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The New Lampizator Horizon DAC
On Saturday, I was lucky enough to be invited to the unofficial launch of the all-new Lampizator Horizon DAC in Los Angeles. I have a Pacific and love it but I was intrigued to experience whether the Horizon was that much better. So, My wife and I drove the 6 hours from Arizona to attend.
The event had about 18 people in attendance and featured Lukasz Fikus, the owner and brains behind Lampizator. We had a 5-hour listening session which included direct A/B comparisons between the Pacific and the Horizon, operating the Horizon without a preamp, and finally tube rolling.
My impressions were the Lampizator created a DAC that could change people's minds on comparing digital to vinyl, The amount of detail, smoothness, clarity, speed was incredible. For those interested in tube rolling the options are almost endless and I heard firsthand many different tube combinations which changed the SQ of the music. Finally, at the end of the session, we ran the Horizon without a preamp. The preamp used in the system was Lamm and the whole system was well over $700k. So we are talking about a very high-end component grouping. IMO, the Horizon DAC delivered about 95% of the sound without a Preamp. It was super hard to discern any differences in SQ.
This DAC was so good that I ended up ordering one. For anyone going to the Tampa Audio show, Lukasz Fikus will be there to officially launch the Horizon to the world this weekend. It is definitely worth a listen.
104 responses
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Something you're not telling the community? |
this is a veiled advertisement - most companies release a killer of all tsaps every half a year - a super novelty))) in a year, your horizon will be called obsolete and offered to buy a new super DAC))) the best DACs were made in the late 1990s (the industry spared no expense on good parts) - now almost everything is waste paper and endless unnecessary service functions))) |
Pinching pennies is just a figure of speech. I am in no way denigrating anyone for what they can or can't spend. Hell, I can't spend 50K on a DAC. But I don't hold it against anyone who can. And I don't talk about things I haven't heard for myself. Browse through this thread (and many others) again and see how many people have speculated about a product they don't have a clue about. If I was pulling down 7 figures a year I'd have a 50K DAC myself. So to someone like @willgolf , I am pinching pennies. For me, the guy that buys an all in one rack system is pinching pennies. It's all relative and nothing means anything w/o a point of reference. |
Yup. I don't care what the intent of the post is. To some it initiates jealousy I suppose. The op is happy. Good. The world can stand more happy people. Is there over pricing? Absolutely. Do parts equate with cost? yes and no at times. I don't care. I know what I'm looking at and for me, I won't buy what I consider "non value'. But that's me and my purchase criteria. Other have different criteria and more power to em. Buy what you want if you can, w/o doing financial damage to yourself or loved ones. This trip around is shorter than you think. |
Fine post imo..I like reading reviews and post on gear I could never afford.One reason why I go to audio shows is to see and hear the upper end..I'm tired of reading about bs speakers that are junk and shillled to death..let's get back to what the site was really setup for ..the discussion of high-end audio like the former site logo use to claim.. OP,please keep us informed on your thoughts after breakin... |
I for one have sat and listened in rooms that I cannot afford (who knows what the future brings? Maybe one day, I will. ) and I have loved seeing beautiful things I will not likely afford any time soon. |
@rixthetrick VERY well said…I still remember twenty or so years ago going to demo a flat panel television and when my wife overheard it was $20k she started crying, knowing all too well that I had likely already done the deal and that I was just trying to get her buyin. LOL. I hadnt and I didnt. |
well if you want to get ripped off for $50,000 that's your choice because no way should any deck be worth 50 $100,000 even using the best parts out there that should maybe be worth five or six thousand, unfortunately
You could say the same thing about a sports car costing over a million dollars if you look at it that way.
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It would be nice to just focus on the music and the enjoyment we get from it whether it is a $3k system or a $100k system. It doesn't matter. It is all personal taste. For those of you who want to buy my Pacific, it won't happen from me. As part of the first 6 months of the launch, Lampi is offering a full 100% MSRP buyback of my Pacific. So the Horizon will cost me about half with the trade-in. That is a big saving. I do not anticipate getting the Horizon until early summer. And Yes I have the Coney sauce!
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Your value analysis wasn't asked for and, based on your post, the OP had premonitions as to why not.
