Lampizator announcement: launch of our all new TOTL HORIZON DAC

[wisnon]

The one tube we didn't get to use was a 6ns7

Did U try the VT99?

 

[Steve Williams]

Did U try the VT99?

No however this is supposedly a fantastic tube to use with the Horizon

 

[wil]

The MELZ Russian Metal Plate with no holes was also found to be a magnific

We payed that a lot and it seems to be every bit as good as the 6900ent tube and doesn't need adapters

The Melz metal plates I've seen either have vertical rectangle holes or round holes. Are there some with "no holes"?

 

[gleeds]

I just got home from a fun day filled at Steve's beautiful ponderosa. Thank you Steve and Cathy for hosting such a terrific event!

The day started with Lukasz presenting the challenges and dedication that went into producing the very best DAC that can be made. Ron's video will surely cover this in great detail and it's worth a watch. For now, let me say the effort made by Lukasz and his team was nothing short of heroic!

We then went on to listen to the Horizon in groups of three as Steve graciously cued up the tracks. Later the Horizon was compared to their less expensive DAC and several tube swaps to the Horizon were made as well. Never having heard Steve's system before, I can say that the system fronted by the Horizon and Taiko Extreme sounded incredibly dynamic, with loads of detail, a deep soundstage, and a powerful low-end. According to Steve and others in attendance, the contribution being made to his system by the latest Lampizator was significant indeed.

Most of all it was great being with a group of like-minded people in pursuit of the absolute sound. Steve and Ron, Lukasz, and Fred (the US Lampizator importer), Damon and Lief of VSA, Larry of Positive Feedback fame, and the other distinguished guests in attendance I look forward to seeing you all again soon!

 

[Kingrex]

I've heard this from several Lampi owners of comparable DAC's. My units have been sent out for upgrades and then evaluated for noise, and they are clean in other settings.

It seems that I have a power supply issue that challenges transformers more than most. I've applied Topaz isolation transformers (balanced and not), DC offset cancelers, and regenerators (best solution so far), but I still get some noise. I just seem to have some gremlins... So, I am sensitive to noise, and am hoping to hear of the relative comparison.

For what its worth, Topaz is not a good isolation transformer. If you want a real isolation transformer, you need a tripple insulated k13 from Controlled power at a minimum. Those medical Triplite are also junk. I have put scopes on both and distortion can be higher on the output than input. I have listened to both and they are not going to fix toroid core saturation hum. Speaket hum is a totally different conversation. Were talking the transformer itself, correct. An Isotek syncro will knock about 85% to 90% of transformer hum down too.
A well built power supply/transformer should have very little hum from normal levels of leaked DC that get on the AC. If you actually have high levels then the filters I mentioned above should help a lot. Get rid of any slide dimmer in your house. Replace every one with a Lutron Maestro 600 to 1000 watt dimmer.

I would be surprised if a regenerator of say a Purepower 1050 quality would not also clean up transformer hum.

If your using filters of that quality and getting noise????????

You should also put a true RMS meter in your power socket and in the end of the power cord when plugged in and test microvolts. Between neutral and ground you should have 5 microvolts or less. Better to have 0. If you have over 35 you may have issues with your wiring, not the utility.

Sorry to drop that here. Bad placement.

 

[Steve Williams]

The Melz metal plates I've seen either have vertical rectangle holes or round holes. Are there some with "no holes"?

Yes. And according to Lukasz those without are the best. Mine have no holes on the plates

 

[marty]

Great thread. Very exciting. This is better than watching the returns come in live on election night!!

 

[Steve Williams]

Great thread. Very exciting. This is better than watching the returns come in live on election night!!

