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.

 

willgolf

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.

 

 

I also ordered a Horizon, and a Taiko Extreme server. I have an engineering degree from an accredited university, but that didn't factor into my decision making. I like the SQ of my Lampizator Pacific, so it was a small leap of faith on that front, along with feedback from Willgolf and others. So thanks Willgolf.

I also like a good Cabernet when I can afford it. Grain alcohol might get the job done more cost effectively, if that's what the job is. But that's not the job I want done.

I also married my wife because of the way I felt about her, not how she "measured".

There is a qualitative life beyond text books. Cost is relative.

@ozzy62 

” @willgolf don't let these penny pinching rock throwers rain on your parade.”

Are you being serious !?!? Calling out folks who might not even earn $50K a year penny pinchers for expressing their view … 

@willgolf 

I enjoyed your comments and the intent of the original post, as well as your extended comments on the "What's Best Forum". Please ignore the naysayers, especially those who have never heard the Horizon, or even their other more humble DAC offerings. The world is full of "flat earthers". I literally encountered one recently who will not drive from NY to Calif by car because she genuinely feels she might fall off the earth. A Mensa member, she is not. A Darwin Award winner, possibly.  I own a superb $200 Schitt DAC as well as the far more expensive Lampi GG2. They each have a role to play and both do it quite well. In the big rig, the Lampi is magnificent and for TV playback through the big rig, the Schitt does a helluva job. But even a half deaf person could easily discern the difference between a good DAC and a state of the art DAC in the right setting.

Your comments, particularly on WBF, were thoughtful and informative. Follow your bliss as Joseph Campbell said, and ignore the neanderthal crowd who would rather throw rocks, eat their young, and showcase their primitive thinking.

@ghasley has it right as well.

And yup, I ordered my Horizon about a two months ago for Spring delivery.