Lampizator Genya
- Thread starter rau
- Start date
I had the pleasure to spend several days with the Genya in my system. Thanks to Rob at Lampizator NA for making this happen and kudos to Lukasz and all the folks at Lampizator for turning out the wonderful Genya.
This is my first in home experience with a Lampizator product and I couldn’t be happier that I started with the Genya. Knowing the provenance of the Genya begins with the Horizon DAC, I can only imagine the sound quality of the Horizon360.
After Rob helped me decipher getting the Genya functioning in my system (it was sent with the internal voltage switch set to 230vac), it has been a joy to experience. Exceptional soundstage and tonal density to die for. Well recorded music has an almost “walk into” quality to the soundstage whether that music is live in the studio/venue or multitrack with overdubs. Most modern DACs can get the initial attack of the music basically correct but they fail to capture the release and decay of the notes without a digital sheen that obscures the original fundamental and harmonic envelope of the instrument(s). With music I am very familiar with, the Genya allowed me to hear further into the phrasing of the performer, past the fundamental of the note, as they manipulated their instruments evolving the musical phrases to completion. Really satisfying with the gestalt sensation of being there. I think this is fundamentally why I found the Genya so engaging regardless of what I was listening to.
If I had to be critical of anything it would be the bottom end that can be, at times, a bit ill-defined. Fortunately, I was able to ameliorate some of this by placing AVroomservice EVP isolators under the Genya’s chassis. Definitely helped improve the focus, and add a touch more drive, to the bass. And there were times when I felt the imaging was larger than life, or more front row v. mid row than I am used to hearing. But this is nitpicking. The Genya is wonderfully musical and easy to listen to no matter how I slice it. For this level of performance, at this price, nothing I've heard comes close.
This is my first in home experience with a Lampizator product and I couldn’t be happier that I started with the Genya. Knowing the provenance of the Genya begins with the Horizon DAC, I can only imagine the sound quality of the Horizon360.
After Rob helped me decipher getting the Genya functioning in my system (it was sent with the internal voltage switch set to 230vac), it has been a joy to experience. Exceptional soundstage and tonal density to die for. Well recorded music has an almost “walk into” quality to the soundstage whether that music is live in the studio/venue or multitrack with overdubs. Most modern DACs can get the initial attack of the music basically correct but they fail to capture the release and decay of the notes without a digital sheen that obscures the original fundamental and harmonic envelope of the instrument(s). With music I am very familiar with, the Genya allowed me to hear further into the phrasing of the performer, past the fundamental of the note, as they manipulated their instruments evolving the musical phrases to completion. Really satisfying with the gestalt sensation of being there. I think this is fundamentally why I found the Genya so engaging regardless of what I was listening to.
If I had to be critical of anything it would be the bottom end that can be, at times, a bit ill-defined. Fortunately, I was able to ameliorate some of this by placing AVroomservice EVP isolators under the Genya’s chassis. Definitely helped improve the focus, and add a touch more drive, to the bass. And there were times when I felt the imaging was larger than life, or more front row v. mid row than I am used to hearing. But this is nitpicking. The Genya is wonderfully musical and easy to listen to no matter how I slice it. For this level of performance, at this price, nothing I've heard comes close.
The Genya might be an interesting choice for my bedroom for late night listening through my Stax 009 electrostatic headphones. I’m wary of putting a tubed Lampi DAC with exposed tubes on my bedroom nightstand. Sleepily I might scald myself on hot tubes! I assume it doesn’t run too warm. I use a Stax tubed amplifier to drive my 009. That has two small signal tubes and doesn’t run too warm. I have an Eversolo streamer, and I could plug that into the USB output.
No exposed tubes in the Genya. There are 5 in total; 1x 6X5 rectifier, 4 x 6N6P dual triodes as input buffers as I understand it. All under the top cover. Ran surprisingly cool in the rack. I could put my hand on the top cover without any concern.
I'm awaiting delivery of my Genya in the next two weeks. I'll post some impressions vs my current Atlantic TRP-3 once the Genya has had a few hundred hours on it.
This is as high up the Lampi chain of DACs that I'll be going, but I'm trying to temper expectations a bit as I know how good the Atlantic already is. One thing I'm sad to see go is my Siemens F2a. What those tubes did/do for Atlantic is nothing short of sensational.
However, I must admit I'm kind of looking forward to being done with tube rolling to the same extent as I've done with Atlantic. It's been a fun process though, and it's taught me a lot about what exactly I look for as far as sound signatures go.
I'll try out some other tubes on Genya eventually, of course. It will be interesting to see how much impact tube rolling has with it.
Many thanks btw to the many posters here and on the various Lampi threads that have provided a ton of great information thus far.
This is as high up the Lampi chain of DACs that I'll be going, but I'm trying to temper expectations a bit as I know how good the Atlantic already is. One thing I'm sad to see go is my Siemens F2a. What those tubes did/do for Atlantic is nothing short of sensational.
