New Lampizator Level 4/ Version 4 DAC in the house

The Sonore Rendu is on my list of things to buy. I am quite impressed with Sonore and the development of their products.

Won't splurge on a Lampi though. Can't justify that spend on digital no matter how good it is. I am an analog guy. Digital is the equivalent of my third string QB.

I must say though this computer audio has been kind of interesting to me of late.

Anyone have misgivings about spending vast sums of $$$$ with a small company in a foreign country that could close at any time leaving buyers with unserviceable, dead end, unsaleable, equipment?

I have zero qualms about engaging. Poland is not going to close anytime soon, although Amerika seems to be flirting with that reality. If a small company can deliver what many US-based manufacturers cannot, I say bring it on....

SGR,

I will do an article on this at PTAudiophile soon to sort out the confusion.

1)Correct. Some people prefer the big box rather than 2 separate smaller boxes and other prefer the inverse.

2)Plain vanilla DSD ( what is used as the format on SACDs is DSD64...ie ibit 2.8mhz). DSD128 is double rate DSD, ie double data rate 5.6mhz. Twice the size and a bit better SQ, probably due to the fact that the ultrasonic noise is pushed even further away from the audible frequencies.

3) ECC40 has great SQ, but is less robust that 182. I dont know the characteristics of all, but a buddy just switched from 40 to 182 and prefers the latter. 182 is more robust as well, but also more expensive.

4)I agree here.

5) He uses either 6x5 or 5Y3 rectifier tubes. Both kinds are supplied stock. I think there is more tube rolling possibilities with the 5Y and consequently more upside from tweaking. I have the 6x5 and am happy enough. I did find a few at Ebay to try rolling with.

SGR, some DSD Dacs can only do DSD64 ...at least for the moment. Chord Qute is an example.
There is a LOT more DSD64 material out there than DSD12, bt there are a few albums out there you can buy online and some people are ripping their vinyl collections to DSD128!!!!!!

Digital is the equivalent of my third string QB.

I have been playing with digital for a few months and am using a dedicated 2012 MacMini with SSD, ifi power with split (power/signal) USB cable, Metrum HEX, and Pure Music player with NOS upsampling to 88.2 and Less is More. I use XLD to rip CDs directly to AIFF. The HEX runs balanced to my SMc preamp, then Clayton amps and Aerial speakers. Cable runs are short.

After two months of getting the computer set-up to sound as good as it can with that gear, I put my MUSE Erato II player back in the rack and IMO, while both sound good, the MUSE improves on the computer set-up by providing greater depth, mid-bass/midrange warmth, better decay, and a slightly more rounded presentation that makes me enjoy listening more. The computer set-up is equal to a touch better in clarity, deep bass, and detail, and while it sounds quite musical and achieves most or all of the desired audiophile type attributes, it simply does not create the same level of musical connection for me as the player.

Since the HEX has already been very positively reviewed by some pretty experienced folks and is said to be one of the better DACs at providing an organic (non-analytical) presentation, I am not sure whether a different DAC, such as the Lampizator, is the answer or if the computer thing is simply not quite at the level of a top disc player. I would also look to the player but I settled on Pure Music as the most musical of the big three after expiring the trial subscriptions to all three. This result is a little frustrating since I was hoping to equal or improve on the player, for the investment. Even the convenience is a wash given the idiosyncrasies of the computer audio players and the ease of using a remote with the player.

Are you Lampizator owners truly getting sound to rival your best players and even vinyl?