Seriously, it's not anyone's place to determine value other than buyer and seller. Thankfully, amazing products developed at a pricepoint many of us can't or won't consider do trickle down into products that we will consider. It's all good. |
Don’t you love it when people can’t afford something they start bashing it? They have no clue how much the parts cost or how much r&d cost. So until you know exactly how much it costs to build it, you can’t or shouldn’t complain. People complaining about tubes in a dac, so do these same people hate tubes in preamps? Amps? |
Dear Sirs...one comment I receive from both family and friends is, "wow! You sure have spent alot $$$ on your stereo system!" This from a guy that owns a $25,000 boat he uses three times a years. Hobbies come with various price tags. Everyone on this site has been criticized for conspicuous consumption one time or another. A quality bottle of wine? $30? A night out for two $200. "Boys and their toys." New bed $4000. Kitchen cabinets $35000. Yes, my Dad was right, there are starving children in India. Honestly we all live better than we need. How much is too much for an interconnect ? Too much for a phono cartridge? My NOS tubes aren't free. My wife began to recite the audio purchases $$$ I've made in the past 10 years. (Credit card records are invasive surveillance!) Then I realized most of that stuff was sold down line to other audiophile newbies. (Usually .50 cents on the $1 but still) Its one oasis of peace and magic in my life. Criticism of Wilgolf above got me thinking. Comments? |
LOL....so are you in that camp? Where its cool to snipe a thread on a high end audio site where generally speaking, most items discussed are variations of questionable value to those who either don't understand the topic or won't or can't spend the requisite cost of entry? Especially posting when the OP communicated that value input wasn't solicited? |
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Au contraire … I do not camp , you need to go to @thyname for that. For my part I took exception to @ozzy62 ’s comment “ @willgolf don’t let these penny pinching rock throwers rain on your parade. Congrats to you! “ Replying … ” Are you being serious !?!? Calling out folks who might not even earn $50K a year penny pinchers for expressing their view … “ If you are obtuse enough not to recognise the point that I was making … well … |
At what price for a piece of gear is it no longer ok to post a thread and discuss? I believe I already commented on the $50k/yr earlier in the thread. I’m sorry if someone’s disposable income doesn’t meet their desires. Where is the line though? Are we not to discuss $25k gear because someone may not make $25k/yr? $10k?
The "penny pinching" comment may have been an attempt at humor by that poster and it might have struck some as insensitive but audio gear at every pricing strata is a luxury, not basic sustenance. Everyone on Audiogon has either been fortunate financially to varying degrees OR they have made decisions to do without some things in order to afford other things. |
@ghasley : you are a very nice person. I am afraid that trying to educate this tsushima person is like hitting your head against a brick wall hoping to break the wall. It's not going to happen. Your head will break first. |
Utterly pathetic … Your agenda is glaringly obvious. ” The "penny pinching" comment may have been an attempt at humor by that poster and it might have struck some as insensitive but audio gear at every pricing strata is a luxury, not basic sustenance “ Exactly so … My own DAC ‘s RRP is in excess of the latest greatest LampizatOr DAC … however unlike some I don’t feel the need to mention RRP’s |
Doubtful, but since most people don’t care what someone may or may not have nor what they paid, this is just a thread to discuss a particular dac, not an imaginary one. |
Makes me wonder why some people claim to afford luxury equipment and can’t bring themselves to invest in a little bit of finesse, comradely, and even the most rudimentary manners. |
Re read my post The comment “ Your value analysis wasn’t asked for” was posted by @ghasley This was my own comment directed at @ghasley actually in your defence ! ” Neither was your critique of what he said! But you went ahead anyway.” I hope this clarifies my post.
tsushima1881 posts ” Your value analysis wasn’t asked for”
Neither was your critique of what he said! But you went ahead anyway. |
To begin, the private showing of the Horizon DAC was hardly an "advertisement" by or for an anointed few. The new owner extended an open invitation to all several hundred members of the "What’s Best Forum" and about 20 accepted his gracious hospitality to gather and hear a piece of gear in a collegial and private setting. Even you would have been invited had you known about it. It was hardly a secret. It was, in fact, a remarkable gesture of grace extended to audio and music lovers without prejudice (of which I doubt you are capable) for the type of gear they owned, the type of music they love, or their social or financial status. Indeed, your remark that "the best DACs were made in the late 1990’s" justifies my last comment regarding your obvious bias. As long as you are free to post your unnecessarily hostile comments, may I suggest that sometimes, it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. |
Well that is a kinda interesting observation in the context of the life journey Mr Fikus and many many millions of others have experienced in what may be becoming a distant memory. For the one person who doesn’t remember, Poland was a communist state until about 1989-ish. |
wishing you all the best in music @willgolf Jim |
I know the limits of what I can afford toward this hobby, and it is fun for me to find an upgrade to my system of which I can afford. Therefore I will never disparage anyone who can afford ultimate highend products. When I am fortunate enough to listen to one of these ultra systems, it gives me a goal to shoot for. Even if I never obtain it, I will try to come as close as I can to that quality of sound. This helps me improve my system as I trek along the hifi journey. To me, it's all about the fun and beautiful music! |
Nice post @mr_m |
@willgolf
It is sad how this thread could have been such an asset yet there are a number of posters that can't just refrain from negativity. We all have the ability to change the channel. If you are not interested or even offended, you can just go elsewhere. That's what many of us do already.
I wish you well in your audio journey and I'll see you over on WBF. |
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This message is intended for Tuckia08 Good Day I commend you on your comments re: the Lampizator Horizon Dac. For some reason many who do not have the means to pursue the high end, spend way too much time decrying the buyers and equipment that is not available to them. I think it is a sad reflection on humanity and the negativity that flows way to frequently without any justification or purpose. Good Luck. PS Please keep us informed of the results of your planned purchases. |
