Lampizator Owners & Discussion Thread

[frankn]

22 minutes ago, Nick44 said:

Problem is there is such a huge jump in price from the (now) "mid-level" Atlantic TRP to Poseidon...

I know, it’s what I’m trying to get a handle on.  Cost vs performance as one goes up the line. 
Poseidon includes a world class pre-amp, and Lampizator says it uses more available (less costly) tubes for its performance.  I wonder if anyone has actually heard one , compared to other models or purchased/upgraded to one and can say what their experience was. 

[Nick44]

Sorry my mistake it looks like the GG3 is still available, just won't be getting any further "upgrades".

That is in between Atlantic and Poseidon at least.

[frankn]

Table 1 is the current list of pre-owned models at Lampizator Poland for sale. Basically Double any stated € value for the AUD price (which would also include our import taxes). 
The new prices are in the other table. 
GG-3 isn’t much less than Poseidon 

Edited March 4 by frankn
Fix

[Silver Audiophile]

I tend to agree there is a colossal variance in the Lampizator line up of products. Speaking once with Ian @Plasmod3 who has the Lampizator Horizon DAC, commented on how even at that roughly $60K price point, like the Aries Cerat high flying DACs all uses modestly price component parts (which he takes great delight to upgrade himself with premium components).

This is why I began to hunt wider and consider other DAC makers, particularly smaller owner/founder companies making tube DACs from premium quality components, and give each unit made with care and personal tweak and attention.

Abbas DACs comes to mind. Modestly priced (all considered), premium internal parts, owner/founder builder, individually tuned by said owner/founder, and modest in pricing structure (in this case Mr Abbas is from Ukraine).

My Abbas 2.2SE is my clear favourite to all the other DACs I owned or heard (all brands included). It is low in the Abbas hierarchy, however Abbas doesn't have the vast $60K top end high spread like the others brands (ranging price wise from USD$850-$8,600). Mr Abbas puts boatloads of love and tuning love to even his lowest priced SE models. Black gate caps, selected vintage parts for their sound, and even directional testing resistors in a separate circuit for the sound he likes the most! When I first heard the Abbas DAC, I thought man this excels, particularly in classical music. Then I found out, the old Mr Abbas is a retired Classical musical conductor from Kiev.

 

Price list (USD) below link:

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UXtco4tKdmWm2wp5ALu5ZbVBYLNVnW8akFoBlbh7Z9s/edit?pli=1&gid=0#gid=0

 

 

 

Edited March 4 by Silver Audiophile

[PKay]

26 minutes ago, Silver Audiophile said:

I tend to agree there is a colossal variance in the Lampizator line up of products. Speaking once with Ian @Plasmod3 who has the Lampizator Horizon DAC, commented on how even at that roughly $60K price point, like the Aries Cerat high flying DACs all uses modestly price component parts (which he takes great delight to upgrade himself with premium components).

This is why I began to hunt wider and consider other DAC makers, particularly smaller owner/founder companies making tube DACs from premium quality components, and give each unit made with care and personal tweak and attention.

Abbas DACs comes to mind. Modestly priced (all considered), premium internal parts, owner/founder builder, individually tuned by said owner/founder, and modest in pricing structure (in this case Mr Abbas is from Ukraine).

My Abbas 2.2SE is my clear favourite to all the other DACs I owned or heard (all brands included). It is low in the Abbas hierarchy, however Abbas doesn't have the vast $60K top end high spread like the others brands (ranging price wise from USD$850-$8,600). Mr Abbas puts boatloads of love and tuning love to even his lowest priced SE models. Black gate caps, selected vintage parts for their sound, and even directional testing resistors in a separate circuit for the sound he likes the most! When I first heard the Abbas DAC, I thought man this excels, particularly in classical music. Then I found out, the old Mr Abbas is a retired Classical musical conductor from Kiev.

 

Price list (USD) below link:

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UXtco4tKdmWm2wp5ALu5ZbVBYLNVnW8akFoBlbh7Z9s/edit?pli=1&gid=0#gid=0

 

 

 

It’s great when you can deal directly with the person who makes the Dac. I found the response and time that I received from Pedja Rogic when I bought my Audial S5 was exemplary. They are clearly passionate about their products. 
 

I would love to hear the Abbas one day. 

[frankn]

Is there much difference in the sound signature between the DHT models and the new topology?

[Gryffles]

9 hours ago, frankn said:

Is there much difference in the sound signature between the DHT models and the new topology?

I can’t help with that. I can tell you that there’s a huge difference between a Golden Gate and a Big 4 or Big 5.

 

If I was looking to buy now I’d be hunting a Pacific down, 

[Kirby66]

On 02/03/2025 at 2:42 PM, frankn said:

Actually we will be in Brisbane after The Blues Festival for a few days. I’ll send you a DM.  Thank you. 

You wont be disappointed ... very nice system and a top bloke to boot 

[Nick44]

I have an Aric Audio Motherlode XL 6Sn7 preamp and Alpha 300b power amp on the way, does anyone have an opinion whether (excluding the cost!) you can have too many 300bs in your chain?

