Not really sure how to start this post but as some may know, and I repeated this in several posts, I've had luck to own or hear many, or should I say, almost all Lampi DACs in their portfolio for the last 7/8 years.
Hence I have a basic understanding on how each of them sound and their differences to certain extent. Here into the picture comes their latest development named Poseidon. Knowing its development coming after Horizon and being placed on the stair below it, this is an interesting unit as such.
As I wanted to have a proper listening sessions in my system and the only option was to buy one, that is actually what I did. I ordered one quite a while ago and as the unit was done like at the beginning of December I had to wait almost for additional 3 months to get it done in the way I wanted to have it - being Duracell color combo with the real copper top (no half solutions with painted "copper" top). Moving from blah blah to the point (s):
Packaging: Standard Lampi flight case which I like except this time much more neatly packed inside even compared to the time I received my Horizon. Less of that spongy foam protection and all tip top. Tubes packed in a unified box (if you have/had Pacific with RK tubes you know what I talk about) and the box is super nice. Printed Poseidon marketing stuff, tech sheet and warranty card. All things considered very nice and visible improvement in this department vs few years ago.
DAC look & feel: Well here things got a massive improvement vs Pacific and GG2/3 and these units You can not put into same bucket even if you would want to. Just other universe and resemblance with Horizon chassis quality and craftmanship is remarkable. Unit is heavy (less vs H) but still it delivers in this aspect. I personally love the OLED display as it shows all needed information in sense of inputs, Volume level, bypass and it even greets you during turn on/off cycle. Personally I would rather have this OLED on Horizon than those two Nixie tubes but that is just heavy personal opinion/liking. Back panel with connectors is clean and neat and looks great.
Tubes: Included were Russian rectie and 6n1p while right bank was with some Chinese 6V6 (Shugunag I would say). As i don't have any other versions of these tubes I used only those which came with the DAC. Reading some impressions about 6j5 I assume this unit might go significantly up in sense of performance with proper tube rolling.
UX and sound: setting it up is a smooth sailing and what I did not mention but i guess its a known fact as with Baltic 3, Horizon and now Poseidon all are SE and BAL capable where with Horizon and Poseidon you also get VC as a default option. To state in advance I did not use it as a preamp so no idea how it does but basically what i read is that VC inside is even better than on the Horizon. As I'm not using it on H I can't judge - I love my Tobian too much.
I come now to the part which is the most important one - does it deliver as a DAC itself and how does it compare to Horizon and potentially to Pacific (I'm talking here based on my memory so take it with a grain of salt and Pac 1 not 2). Starting from the later, lets just say for the same price point they are at, I would never ever in a state of sane mind get Pacific vs Poseidon. Poseidon is just a much more elaborated unit by any means physically and sound wise its character is in the Horizon ballpark meaning that it took best out of Pacific and Golden Gate and delivers it as a one package. You get sweetness and tone color of tubes from GG and dynamics, heft and HFs delivery from Pacific. And of course you don't need quads of DHTs etc. hence you wallet and wife loves you more.
Listening to it, if I'm very honest, I did not miss my Horizon as such due to signature which is very similar and I thoroughly enjoyed it at every step. So overall it is a very very well balanced unit with beautiful tone delivery, staging which is pinpoint precise, with very reveling details (not fatiguing ones) fast and precise bass and extended HF. Despite being tube unit there is no syrup ingredients in the signature and this is something which I love with Lampi DACs. After writing the above, logical question will arise - but where the hell is Horizon better then. Except emptying your wallet more and braking your back more, once i placed it back on the rack it just becomes apparent after literally one song that Horizon is still at the top of the food chain. In sense of all mentioned things its just delivers more of everything. Is the difference massive? No, it is not but it is evident and if you are chasing last 5,6,7,8% and you have the means, you will get Horizon. If you are not that crazy and Poseidon is in your cost range get it and never look back.
It just delivers by any possible means and you'll have a wonderful fulfilled life with it without looking over the fence what is better, more expensive etc. And as I said before - take into account possible tube rolling which will elevate the performance further.
Fantastic job done again by Yoda and his team!
Anyhow I hope this short overview might help you in your decision making if you're considering a DAC in this price range.
As always few pics...
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What if I replace my GG2 and CHP L1 with Poseidon? I can’t afford Poseidon on its own, but if it is so good as a line stage… Any thoughts?