We know who the winner was

 

[acousticsguru]

Yes. And according to Lukasz those without are the best. Mine have no holes on the plates

I'd say if the "no holes" are metal base from the 50s, and if the application is to use them as a preamp tube and not as a driver, maybe the two may be regarded as roughly equal in the sense that depending on the vintage, one will find a better pair of one versus the other. In general, however, the 1578 with holes are more expensive for a reason. Be sure not to pay more for a 6H8C (Cyrillic for 6N8S) without holes than with holes in the plate (see pic below, please note it is NOT mine and that I'm not in the tube-selling business), the price ratio should still be around 50% for the non-hole metal base 6H8C compared to the famed "Holy Plate", and that bakelite base non-holes are dirt-cheap for good reason. Apparently the change was made for good reason, by the way, which wasn't sound quality, of course, but heat dissipation. Hence what I said in the beginning, it may depend on the application. A DAC isn't the same as an amplifier.

Having said all this, I'd like to add something prospective buyers of either might want to know: don't panic if you happen to have a noisy one! That may be due to the old solder having crystallized in one or several pins. Sometimes reheating alone will solve the problem, if not, re-soldering (heating one by one with a soldering iron adding a needle pin's worth of fresh solder, then brushing the pins clean with a soft metal brush), if that won't do, use a solder pump and replace the old solder altogether. Needless to say, there are audiophiles who swear replacing the old with silver solder will improve the sound.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.

 

[wisnon]

Yes. And according to Lukasz those without are the best. Mine have no holes on the plates

Picture please, when U can.

 

[Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus]

It's listed at 600 ohms per phase. I haven't noticed per phase in other impedance specs. Would that mean 1200 ohms total output impedance?

No, because your input impedance is ALSO PER PHASE hence 600 is 600, period

 

[Steve Williams]

MELZ Russian Metal plate. No holes

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[howiebrou]

MELZ Russian Metal plate. No holes

View attachment 89234

Steve, I think your phone's focus needs a little realignment

 

[Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus]

Can this tube be used in the Pacific?

In the pacific the small tube is power supply role and not signal role. Besides 6n6p, you can use 6n30p, ecc182, 6900 and 12bh7. The latter three require adapters .

 

[Steve Williams]

Having said all this, I'd like to add something prospective buyers of either might want to know: don't panic if you happen to have a noisy one! That may be due to the old solder having crystallized in one or several pins. Sometimes reheating alone will solve the problem, if not, re-soldering (heating one by one with a soldering iron adding a needle pin's worth of fresh solder, then brushing the pins clean with a soft metal brush), if that won't do, use a solder pump and replace the old solder altogether. Needless to say, there are audiophiles who swear replacing the old with silver solder will improve the sound.

when we inserted the MELZ Metal Plate, Lukasz discussed this very thing with all of the attendees. He said many times you hade tap the tube the noise would stop. Lukasz also discussed that there is indeed one pin that needs a small amount of solder to solve the problem. Having said that the issue of one hole vs 5 holes was discussed and Lukasz did comment that the MELZ tubes he seeks out as he prefers them the most are the ones with NO holes. He was quite insistent that the ones with no holes are sonically superior and sound more organic than the same tubes with perforated plates

When Master Yoda speaks we wookies all take notice. There was quite a lengthy discussion about the tubes that can be used as well as all the variations thereof

We never used a 6sn7 nor a VT99 but these were discussed in detail and were said to be excellent tubes for the Horizon.

 

[Steve Williams]

More to come this afternoon and another array of tubes

As an a side we had dinner last night at a restaurant in Laguna Beach which Lukasz had dined in many years earlier and it was one of his favorites. There were 6 of us on the patio at Las Brisas at Main Beach in. Laguna.In attendance were
Cathy and I
Lukasz and Fred
Ron and Gregadd

After the demos today we are having our final dinner tonight at Fleming's in Newport Beach and tomorrow Fred and Lukasz depart for Florida. If their sound at the Florida show is as good as we heard it the attendees there will be in for a real treat

 

[Steve Williams]

Steve, I think your phone's focus needs a little realignment

No it was me trying to taks some fast pictures with everyone hovering around. Ill get better ones later. Everyone is still sleeping