Well, that is a good question. Not being a tube maven, and the tubes not having come in a box, I am not certain. Looks Russian, maybe 6N2P?
Lampizator announcement: launch of our all new TOTL HORIZON DAC
- Thread starter Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus
- Start date
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Is your copper top a painted top as Lukasz note to Whbgarrett implied? I thought the copper top on your Pacific was real copper, not painted copper.
That part I knew. I was trying to figure out what extra signal tubes Lukasz threw in.
Just checked my Pacific. It’s real copper. Rodney just told me his Horizon is real copper. Not sure why Lukasz said painted, unless he was referring to the clear coat.
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
real copper top on both units
The one on the horizon is nicer than that on the Pacific. Before Lukasz shipped my unit he had a painted copper top that he wanted to show me before it shipped and the copper tops were due to arrive literally the day the unit was to ship. So initial photos of mine were not my final unit
I do have however the only front of its kind of the 400 to be produced
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I try to summarize my toughts on Horizon:
1. It is the best source that I’ve ever heard. Better than any dac, cd player or even analog in any system.
2. Preamp. I had a 35.000€ Audionet Stern preamp. It was part of the Horizon deal, so it had to go. I asked the dealer to keep it for a couple of weeks just to make sure, that I don’t need it. When I first reconnented the preamp I was very confused. I said I made a huge mistake, it was much better with it. Then after I while I tried again without preamp. This time I prefered without preamp. It was more envolving and musical but less 3D and soundstage collapsed. Meanwhile I’ve received the Takatsuki and the Treasure Globe tubes.
Than I listened to it again with preamp, and I preferd it. I did it for at least 5 times, and I could not decide which is the best for me. Till yesterday when the whole word changed Tungsol tubes arrived. I can say with confident that upgrading tubes makes more significant change in sound (positive) than my expensive preamp. I don’t say that it is true for every system and preamp. At the moment I am extremly happy with my set-up without preamp. And it very cost effective. No need for an other powercord, ic, rack, fuse ect. The preamp in the Horizon needed a lot of time before started to show how good it is. And it is like a turbo charged engine. You have to push it hard. The real magic happens when the volume is set above 40-42. Like a catapult to the magic garden
3. Tubes matters a lot. With stock tubes I would say you get only 60-70% of what Horizon capable. Yesterday I added Tungsol KT-170.
4. Fuse. It matters a lot too. I use OSA red-black fuse with the Horizon and will upgrade to silver .Give it a try you won’t regret!
1. It is the best source that I’ve ever heard. Better than any dac, cd player or even analog in any system.
2. Preamp. I had a 35.000€ Audionet Stern preamp. It was part of the Horizon deal, so it had to go. I asked the dealer to keep it for a couple of weeks just to make sure, that I don’t need it. When I first reconnented the preamp I was very confused. I said I made a huge mistake, it was much better with it. Then after I while I tried again without preamp. This time I prefered without preamp. It was more envolving and musical but less 3D and soundstage collapsed. Meanwhile I’ve received the Takatsuki and the Treasure Globe tubes.
Than I listened to it again with preamp, and I preferd it. I did it for at least 5 times, and I could not decide which is the best for me. Till yesterday when the whole word changed Tungsol tubes arrived. I can say with confident that upgrading tubes makes more significant change in sound (positive) than my expensive preamp. I don’t say that it is true for every system and preamp. At the moment I am extremly happy with my set-up without preamp. And it very cost effective. No need for an other powercord, ic, rack, fuse ect. The preamp in the Horizon needed a lot of time before started to show how good it is. And it is like a turbo charged engine. You have to push it hard. The real magic happens when the volume is set above 40-42. Like a catapult to the magic garden
3. Tubes matters a lot. With stock tubes I would say you get only 60-70% of what Horizon capable. Yesterday I added Tungsol KT-170.
(I have Treasure Globe 6SN7-SE GF Limited Special Edition, Takatsuki 274B, Tungsol KT-170)
After about 2-3 hours a real miracle happend. That kind which you exprience only a couple of times in your life. True magic, someting unreal, when time stops or doesn’t exist anymore. Something transcendent when you feel every note and understand. You can feel all the pain and joy of the musicians, and all the trauma, and drama behind it. The music flows in you, you don’t have body just soul, and you just cry and cry. That good is the Horizon. Maybe it could be even better with nos tubes but honestly I don’t care. This tubes are available most of the time.4. Fuse. It matters a lot too. I use OSA red-black fuse with the Horizon and will upgrade to silver .Give it a try you won’t regret!
How is the Horizon preamp with your analog set up? To me this is also important.
Sir you are mistaking total output with USA deliveries. Or group members for that matter. We are at #20 just being completed
I sold my analog set-up couple of years ago so can’t tell you this.
Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I totally agree on everything although I will take a pass on using different fuses
Like you I had 2 epiphanies when I changed tubes. First was swapping the KR 5u4g for the Takatsuki 274B. It lit up my ears. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better I changed the KR KT88 (which BTW are superb) for a quad set of TungSol KT170 and as you, I have not heard any better digital in my system.....ever
Congratulations and welcome to all of the fun
You should try QSA fuse. It is like changing the KR to Takatsuki. Or even bigger
Post in thread 'QSA : My take on their expensive products'
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/qsa-my-take-on-their-expensive-products.33833/post-756041
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Sticky
- Sticky
