Lampizator announcement: launch of our all new TOTL HORIZON DAC

[wisnon]

You’re a lucky guy because what I’m hearing now through my preamp is superb. I believe the Horizon VC is superb. If I were all digital I would consider

I hate removing or changing cable as it always takes a few days or more for the cable to settle again. Having said that I am anxious as I bet everyone else is to know what this sounds like going direct DAC to amp so at the end of each day I’m going to run my long ICs that way.

im sure Lukasz and Fred will also find this informative as well as everyone following this thread

Steve, the Horizon is also a passive preamp. it has preamp inputs. Not saying to abandon the lame Pre, just that for shits and giggles, you could run all input sources via the Horizon and let us know how it compares to the Lamm active pre.

 

[Tuckia]

I have been running my Pacific direct to my amps for the last two months. I was so impressed with the sound, I sold my Pre-amp. This will be a topic I discuss next week when visiting THE EVENT. I do not use any other source as I am 100% digital.

Your situation is very relevant to where I’m heading, or think I’m heading. My TT has been mothballed for years and have been single source digital for a few years. The addition of Qobuz has solidified my view on this. So I’ve decided to go leaner and meaner in that direction.
I’m excited to hear feedback from Steve and others at THE EVENT, but I’m already sold on the idea, having committed to a Horizon and Extreme. That’s phase one. Phase two is to find amps that complete the picture. Historically this has been a challenge for many. I’m hoping the Horizon is a willing dance partner with a wider range of tube and SS amps when going direct. I think my tube preamp pairs very well with my Pacific, despite some excess gain issues while running PX25 outputs. But it just seems like blatant overkill effectively running two preamps back to back.
As Lukasz pointed out, the Horizon has an analog input. I can always run a phono pre into this.

 

[zitas]

on the lamizator pricelist is a preamp listed, called horizon for 20k !
are the horizon pre and the vc of the horizon dac identical?

 

[Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus]

.

on the lamizator pricelist is a preamp listed, called horizon for 20k !
are the horizon pre and the vc of the horizon dac identical?

The Horizon Pre will run all tubes active, like dac does. But the dac uses pre inputs passive just to feed through the other sources and adjust their relative volume. Pacific works active on all inputs.

 

[Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus]

I had this very same issue come up in conversation the day before yesterday. We both wondered whether VC should only be used as minimally as possible (concerns about volume increases as a result of "some" corresponding increases in voltage and gain, but did not understand the architecture enough to interact much with the concern). I suppose we defaulted to using the pre' volume control as perhaps the best way to go - at least until we understand the DAC internals more. For me, I'd like to be able to get the best SQ/performance with the DAC direct to amp, balanced.

The dac has the highest level of preamp architecture humanly possible, designed to drive amplifiers directly. Then the full potential of the beast will be fully unleashed.

 

[zitas]

.

The Horizon Pre will run all tubes active, like dac does. But the dac uses pre inputs passive just to feed through the other sources and adjust their relative volume. Pacific works active on all inputs.

thx.
so if one uses digital only with the horizon dac, there will be no benefit at all using the horizon pre?

 

[christoph]

All the tube are installed in the plane and adequately burned in

Lukasz is coming with a MIG, then?

 

[Tuckia]

Lukasz is coming with a MIG, then?

He better watch out for the F-16s flying formation over the Imperial Valley.

 

[wil]

The manual is very specific that if you use a preamp in the chain, the VC on there Horizon should be set to max at 63 and then use preamp to control the volume.
I prefer to use my Lamm Preamp LL1 Signature with with my Lamm ML 3 Signature amp as they were designed for one another. I have heard that there could be issues if there is imedenve issues. There are none when I use my preamp. Lamm does not believe I remotes so I get what your saying however if I need to change the preamp gain it's a few feet from me so not an issue for me

Steve, could you elaborate a little more on the advised "63" setting for when using a preamp? What scale is 63 on? 63 out of a hundred? Or do you mean by "set to max at 63" that 63 is the maximum level of volume attenuation? I would just like to understand the advised relationship between volume control between Horizon and Pre.
And is the Horizon manual available for the rest of us to read? Thanks

 

[Steve williams]

I have a couple options for 2m (or more) XLRs, none of which are “high-end” but will certainly be fine.

