Lampizator Music KOMPUTER or MusicVault or MemoryPlayer64???

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5523

Hi Zephyr,

I rip on another device.  My old Toshiba laptop, that used to hold down music server duties, is where I rip my files.  From there, I transfer them via external hard drive to the DSD Komputer.  That way, I have best playback.  

Cheers,



Juan 

This is a link to my system, although I recently upgraded from the Schiit SYS passive preamp to another hand-built passive with a better potentiometer and silver wires inside ensconced in a cotton braid.  

Hi Zephyr,

I own the LampizatOr DSD Komputer music server, and it's working out quite well for me.  Sound quality is quite amazing!

That said, it has a USB output that goes out to your DAC, hence no balanced outputs.  There are no ripping abilities with mine.  That said, they do have a variety of options available.  You can go to their international page at the link below or, if you are in North America, contact them at their site (the second link):

http://www.lampizator.eu/Fikus/KOMPUTER_-_MUSIC_SERVER.html

http://www.lampizatorna.com/sqb-transport/

I will be doing a review on the Komputer soon.

Cheers,

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my LampizatOr DSD Komputer!  This is my review on it that just went live:

http://ayllonmedia.com/news/the-lampizator-dsd-komputer-an-audio-expo-in-your-living-room-or-not

Give it a read and let me know what you think!

Cheers,


Juan 

Hi Zephyr,

You're very welcome!  I am unfamiliar with the dual-AES board.  That said, I simply use straight USB, which Lukasz insisted was the best way to go with the LampizatOr Lite 7 DAC when I had questioned him about possibly using other inputs into the DAC -- especially in regards to DSD.  

Cheers,


Juan

You're welcome, Zephyr.   Have a great week!

Hi Whatthe,

That’s great that you were able to make your computer and save money. It sounds like you made a nice server. Lampizator’s founder, Lukasz Fikus encourages people, if they are capable, to try and make their own.

But think about it: from a commercial standpoint, in order to remain profitable and stay in business, you not only need to cover your cost of materials, but pay for land, labor, capital and have some built-in profit. Assuming your server was comparable (which maybe it is, but maybe it isn’t), you’ve inadvertently proven a point: your costs in materials alone are 50 percent the price of the Super Komputer.

In order for a company like Lampizator or others to be profitable and stay in business, provide the points for dealers, etc. over the long haul there needs to be a markup like that -- or better.   

I was talking with a friend who works in Quality Assurance for Foster, which has a limited line of speakers it sells (i.e., Fostex) and does a great deal of OEM business (including Harmon Kardon, Pioneer, Bose and others, as well as automobile companies; he had been in Australia, I believe, talking with Subaru, whom they will be providing (if not already) car speakers for) and, in passing, he mentioned that the material costs of building a decent car are roughly $12,000. Then, you need to factor in your labor, capital, profit margin, etc.. So, you pay anywhere from $20,000 to $35,000 or more for something that cost roughly $12,000 in materials (the more expensive ones use some nicer materials, but the incremental cost to them is maybe a few thousand dollars, if that, while the consumer pays oodles and oodles more). When I had a basic marketing class, the difference in production costs between a J-car and a Cadillac was only a couple thousand but the markup was significantly higher. Go figure!

So, keeping in mind the prices for top performing speakers, amplifiers, and other audio gear (where $5,000 speakers are considered budget buys, used Pass amplifiers go for $4,000 - $5,000, etc.), for those who are not willing or able to build a very good music server but demand top flight audiophile performance, the Komputer is actually a very good deal.

Coincidentally, my lowly Toshiba laptop handled DSD files, too, but trust me, it didn’t sound nearly as good as the Lampizator DSD Komputer!

Cheers,



Juan

P.S. -- That prototype of their DSD Komputer shown in the photograph at the end of the interview now sits on a shelf in my listening room!

And just so you know, that Toshiba laptop did sound good in in its own right while sourcing my system.  It's just that the Komputer sounds better!

Good morning, Whatthe,

No offense taken.  I actually shared this link with Lukasz last night and found this response in my email's inbox a few minutes ago:

Hi,thank you for the link. Answering their concern: the PCM playback leaves our microprocessor almost idling at 1% busy mark. Going to DSD playback goes to 40-60%. Going to DSD conversion on the fly - pushes it to 100% all the time. Thats why i7 processor is needed, not Atom or i3 or i5.   this is equivalent of a car driving 200 mph with 8000 revs on the clock.
Łukasz Fikus
Owner at LampizatOr

Other than that, the name DSD Komputer may also be a clever marketing name like Infiniti, Alfa Romeo, Acura, etc.  It's catchy! 

He talks about the Komputer, amongst other things, in an interview I conducted with him at AXPONA 2016:

http://ayllonmedia.com/news/the-tape-rolls-on-a-new-digital-giant-a-candid-interview-with-the-lampizator-himself-lukasz-ficus

This may shed further light on the subject for you.

Have a good one,


Juan 

That's interesting that you ended up with the EMM Labs DA2, Whatthe.  It was my favorite when I attended my first AXPONA show (2014).  I wrote about it at the following link:

http://www.ayllonmedia.com/1/post/2014/05/searching-for-the-right-stuff-mooo-mats-monolithic-speakers-and-mega-dacs-at-axpona-2014.html

It was later that I discovered LampizatOr.  Just curious:  Have you ever listened to a LampizatOr like the Golden Gate, Big 7 or even the Lite 7?

And as for formats, I've heard excellent recordings in their various permutations.  You're right:  so much depends on the quality of the recording, itself!  

Cheers,


Juan

You said:

Not the sound but the energy efficiency, heat, hums and burn outs.

I have not experienced this with my LampizatOr DACs (first, with the Amber DAC Plus and currently with the Lite 7 DAC).  Lukasz dials back the temperature with the tubes, so they don't burn nearly so hot.  I like that!  I've not had any burnouts or hum, either.

 

I understand, Whatthe.  A local audiophile store where I have made many purchases through the years doesn't even carry tubes, so it wasn't until AXPONA 2014 that I was really exposed to them.  The funny thing is that when I saw your mention of the Yipsilon VPS-100 phono stage, I had to fight the impulse to look it up as a possible upgrade to my turntable setup.  I think my wife would have a nuclear meltdown if I spend another red cent on audio gear this year!

Cheers,


Juan