Freitag, 2. Juni 2023

TEST: Lake People G111

The headphone amplifier market is booming like never before. While a few years ago it was common practice in home recording to use the built-in headphone amplifier of the mixing console or interface for occasional sessions after 10 p.m. in the rented apartment for the monitoring area, the status that a high-quality headphone is ultimately useless without the qualitatively suitable headphone amplifier has also established itself in the budget range. Better headroom, lower clipping and a general relaxedness of sound allow for a much better impression of the material being monitored and guarantee better results for additionally longer sessions without fatigue. One of the strongest names in this segment for years is Lake People, based at Lake Constance, who have launched an amplifier in the highly competitive 500 Euro league with their Lake People G111, which is also their most expensive model to date.

The concept behind Lake People headphone amplifiers

As one of a few manufacturers, Lake People not only make their products entirely in Germany, but they also try to stay in the German territory in the area of suppliers, if possible even buying regionally. Along with this, the concept of "high quality, high selling price" once again runs through the manufacturer's catalog.
Even though the Lake People G111 is still comparatively moderate compared to the top dogs, for example SPL, some people might flinch a bit at a sales price of 488 Euros. In return, however, you should always keep in mind that the company consistently pursues its value chain within Germany and you always strengthen the domestic economy with the purchase of a Lake People product, an immensely important factor in my eyes.


The construction of the Lake People G111

With the G-series, Lake People has long had a firm foothold in the headphone field, product names such as G93, G95, G97 or G100 have left their scent marks both in the HiFi, as well as in the Pro area. With the Lake People G111, the company continues its path consistently, both in the positive, and in my eyes with partly "unusual" detail solutions.

The first impression after I peeled the product out of the packaging is excellent. The product is made of aluminum and is visually in the same league as MacBook and co. The case rests on four excellent rubber feet, the mixture of which enables perfect adhesion on smooth surfaces. Even on the glass top of my desk, the amplifier stood as if firmly glued! Excellent.

The case itself consists of a total of 4 elements, a top, a bottom and a front panel plus rear, both of which are screwed to the top and bottom with four Allen screws each. Easy and quick access to the inner workings of the Lake People G111 will later prove to be an important part of practical operation. The amplifier is rated for 230 volts line voltage, though Lake People points out that the product itself should work fine in a range of 190 - 240 volts. If one wishes to operate the product on a different continent, it is possible to operate the product at a mains voltage of 115 volts through internal re-soldering.

The front of the Lake People G111 is very spartan. Besides the On / Off switch, there are two parallel headphone jacks and an Alps RK 27 potentiometer as a volume control on the panel. The well-established potentiometer once again leaves an excellent impression with its heavy-duty detent and ensures a smooth regulation. Also pleasant is the placement of the On / Off switch on the front of the cabinet, so you escape the dislocated fumbling around on the back, provided you have the amplifier tightly integrated into your studio setup.

On the rear panel, the Lake People G111 shows its compatibility with the consumer sector by including two unbalanced RCA jacks in addition to two lockable balanced XLR jacks. The respective input is selected with a small push switch. The amplifier is completely channel separated to eliminate crosstalk of any kind.


The eternal problem of headphone impedance

Now we come to a special feature of the Lake People G111. Every professional headphone user knows the problem and everyone has an opinion about it. We are talking about the tiresome topic of headphone impedances, although the trench warfare of recent years has largely died down, if only because various manufacturers such as Beyerdynamic deliver their reference product T1 with different impedance values. I don't want to go into the advantages and disadvantages of the different concepts here, but the fact is that a professional headphone amplifier is always faced with the problem of being able to feed all products as evenly as possible with the necessary volume.

Here Lake People has a solution ready, which can be seen both positive and negative. First the positive. To counter the problem of varying headphone impedances, the Lake People G111 has a so-called Pre-Gain, which makes it possible to adjust the amplification power to the respective headphones. The input signal is attenuated, respectively amplified in 6 dB steps in 5 stages (-12 dB, -6 dB, 0 dB, +6 dB, +12 dB) and thus allows a selection in advance, so that the volume control of the amplifier does not have to be operated constantly in the stop range left or right in case of extreme impedance values.

On the other hand, if you are now looking for the respective switches, for example in the form of DIP switches on the housing, you will unfortunately be disappointed and have to deal with the negative part of the pre-gain circuit. The corresponding pre-gain switching can only be done inside the case by moving a jumper, where five different settings are available. Once you have opened the case, you can also directly consider whether you want to deactivate the ground lift, which is also accomplished by moving a jumper and incidentally reveals the very clean processing in addition to the voluminous and low-radiation toroidal transformer.

To open the case, you need a TORX T10 or a 2.5 mm Allen key, which was not included with the product. P. S. Actually self-explanatory, but here again for safety, before the housing is opened, UNCONDITIONALLY disconnect the power cord, there is DANGER OF LIFE!

With all comprehensibility towards mechanical safety and various engineering considerations, opening the case for the purpose of changing the headphone impedance will certainly make one or the other user shy away from the purchase. Even if you don't change your reference headphones every day, you can assume that one or the other co-producer might bring along his own favorite for the purpose of listening, or you might change between different headphones yourself. There is certainly a solid reason why technically perfect engineers, as they undoubtedly work at Lake People, have decided on such a solution, but a user-friendly solution, such as one could implement with push buttons or DIP switches, looks different.