Let me know if you need me to ship them to you.

Thanks for the kind offer but Lukasz will be packing

im hoping to get my tape deck off the top shelf and get the pacific placed which will be sitting on the same size footers as the Horizon. I will also keep it in but will have KR 242 and Shuguang gz480 as rectifier. So this should put the pacific in a more settled fashion. Lukasz gets here Wed so we will get the new cables attached and ready for the weekend. So it will be a closer a/b evaluation.

As I posted earlier we are all interested in going direct to amp and I am betting it will sound terrific as this is a very much better VC than that on the Pacific. So at the end of each day that’s what I’m going to do for everyone to hear

 

[wil]

I can say that going direct to amp is intriguing if digital were my only source it would be a no brainer however it would cause too many other issues that I’m not prepared to deal with

A no brainer? -- compared to your Lamm pre and amp combo?

 

[Steve williams]

You’re correct as I have no intent to go without my preamp. Here is an interesting caveat. ……..i listen at realistic levels. With the Pacific my preamp gain control was in detente position 8-10. Realistic levels with the Horizon has my preamp at 5-6 Makes me wonder if I am hearing mostly gain from the DAC and my sense is they will be close to one another.

What I’m hearing now on day 3 is like nothing I’ve ever heard in my system. I expect that as my footers settle the sound will be even better by next weekend.

 

[Gregadd]

Good news tubes burn in faster. Are you leaving on ar noght?

 

[Steve williams]

Good news tubes burn in faster. Are you leaving on ar noght?

Yes

in the user manual he recommends never turning them off and maintains tube life will actually increase to 10 years or longer.

 

[Audiocrack]

You’re correct as I have no intent to go without my preamp. Here is an interesting caveat. ……..i listen at realistic levels. With the Pacific my preamp gain control was in detente position 8-10. Realistic levels with the Horizon has my preamp at 5-6 Makes me wonder if I am hearing mostly gain from the DAC and my sense is they will be close to one another.

What I’m hearing now on day 3 is like nothing I’ve ever heard in my system. I expect that as my footers settle the sound will be even better by next weekend.

Does your remark “like nothing I’ve ever heard in my system” also includes other sources than digital, Steve? Or are you only referring to digital sound. I am asking because top notch digital might equal or even surpass top notch vinyl in certain aspects.

 

[Steve williams]

Does your remark “like nothing I’ve ever heard in my system” also includes other sources than digital, Steve? Or are you only referring to digital sound. I am asking because top notch digital might equal or even surpass top notch vinyl in certain aspects.

Not sure I agree with your statement Rudolph. I’m talking only digital here. .

 

[Audiocrack]

Not sure I agree with your statement Rudolph. I’m talking only digital here. .

Thanks for your clarification Steve.

 

[Steve williams]

Steve, could you elaborate a little more on the advised "63" setting for when using a preamp? What scale is 63 on? 63 out of a hundred? Or do you mean by "set to max at 63" that 63 is the maximum level of volume attenuation? I would just like to understand the advised relationship between volume control between Horizon and Pre.
And is the Horizon manual available for the rest of us to read? Thanks

Yes. I posted the pdf of the manual on Wed

 

[Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus]

thx.
so if one uses digital only with the horizon dac, there will be no benefit at all using the horizon pre?

Correct

 

[spiritofmusic]

Thanks for the kind offer but Lukasz will be packing

im hoping to get my tape deck off the top shelf and get the pacific placed which will be sitting on the same size footers as the Horizon. I will also keep it in but will have KR 242 and Shuguang gz480 as rectifier. So this should put the pacific in a more settled fashion. Lukasz gets here Wed so we will get the new cables attached and ready for the weekend. So it will be a closer a/b evaluation.

As I posted earlier we are all interested in going direct to amp and I am betting it will sound terrific as this is a very much better VC than that on the Pacific. So at the end of each day that’s what I’m going to do for everyone to hear

Glad to have made the suggestion. Happy to have helped.