Who needs to read the instructions for an amplifier! No one right?
Well that’s not strictly true nowadays, as many amplifiers are becoming much more than ‘just an amp’. The Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 definitely fits in to the ‘much more’ category.
Having honed the skill of putting hi-fi components into racks/cabinets and feeling around the back to plug everything in, I thought I was ready to go upon firing up the TDAI3400…until I was greeted by a severely unbalanced sound. Yep I’d connected one channel out of phase. If I had read the manual I would have realised that the speaker terminal polarity layout was different to my usual amplifier….
With the situation corrected, I moved on to one of the Lyngdorfs MAJOR distinctions – Room Perfect – a speaker/room correction system designed to get the best possible sound regardless of how imperfect the acoustics or layout of your setup and room.
The supplied (calibrated) microphone and stand need to be placed in your listening ‘sweet spot’ for the first reading, followed by multiple positions around the whole room (with the mic orientation flipped around) until you can get as near to 100% coverage as possible.
Outside of RoomPerfect, the rest of it’s feature set is just as comprehensive.
The standard version of the TDAI-3400 has two sets of analog stereo inputs (RCA) and seven digital inputs: two coaxial (RCA), three optical (TosLink), one USB Type-B, and one AES/EBU (XLR).
Outputs comprise line-level stereo (RCA, XLR), digital coax (RCA), one pair of speaker binding posts, and, on the front panel, a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The TDAI-3400 has many other features: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and support for Apple AirPlay, Spotify, Internet Radio, DLNA (uPnP), local file playback over USB, and an AV-bypass mode. The big one for me though is its Roon Ready-ness!
Oh, and there are the optional add-on modules: A HDMI in/out board that has three inputs and a single output, all of which support HDMI 2.0a, ARC, CEC integration, and PCM up to 24/192.
Plus there is also an analog input board, which adds three pairs of RCA and one pair of balanced XLR inputs, as well as an AKM AK5394A chip for better A/D conversion, well worth it for those with high-end analog sources.
Listening Time!
With the TDAI-3400 switched to acting as a Roon Endpoint, I queued up my usual demo playlist and sat in my usual sweet spot with the amp calibration set to FOCUS.
What first struck me was the bass extension and weight of the system was improved allied to superb ‘grip’. No boom, no overhang just a much more solid and substantial sound with an impressive level of insight and layering in the midrange and top end.
Very impressive, particularly as my main hi-fi set up – and room – are pretty well honed. I’d imagined that RoomPerfect would have little to do, but not so!
Moving on to a stiffer challenge.
Running it in my second system, with the speakers I have either side of my (very wide) PC office desk. Here the speakers are nearly in the corners of the room and the ‘sweet-spot’ is only half a metre away!….. Plus it’s the bedroom, so a Double bed/wardrobe/cupboards etc at the other end!
Here the same increase in solidity and weight came in, but far more noticeable was a VASTLY bigger soundstage. Vocals were sharply focused dead-centre, but the rest of the music projected far beyond the speakers!
Plus when switching the amp from FOCUS, to GLOBAL listening at the other end of the room on the bed provided an experience with the same level of tonal balance and projection.
With the days of monstrous hi-fi racks and substantial speakers/stands halfway out into the room being either far in the past, or just plain unwanted, it’s a REAL pleasure to get ‘just an amp’ that can merge great sound, amazing connectivity and supreme adaptability to you satisfy your ears AND eyes!
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