The New Lampizator Horizon DAC
On Saturday, I was lucky enough to be invited to the unofficial launch of the all-new Lampizator Horizon DAC in Los Angeles. I have a Pacific and love it but I was intrigued to experience whether the Horizon was that much better. So, My wife and I drove the 6 hours from Arizona to attend.
The event had about 18 people in attendance and featured Lukasz Fikus, the owner and brains behind Lampizator. We had a 5-hour listening session which included direct A/B comparisons between the Pacific and the Horizon, operating the Horizon without a preamp, and finally tube rolling.
My impressions were the Lampizator created a DAC that could change people's minds on comparing digital to vinyl, The amount of detail, smoothness, clarity, speed was incredible. For those interested in tube rolling the options are almost endless and I heard firsthand many different tube combinations which changed the SQ of the music. Finally, at the end of the session, we ran the Horizon without a preamp. The preamp used in the system was Lamm and the whole system was well over $700k. So we are talking about a very high-end component grouping. IMO, the Horizon DAC delivered about 95% of the sound without a Preamp. It was super hard to discern any differences in SQ.
This DAC was so good that I ended up ordering one. For anyone going to the Tampa Audio show, Lukasz Fikus will be there to officially launch the Horizon to the world this weekend. It is definitely worth a listen.
Certainly a "bit" out of my price range. But who am I to tell someone how to spend their $$? Nor am I one to say a 50K DAC doesn't sound better than a 5K DAC. I'm sure it does. And if you are playing in that arena, God bless you. @willgolf don't let these penny pinching rock throwers rain on your parade. Congrats to you!
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@ozzy---thank you for your comments. I can not believe the comments. It is another reason Audiogon threads have become a joke. I merely was trying to inform people of a new DAC and its capabilities not to get into a debate over whether digital is real sound or not. Not to debate whether tube rolling just masks the real sound. Not to debate the cost. Not to debate having a tube DAC. Everyone has a budget whether it is $1k or $100k. It is no different than buying an amp for $3k or $60k. There are differences in quality and sound in EVERY component as you go up the price range. That is why people have options. In this case, the Horizon is $44K eu. If you can afford it you should check it out. It is game-changing. So, if you haven't heard it, it is unfair to post comments criticizing its characteristics of it. Now as to having a super high-end system and evaluating it vs what the majority of us have, in this case, it does not matter. We were comparing the Pacific to the Horizon. The same results would have occurred on an average system. The Horizon is just plain better. I am not a shill for Lampizator but if the Horizon is not in the budget they have many other options at more value propositions. BTW, I am functionally blind so God gave me an increase in hearing so listening to this DAC was just an absolute pleasure. |
Congrats! That should be a fun addition.
I don't have a Lampizator but I have heard several versions in different systems and they are exceptional at each pricepoint. Enjoy.
I don't really understand why some in our community are quick to criticize a piece of gear that they haven't heard as being of poor value or it can't possibly be that good. It happens in every market segment I guess but it amuses me that some draw a price line where anything spent above that amount proves the buyer must be foolish. Please, and this goes for all of us whether we buy inexpensive or expensive gear, stop overlaying your value analysis on others...its unfair.
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