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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
agear
1,362 posts
 
Bill, amongst mini-heads, people argue about whether they even make a difference. One camp says an external supply on an 09 is the way (Empirical Audio). Others say a 2011 or newer mini with no supply is comparable (Tranquility sac). Both camps are headed by engineers who know more than we do and provide convincing arguments for each position.

So....in other words, an external supply is not relevant. Gary Glory Anderson has relevant experience with and without an external supply.

Someone needs to send Granny a transport. Gopher???
glory's avatar
glory
1,616 posts
 
MM is better!!
abruce's avatar
abruce
246 posts
 
I'm with Mitch would like to know more about how much better and differences between the 4 and 5
mitch2
4,113 posts
 
Abruce,
I am not sure of the age or current accuracy of this paper but here is a link that explains some of it;
Level 5 guided tour by Lukasz Fikas
It appears there is significantly more work done to the power supply (which is dual mono in the L5) and a different PCB using different chips. From what I have read, it seems the power supply work accounts for the majority of the sonic improvements. If you go to the dual chassis you can include more features such as balanced operation and his special volume control, although those options do not interest me at this time.
I was hoping some here might elaborate with regards to sonic differences.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring OP
6,544 posts
 
The power supply was a huge improvement on my 2009 Mini. I would say a 25-30% improvement. Steve at Empirical says a stock 2009 mini sounds better than a stock 2011 Mini. So this means my set up is perhaps 30 plus percent better than a 2011 Mini without an upgraded power supply.

Oh well. Must try both to really know!
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