budget the Troubadour is worth the $ upswing, compared to a modified Orchid, and I believe it is slightly less expensive then the Amber 3 DAC.

Hey facten1,

First, the Orchid is extremely well built, uses a great sounding NOS Phillips DAC chip, and costs $1,500 less then the Troubadour.  If there is any objectivity vs. personal taste in this hobby, the Audio Mirror does performs on a higher level.  However, this higher level of performance will only be revealed if the rest of the system has enough resolution to allow it to shine through.  Therefore, the Audio Mirror DAC does not make the Orchid null and void, just a great sounding DAC at a more affordable price point, that would be great in many less costly systems.  If I could not afford the Troubadour, I would not loss sleep over it, and still get immense pleasure out of the Mhdlab piece.  However, the Troubadour 3 SE takes everything to even a higher level of musical enjoyment.

Here's some information regarding the above stated questions:

1) facten- we have done this dance before- if what I wrote in my review or on this thread does not satisfy what you are looking for, that's your problem and not mine.  I believe that what I wrote is pretty clear about my position regarding these different DACs.

2) Grannyring- I believe my friend's mods to the Orchid were very close to yours, and yes it made an improvement, but not to the degree that it was on the same level as the Audio Mirror SE piece.  The Amber 3 had many hundreds of hours on it, so burn-in was not an issue. Also, Bill your statement regarding different gear, subjective taste, different room acoustics, and system synergy is spot on.  Therefore, everyone must try these different pieces to see if they can get what they want in their own systems.  I don't want to start a fight, but sometimes I wonder if it takes hundreds or thousands of hours of break-in/burn-in to get the piece's performance to change for the better, or do we hear it or experience it differently because of our mood/intent over a very lengthy period of time.  Frankly, I have never had a piece of gear that started out sounding lousy, blossom into something superlative much later.  I have had many pieces for review that sounded excellent right out of the crate, and then got better with around 50 to 150 hours of burn-in.

3) ghasley- First thanks for the kind words regarding what I share here and in my reviews. Yes, you got the order correct, regarding the DACs in my home system.

Hey Gentlemen,

Wanted to share that either on a standard Orchid or modified one, with grannyring's specs, that placing it on Krolo Design Enhansers (foot cone units that cost $250 for a set of three) make significant and easy to hear improvements of the Orchid's performance. More transparency, therefore  easier to hear micro-details, more air around the players and more precise location and layering in the sound-stage, and tighter/accurate bass.  On these devices the Orchid loses none of its musicality and charm, but improves in the above stated areas.

The auditioning of using the Krolo Design devices was done in three different systems, both solid state and tubed based, with the same wonderful results.  Therefore, the positive changes do not seem to be system dependent.  Highly recommend you Orchid owners consider this rather inexpensive upgrade for your DAC.  

I did a Six Moons website review on these cone units, if you want more information on them.