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New Lampizator Level 4/ Version 4 DAC in the house

Wonder if any other new owners of this DAC are out there as I find it to be the finest digital playback I have heard to date. This is the first digital front end piece of gear I have owned that has transformed my music.

Ya, other digital gear does this or that better, but this Lampy breaks through to a new level of musical enjoyment. Clear view into the music helping the speakers just disappear. Only 24 hours of break in and the music flows so sweet, intimate and seemingly without boundaries.

Looking under the hood I see an impressive power supply with films caps and several high quality chokes. Point to point silver wired except for the digital and USB boards. This is a three tube player that is tube rectified. One has the option for SS rectification if desired.

Ya, I love this Lampy!
128x128grannyring
glory's avatar
glory
1,614 posts
 
3,

". It's only slight draw back is the way it forces all music to feel too relaxed which could be a drawback for the rockers and head bangers."

That's why one should never have the 40 tube. Limited! A tube such as the EF 80/800 you can do the Amperex or Tele. You get both worlds . The 182 tube is the same. You want more more energy? Bendix 6900.

I feel sorry for all the 40 tubers that got hood winked by L.

3 you don't have the 40 do you?
agear
1,362 posts
 
My Big Six is involving, but to me not at the level of the L4's musicality, at least not yet. I've got about 200+ hrs on the Big Six and it's more of a "grab you by the throat" kind of DAC that has awesome resolution and can delineate images that the L4 left blurred, especially with complex passages. If it can float music out there instead of projecting it then the Big Six will probably be the last DAC I have. I'm hoping it has the 3D gene in its DNA...

Interesting observations. Do you have Duelunds in there? Take forever to break in. Old man Glory may be right about the tube selection. Time will tell.

Another capacitor alternative to the Duelunds that has appeared recently is the Jupiter Copper Flats. http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=0msk4f3cesm5tc1u0edukpsis3&topic=119876.msg1261678#new
shawbros3
23 posts
 
g,

Yes, my L4 had the stock Mullard ECC40 tubes. If the ECC40 tube was that deficient in sound quality, what gave the L4 its 3D magic and sweetness? Is the Bendix 6900 and others you listed drop-in replacements for the ECC40? And with those others will the 3D presentation be left intact?

I'd like to hear other Big Six owners comment on the 3D comparison between the two DACs. I know some have Duelands like mine and I'm curious if the Jensens have anything to do with the L4 sweetness and 3D-ness. I'm willing to give up some of the raw resolution if the music can pull me in deeper.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring OP
6,506 posts
 
Funny, the leader of the pack is always the target and competitors always state they have something as good or better for less money. Duelund is king right now and we will see.

They may or may not be as good in a speaker, amp, dac etc......Need to try in these various applications first to see how they perform.

Still loving my L4!
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
Hi,
Right now I own PWD II and Bridge. A friend has a L3.5 I believe it sounds great. But I'm considering switching to Lampizator possibly a L5 set up. Any one compared this to L4 or Big Six? Any thought would be appreciated before I possibly switch. Also any comparisons to PWD II would be great as well. I'll be using it in a system featuring Coda amps and preamp with Legacy Aeris or the new Helix when it is available.
Thanks in advance.
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