However, I must admit I'm kind of looking forward to being done with tube rolling to the same extent as I've done with Atlantic. It's been a fun process though, and it's taught me a lot about what exactly I look for as far as sound signatures go.
I'll try out some other tubes on Genya eventually, of course. It will be interesting to see how much impact tube rolling has with it.
Many thanks btw to the many posters here and on the various Lampi threads that have provided a ton of great information thus far.
The rectifier in the Genya is the 6X5/EZ35 (as used in the Amber series). It's perfect for the E182CC tubes.
And to add to the perturbation of tube combinations, there is a "hot rod" version of the Genya that includes different (more exotic) tube sets.
Lampi, unlike Shindo or brands with a similar mentality, do not base their production on obscure tube sets and in fact they did a whole range re-thinking a few years back on that principle alone.
As for "obscure" tubes, I should know a thing or two, since I have invested in a boatload of various types over the years, for gear I now don't even own anymore (Kondo Neiro, Shindo Cortese, Yamamoto A-08s, Leben CS-200P to name but a few)
As far as the Genya is concerned, the design and consequently tube compliment is also an homage to Evgeni Kreminski, who favored this particular tube set.
Regardless, the Genya tubes are in plentiful supply.
The 6N6P tubes can be rolled with E182CC or 5687 tubes, should one should feel inclined to, but mind you, the 6N6Ps are VERY special tubes to begin with...
My small stock of 6X5s from back when I had the Amber:
The Genya is not in the same league as the Cascade but we are talking 5x the cost . You would be closer buying a Horizon 360 .
But again Genya for its price would be hard to compete. One would have to buy a Horizon to better the Genya
Till someone releases an Ultra-Super-Duper Cascade at 20x the cost of the Cascade, and then everyone will rush and say how much better that is. This merry-go-around for buying no-expense-spared DACs will never end as long as folks have unlimited expense accounts to fund their purchases. But, putting on a more rational perspective, the really hard problems in high-end audio are not in the design of DACs or servers, but rather designing low-distortion loudspeakers (no current loudspeaker comes anywhere close to resolving even 16-bit audio) and minimizing the deleterious effects of room-induced colorations (most folks stash enormous loudspeakers in rectangular narrow rooms and squat on one end whereas the speakers sit on the opposite end, and all you are hearing is room resonances).
Sublime, and Surreal
The Genya is my 7th LampizatOr DAC. From 2014 to 2021 I had a Big 5, Big 7, and then the Golden Atlantic TRP. In 2021 I moved to a Tiny House, and then to a boat, so sold my entire system. In that interim I had the Amber DAC/Amp, and then the Fezz Equinox (this is a damn good DAC for the money). Recently I moved back to a house, and am rebuilding a system. I picked up where I left off with the Atlantic TRP. A month later the Genya was announced so I jumped on board.
For reference I’ve also owned many Linn DAC/preamps (prior to 2014), a Meridian, 3 different Wavelength DACs, and the Chord Hugo TT2. And for reference, the Big 7 as it was, to my ears, is better than all of these. I also considered the Atlantic an endgame components – one I would been happy to own and listen to to the end of time. Even with that I was intrigued by the Genya and knowing what Lukasz could build.
I feel like I’m pretty familiar with the LampizatOr ‘sound’ and what to expect from a LampizatOr DAC (or so I thought), which is why it was a no-brainer to come back to the Atlantic when rebuilding a system.
The Genya though is something different entirely. I don’t know if it’s the particular tube, the no frills design, or the Horizon engine, but the sound doesn’t fit with the other LampizatOr DACs I’ve heard. For me, I’m still listening going back and forth between the critical listening and uncovering what’s different and what’s there, and just the pure enjoyment of listening for the sake of listening.
The primary characteristics I would say is sublime. That says everything and nothing. Honestly though it’s hard to describe. At the beginning I added surreal – again everything and nothing – I’ve never heard anything like this.
Does it have all the good sound stuff – soundstage, depth, breadth, clarity, smoothness – absolutely! It is better than the Atlantic – absolutely. A couple others have said it may lack some bass – I can see that – and I’m fortunate to have both volume and crossover knobs on my speakers for bass, so I’m spared any lacking in that area. I did have to turn up the volume a few notches compared to the Atlantic though. Someone also said it seemed to have a more natural decay off notes, and I would agree with that. It seems to do well, as every LampizatOr I’ve heard, with almost any music or style. Brass and horns, women’s voices, piano is particularly good, hard-core rock, blues, and so on. I’ve had it burning in for about 200 hours now, it took at least 100 hours before it started to open up and sing.
I don’t listen to classical or symphonic music much, still I played some to discover more in the Genya. After listening to a few tracks, I am inclined to explore this part of my collection more. Each instrument – brass, woodwinds, strings, harpsichord, percussion – had a beautiful sound and intonation clearly distinct from all the others.
