Lake People is a German brand highly regarded by hi-fi enthusiasts and music professionals. The company’s catalog includes headphone amplifiers, phono stages, DACs, and other high-fidelity audio equipment. Electronics primarily aimed at the professional market are sold under the Lake People brand, while those specifically designed for home audiophiles are sold under the Violectric brand.
We had the opportunity to thoroughly test the Lake People G111 MK2, one of the most popular products from the German brand. It is a headphone amplifier without an integrated DAC, representing the latest evolution of the well-known G100, a highly successful headphone amplifier that helped bring visibility and recognition to the Lake People brand.
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Review of the Lake People G111 MK2
Built with the goal of perfectly adapting to any type of headphone on the market, the G111 operates internally with an operating voltage of 60 Volts, a particularly important feature when using high-impedance headphones. At the same time, thanks to its generous current delivery, it also drives low-impedance and planar magnetic headphones very well. It uses a discrete amplification stage with 4 transistors per channel for perfect signal transmission, and features an excellent Alps RK27 potentiometer for volume control. The oversized power supply employs a large toroidal transformer and high-capacity capacitors.
Thanks to a high damping factor, it can control even the most demanding headphones while ensuring the flattest possible frequency response. It is equipped with balanced inputs via XLR connectors and unbalanced inputs via RCA connectors. On the front, we find two 6.35 mm headphone outputs. There are no balanced headphone outputs in XLR format, which is certainly a limitation for those who use such balanced headphone cables.
The Lake People G111 MK2 is currently sold at a price just under 500 euros on major Italian hi-fi stores, such as PlayStereo.
Right out of the box, the G111 MK2 immediately stands out for its excellent build quality and great robustness: it is a device built to last. The design is linear, simple, almost spartan; not unpleasant, but clearly a no-frills device, graced, one might say, by inner beauty rather than external flair.
Inside the package, we find a 20-page printed manual explaining not only how to operate the device but also the design choices and internal functioning of the unit, which is certainly appreciated. Once the headphones are connected, the absence of any clicks or unwanted noise is immediately noticeable, thanks to a relay circuit with delayed outputs. The stepped volume knob may not appeal to everyone, but it works very well. We noticed that a few minutes of warm-up are needed to reach optimal sound performance.
Sound performance
The sound is particularly clean and free of coloration, highly detailed, and above all enriched by great musicality, which we truly appreciated. The sonic performance is therefore absolutely convincing relative to the price: the excellent level of detail extends across all frequencies, bass is deep, mids are balanced, and highs are clear, airy, and free from annoying spikes. There is also a strong balance across frequencies, so no range ever feels overly prominent or lacking.
To the overall neutrality of the sound signature, which makes the device suitable for pairing with studio headphones, is added a slightly velvety character that prevents the sound from becoming sterile, instead making it smooth, pleasant, and, as mentioned, very musical. Excellent control is evident across all frequencies. The soundstage is wide and fairly deep; the most striking feature is the amount of detail this German device can extract from high-resolution files.
The output power is truly remarkable, and it drives even difficult headphones such as high-end planar magnetic Hifiman models with ease, which we used for testing (along with mid-range and entry-level headphones, where performance remains excellent). We also recommend it for mid-to-high-end headphones, with which it performs admirably, making it only less suitable for the ultra high-end segment.
The G111 MK2 features a sophisticated gain control adjustable across 5 levels; however, accessing it requires unscrewing the chassis and removing the cover, which is far from convenient and makes it impossible to adjust gain “on the fly” when switching between headphones with different sensitivity or impedance—a fairly common scenario among headphone enthusiasts. Considering optimal operation with the volume knob set around the 12 o’clock position, we recommend setting the gain so your preferred headphones reach the desired volume with the knob positioned accordingly.
Comparison with the Topping A90: a few weeks ago we had the opportunity to test the Topping A90, another popular headphone amplifier currently sold at roughly the same price as the Lake People G111 (just under 500 euros).
The Topping A90 clearly wins in terms of versatility, thanks to the presence of balanced headphone outputs in both XLR and 4.4 mm formats. It can also function as a preamplifier and features a convenient front-panel gain switch, making it easy to adjust gain when using multiple headphones with different sensitivities. However, in terms of pure sound reproduction, in our opinion the Lake People G111 demonstrates superior musicality. This is therefore a comparison between two excellent devices in their price range: we recommend the A90 for those needing more versatility, and the G111 for those focused purely on sound quality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Lake People G111 MK2 is a superb headphone amplifier built strictly according to Lake People’s motto “Tools – Not Toys”: solid and serious, heavy, with all the robustness required for professional use, while also delivering a clean and musical sound that will satisfy audiophiles. It likely has few rivals in this price range, especially if sound performance is the primary evaluation criterion.
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