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Any one compared a Lampizator to Weiss 202 DAC?

Hi, I'm looking for a great DAC, and am auditioning a tube based Lampizator Level 3 (list $3,900) and it sounds terrific. I'm also thinking of going up to the Lamp level 4 (list $6,000) or the Weiss 202 ($5,400 or so on Audiogon). The more money is a big push but I'm completely digitally based (CD and Mac Mini) so over time it may be worth it. Any body hear the Weiss and the Lamp and have notes on what the differences are? Thanks.
ldworet
glory's avatar
glory
1,614 posts
 
Sorry but shootouts mean nothing. The chap that took the L4 home with him said it was the best dac he ever heard in his system. What were the other philes hearing in the Amarra 2 when a Lamp L3 beat the piss out of my Amarra 4.

Best to demo all Dacs in one's system and then tell everyone it is the best dac in the world.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hi Glory

I'm confused as to how a shootout is meaningless. It wasn't only one person reviewing it was a bunch of people and they didn't know what DAC was which. If it was a shoot-out and only 1 judge was there I'd be a little leary of the results.

Also from the beginning of the Stereomojo review all the DACs in that shootout were auditioned on the same system by the same reviewers and the Lampizator 4 came out on top by a close margin.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Unless I heard the system myself, I would not trust it. And the tracks that they used, Jennifer Warnes for female vocalist? I have these tracks. Not good enough IMO. The Acapella, maybe but never heard it. The ref recordings was 176. It would be better to compare DAC's using mostly 44.1 rips and 96 masters IMO. Maybe a 192 track from 2L.

Also, it is important to drive the amps directly from the DAC and avoid the preamp.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
glory's avatar
glory
1,614 posts
 
The system was sub par.

Darby took the L4 home with him. The chap that voted against it should have taken both units home and A/B them and then he would have understood what a mistake he made with his vote. Darby knew that the shoot out was at best a crap shot as the Lamp was far and above the other units.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hi Glory

I get where you are coming from now. That L4 DAC is amazing to me. After looking at it and the review again it is kind of hard to believe the EE DAC could hang with the L4.

Hi Steve N.

Thanks for chiming in too. I hope to one day own some of your stuff as well. Great quality but way out of my budget currently.

If a DAC has no volume control how would it be hooked up directly to an amp? Would a purely passive preamp be ok for a shoot out? Sorry for the stupid questions.
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