I played my favorites tracks – tracks I’ve played for decades – Chris Rea, Sarah McLachlan, The Wailin’ Jennys, Traveling Wilburys, Mark Knopfler, Blues Brothers, Ebba Forsberg, Jesse Cooke, and others. Perhaps it was lacking a stereo for over 3 years, but every song is even more of a joy to listen to. There have even been a few moments that I would call a double-take – I’m a bit stunned at the sound and what I’m hearing that I just freeze and listen deeper.
While I miss the glow of the tubes, and that box takes up a lot of space – the Genya is an stunning DAC. I have a new endgame component!
The rest of my system – Don Sachs Valhalla pre-amp/amp, Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer, Vaughn Zinfandel speakers with built-in subwoofer in each speaker. Speaker cables are Linn; VooDoo power cables for the speakers; IsoTek power bar; and the rest is Sablon – USB, interconnects, and 3 power cables.
The Genya is my 7th LampizatOr DAC. From 2014 to 2021 I had a Big 5, Big 7, and then the Golden Atlantic TRP. In 2021 I moved to a Tiny House, and then to a boat, so sold my entire system. In that interim I had the Amber DAC/Amp, and then the Fezz Equinox (this is a damn good DAC for the money). Recently I moved back to a house, and am rebuilding a system. I picked up where I left off with the Atlantic TRP. A month later the Genya was announced so I jumped on board.
For reference I’ve also owned many Linn DAC/preamps (prior to 2014), a Meridian, 3 different Wavelength DACs, and the Chord Hugo TT2. And for reference, the Big 7 as it was, to my ears, is better than all of these. I also considered the Atlantic an endgame components – one I would been happy to own and listen to to the end of time. Even with that I was intrigued by the Genya and knowing what Lukasz could build.
I feel like I’m pretty familiar with the LampizatOr ‘sound’ and what to expect from a LampizatOr DAC (or so I thought), which is why it was a no-brainer to come back to the Atlantic when rebuilding a system.
The Genya though is something different entirely. I don’t know if it’s the particular tube, the no frills design, or the Horizon engine, but the sound doesn’t fit with the other LampizatOr DACs I’ve heard. For me, I’m still listening going back and forth between the critical listening and uncovering what’s different and what’s there, and just the pure enjoyment of listening for the sake of listening.
The primary characteristics I would say is sublime. That says everything and nothing. Honestly though it’s hard to describe. At the beginning I added surreal – again everything and nothing – I’ve never heard anything like this.
Does it have all the good sound stuff – soundstage, depth, breadth, clarity, smoothness – absolutely! It is better than the Atlantic – absolutely. A couple others have said it may lack some bass – I can see that – and I’m fortunate to have both volume and crossover knobs on my speakers for bass, so I’m spared any lacking in that area. I did have to turn up the volume a few notches compared to the Atlantic though. Someone also said it seemed to have a more natural decay off notes, and I would agree with that. It seems to do well, as every LampizatOr I’ve heard, with almost any music or style. Brass and horns, women’s voices, piano is particularly good, hard-core rock, blues, and so on. I’ve had it burning in for about 200 hours now, it took at least 100 hours before it started to open up and sing.
I don’t listen to classical or symphonic music much, still I played some to discover more in the Genya. After listening to a few tracks, I am inclined to explore this part of my collection more. Each instrument – brass, woodwinds, strings, harpsichord, percussion – had a beautiful sound and intonation clearly distinct from all the others.
I played my favorites tracks – tracks I’ve played for decades – Chris Rea, Sarah McLachlan, The Wailin’ Jennys, Traveling Wilburys, Mark Knopfler, Blues Brothers, Ebba Forsberg, Jesse Cooke, and others. Perhaps it was lacking a stereo for over 3 years, but every song is even more of a joy to listen to. There have even been a few moments that I would call a double-take – I’m a bit stunned at the sound and what I’m hearing that I just freeze and listen deeper.
While I miss the glow of the tubes, and that box takes up a lot of space – the Genya is an stunning DAC. I have a new endgame component!
The rest of my system – Don Sachs Valhalla pre-amp/amp, Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer, Vaughn Zinfandel speakers with built-in subwoofer in each speaker. Speaker cables are Linn; VooDoo power cables for the speakers; IsoTek power bar; and the rest is Sablon – USB, interconnects, and 3 power cables.
Great write up, @jakezboulder. I’m interested that you use the Eversolo DMP-A8. I have now two of these server/DACs, one in my bedroom with a Stax 009 headphones. I’m trying to see if I can fit the Genya into my bedroom setup. My Lampi Pacific is too large and I don’t want exposed tubes in my bedroom. Too risky. But the Genya might work. I’m guessing the Genya is being fed the USB output from the A8.
Yes - the Genya is getting USB output from the A8. The A8 is a surprisingly good component. The Genya is still large, but obviously no tubes sticking out.
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