For the technophiles, here are a few measurements of the product:

Frequency response: 0 Hz - 150 kHz (-3 dB)
Input sensitivity: +6 dBu

Input sensitivity: 10 kOhm

Max. Output level: 600 Ohm - 600 mW - 18.9 V / 300 Ohm - 1050 mW - 17.8 V / 100 Ohm - 1760 mW - 13.2 V / 32 Ohm - 1400 mW - 6.7 V

Dynamic range (SNR): > 129 dBA

THD+N (@ -1 dBFs): < -102 dB

Crosstalk: < -110 dB


The Lake People G111 in practice

First of all, it was necessary to create a reference setup that reproduced various monitoring situations in the studio. The reference headphones were again my Beyerdynamics T1 2nd Generation (600 ohms), which has done an excellent job for many years and to which I have become accustomed. The second pair of headphones I used was an Inear Live Pro 4 system with new Cerumen filters, which I have also been using for years. The third headphone was the AKG K-240, a very simple headphone from the consumer sector.

In order to have a direct comparison to another headphone amplifier, the Lake People G111 had to hold its own against an SPL Phonitor Mini (switched off matrix), which is no longer in the manufacturer's portfolio, but was in the same league in terms of retail price at the time and thus represented an adequate competitor. Various instruments such as drums, guitars (clean and high gain), funk loops, several classical piano concerts and some current rock/pop productions via Spotify Premium in HD quality were used as sound material.

The Lake People G111 sounds quite excellent on its own right from the first notes. The reproduction is very dynamic, very dry and decidedly "crisp". The basic sound is very balanced, a touch nicely coloring, but still neutral enough to pass as a real reference. Strong dynamic jumps are compensated by the amplifier with a very large headroom, so that it never came to a "pressed" playback.

In direct comparison to the SPL Phonitor Mini, as expected, only very small differences emerged, not really a surprise for 2 devices of this quality level. Sonically, the two products are very close to each other, whereby the SPL reproduces the high mids a bit stronger. Whether one or the other reproduction is more appealing is purely a matter of taste, there is no sonic advantage or disadvantage in this regard.

Conclusion

With the Lake People G111, the Constance-based company has an excellent headphone amplifier in its portfolio, both in terms of sound and workmanship. If you don't mind the complex pre-gain adjustment and are looking for a high-quality headphone amplifier, you should definitely test the product.

Additional informations:

Lake People Audio is a prominent and innovative company in the field of audio technology. Since its establishment, the company has garnered a reputation for delivering high-quality audio equipment and solutions. This report aims to provide an in-depth analysis of Lake People Audio, covering various aspects such as its history, products, technological advancements, market position, and future prospects.

Company Overview: Lake People Audio was founded in Germany in 1986 by Fried Reim, an experienced audio engineer and entrepreneur. The company started as a small-scale operation but quickly gained recognition for its commitment to precision and audio fidelity. Today, Lake People Audio has become a well-established brand, catering to professional audio engineers, musicians, and discerning audiophiles worldwide.

Product Range: The product range offered by Lake People Audio is diverse and caters to different audio needs. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of audio amplifiers, headphone amplifiers, digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and audio interfaces. Lake People Audio's products are known for their exceptional sound quality, reliability, and attention to detail.

3.1 Amplifiers: Lake People Audio's amplifiers are renowned for their transparency and accuracy. The company offers a variety of amplifiers, including headphone amplifiers, power amplifiers, and preamplifiers. These amplifiers are designed to deliver clean and uncolored audio reproduction, making them suitable for both studio use and high-end home audio setups.

3.2 Headphone Amplifiers: Lake People Audio is highly regarded for its headphone amplifiers, which are widely considered among the best in the industry. Their headphone amplifiers are designed to drive a wide range of headphones, from low-impedance models to demanding high-impedance headphones, with exceptional clarity and power.

3.3 Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs): Lake People Audio's DACs are designed to convert digital audio signals into high-fidelity analog signals. The company's DACs incorporate advanced circuitry and components to ensure accurate conversion and minimal signal degradation. These DACs support various input formats, including USB, SPDIF, and AES/EBU, making them versatile solutions for audio enthusiasts and professionals.

3.4 Audio Interfaces: Lake People Audio also manufactures audio interfaces that facilitate the seamless integration of audio equipment with computers and digital audio workstations (DAWs). Their interfaces offer low-latency audio processing, multiple input/output options, and high-resolution audio capabilities, catering to the needs of recording studios, home studios, and live sound applications.

Technological Advancements:
Lake People Audio continuously invests in research and development to stay at the forefront of audio technology. The company incorporates state-of-the-art components, advanced circuitry, and innovative designs into its products. Lake People Audio's commitment to technological advancements ensures that their products consistently deliver exceptional audio quality and performance.

Market Position:
Lake People Audio has established a strong presence in the professional audio industry. Their products are highly regarded by audio professionals, recording studios, and musicians worldwide. The company's reputation for uncompromising audio quality and attention to detail has earned them a loyal customer base. Lake People Audio's products are distributed globally through authorized dealers, online platforms, and direct sales channels.

Customer Support and Satisfaction:
Lake People Audio places great emphasis on customer satisfaction. The company provides excellent customer support, offering technical assistance, product information, and warranty services. Their commitment to customer satisfaction has contributed to a positive brand image and customer loyalty.

Future Prospects:
As the audio industry continues to evolve, Lake People Audio is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging trends and technologies. The company's dedication to innovation and commitment to audio quality will likely drive future product development. With a solid reputation and a loyal customer base, Lake People Audio is poised for sustained growth and continued success.

Conclusion:
Lake People Audio's commitment to delivering exceptional audio solutions, coupled with its technological advancements and market position, makes it a leading player in the audio industry. The company's amplifiers, headphone amplifiers, DACs, and audio interfaces are highly regarded for their sound quality, reliability, and precision. Lake People Audio's dedication to customer satisfaction and its focus on innovation position the company for a promising future in the ever-evolving audio technology landscape.

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