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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
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,420 posts
 

@tsushima1 

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

Pinching pennies is just a figure of speech. I am in no way denigrating anyone for what they can or can't spend. Hell, I can't spend 50K on a DAC. But I don't hold it against anyone who can. And I don't talk about things I haven't heard for myself. Browse through this thread (and many others) again and see how many people have speculated about a product they don't have a clue about.

If I was pulling down 7 figures a year I'd have a 50K DAC myself. So to someone like @willgolf , I am pinching pennies. For me, the guy that buys an all in one rack system is pinching pennies. It's all relative and nothing means anything w/o a point of reference.

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,420 posts
 

Something you're not telling the community?

@noske 

No. But there is something I AM telling the community. Ignore threads that don't pertain to or interest you. If you feel triggered, walk away. 

Pretty simple, huh?

 

arro222's avatar
arro222
142 posts
 

@ozzy62 

Yup.

 I don't care what the intent of the post is. To some it initiates jealousy I suppose.

The op is happy. Good. The world can stand more happy people.

Is there over pricing? Absolutely. Do parts equate with cost? yes and no at times. I don't care. I know what I'm looking at and for me, I won't buy what I consider "non value'. But that's me and my purchase criteria. Other have different criteria and more power to em. 

Buy what you want if you can, w/o doing financial damage to yourself or loved ones. This trip around is shorter than you think.

missioncoonery
1,250 posts
 

Fine post imo..I like reading reviews and post on gear I could never afford.One reason why I go to audio shows is to see and hear the upper end..I'm tired of reading about bs speakers that are junk and shillled to death..let's get back to what the site was really setup for ..the discussion of high-end audio like the former site logo use to claim.. OP,please keep us informed on your thoughts after breakin...

cleeds
6,258 posts
 
baylinor

This is utterly stupid for average folks to have to discuss $50 ,000 DACs.

No one is forcing you, are they?

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