Lampizator DAC

I wasn't too crazy about it...2 things that come to mind is lack of soundstage depth and it is a bit upfront sounding so system matching is important, as always. The rest of the audiophile checklist was fine, but I couldn't get over the relatively flat presentation...but your impressions might be different.

Several months ago I compared a latest L4 with volume control and XLR outputs options against my MW Transporter for a week at home. I use my Transporter for a transport into the L4.

1. L4 sounds very good direct to the amp but it's much much better through my VAC Sig MKIIa preamp. More air, 3D ... NO contest! With all the hype and expectations, I was a bit disappointed.

2 I found the aes/ebu digital input interface much superior to RCA. It was quieter, more coherent, better bass ...

3. L4 is very sensitive to PCs. After trying 4, I settled on the Elrod Statement II. Shunyata Python CX is also very good but my friend took it home with him so couldn't do a back to back comparison.

Overall I like the L4 and found it sounds similar to my MW Transporter. L4 has a slight edge in resolution but on some material, it can be too aggressive and forward. I think L4 has potential and if I have time to tweak, it will beat the MW Transporter but NOT enough for me to change.

With this exercise, my friends and I were very surprised how well my tweaked up MW Transporter held up against the L4. Nothing beats a demo in your own system.

I had a MW Transporter and i found it was just Ok as a transport to another DAC and not that great. I thought that the Mw as a transport made any dac sound very similar to the analog outs of the MW. But when I tried the same DAC with a better transport (Bryston bdp-1), it was no contest and was a league above the MW analog outputs. So I wouldnt make any final conclusions on a DAC if your using a Mw Transporter as the transport. That's been my experience at least... I've never tried a lampizator though so I can't comment on that.

I am planning on acquiring a Lampizator Amber DAC and doing a review on it in 2015. I will share the results when I do.

Cheers,

Juan

Good news! I should be getting the Lampizator Amber DAC next week and will begin putting it through the paces.

I'm so excited!!!

Cheers,

Juan