I am looking at a Big 7mk2 (300b) or Atlantic TRP (el34 etc).

For me rich, liquid sound is the most important thing.

 

[Silver Audiophile]

15 minutes ago, Nick44 said:

For me rich, liquid sound is the most important thing.

You answered your own question with one line - 300B it is !!

Lovely... just lovely is the way I would describe the 300B sonic character. Rich, full, liquid mid range.. delicate top and bottom. Organic and pleasing to most SET tube lovers.

I now 8 tube amps, and 3 tube pre amps. 2 amps and 1 pre amp are in 300B. So knock yourself out, 300B DAC, pre, and amp! The more the better IMO. Below.. my 300B pre amp, drives my 300B monoblock amps.

 

 

Edited March 13 by Silver Audiophile

[Gryffles]

31 minutes ago, Nick44 said:

I have an Aric Audio Motherlode XL 6Sn7 preamp and Alpha 300b power amp on the way, does anyone have an opinion whether (excluding the cost!) you can have too many 300bs in your chain?

I am looking at a Big 7mk2 (300b) or Atlantic TRP (el34 etc).

For me rich, liquid sound is the most important thing.

 

I would say yes you can have too much 300b. Given that the 2A3s sound better, and 45's better again, than 300b's I'd suggest aiming for a different tube. It's also very handy that 45's, for example, can be had NOS for 2 or 3 hundred a pair.

In a DAC where power output of the tube is irrelevant it is the perfect place to use the super low power DHT tubes.

I use 45's in my Golden Gate after trying PT14 and PX4 and it was an 'aha' moment. Wished I'd tried them first lol!

 

Edited March 13 by Gryffles
extra info

[Silver Audiophile]

Here's is that 300B driving those 300B Pre > amps combo. Again, other triodes (45, 2A3) are great too, but sonic preference 'may' lead you back to the 300B?

Below is those 300Bs in action in my system:

 

 

[Nick44]

17 minutes ago, Gryffles said:

I would say yes you can have too much 300b. Given that the 2A3s sound better, and 45's better again, than 300b's I'd suggest aiming for a different tube. It's also very handy that 45's, for example, can be had NOS for 2 or 3 hundred a pair.

Cheers, I think the Big7 can take 45s as well

[Nick44]

30 minutes ago, Silver Audiophile said:

You answered your own question with one line - 300B it is !!

Lovely... just lovely is the way I would describe the 300B sonic character. Rich, full, liquid mid range.. delicate top and bottom. Organic and pleasing to most SET tube lovers.

I now 8 tube amps, and 3 tube pre amps. 2 amps and 1 pre amp are in 300B. So knock yourself out, 300B DAC, pre, and amp! The more the better IMO. Below.. my 300B pre amp, drives my 300B monoblock amps.

 

 

Wow,  that will keep you warm in winter!

Yes thanks  I was thinking probably not as much sense "mixing" pentodes (though in triode mode) with triodes.

I can upgrade either DAC engine to 11p as well, maybe in for a penny in for a pound...

Edited March 13 by Nick44

[Gryffles]

Just now, Nick44 said:

Cheers, I think the Big7 can take 45s as well

Excellent news. Hey, 45's may not be your cup of tea however a lot of users report 300'bs being the least fav in their DHT Lampi's. 

I also favour the EML mesh rectifier over many others I tried with the 45's. Cant go past the magic mesh does with sound stage : )

[Silver Audiophile]

15 minutes ago, Nick44 said:

Wow,  that will keep you warm in winter!

Yes thanks I was thinking probably not as much sense "mixing" pentodes (though in triode mode) with triodes.

I wouldn't rule out any tube such as pentodes. Indeed, a lot of that 'muscularity' you are hearing in the demo clip is coming from WE310A pentode driver tubes to those 300Bs in the pre amp. It lifts the performance of the 300B, to start approaching my 211 or 845 triode amps in the mid bass and bass (and that's no small feat). The WE310A pentode compliments the 300B nicely. 45 and 2A3 will add more detail and nuanced air. Best approach is have a listen to decide?

Like any tube, different 300Bs do sound very different, as it applies to any tube. 

Below my Sunvalley SV-91B (WE310A > WE310A > 300B, 274B rectified. It cranks out 10 watts of pure class A and even livelier than the 300B triple set above posts:

 

 

Edited March 13 by Silver Audiophile

[frankn]

Genyadac

new DAC model from Lampazitor 

[Silver Audiophile]

36 minutes ago, frankn said:

Genyadac

new DAC model from Lampazitor 

Big 7 sized DAC from the photos- impressive. Lukacs final tribute to his late Soviet-era great Ukrainian engineering mentor Evgennyi Kreminski!

Love it.. preserving in time Evgennyi's design philosophy and preferred DAC sound ('his last tube stage'). No doubt a great DAC to add to one's collection. 

 

 

Edited April 5 by Silver Audiophile

[Nick44]

Yes looks like they have brought back R2R option interestingly for this.