Last week at pk_LA we compared the Infigo Audio Method 4 DAC (MSRP $35,000) to the dCS Vilvaldi Apex DAC. The Method 4 is designed by Hans Looman, a Dutchie from Delft, The Netherlands, who now lives in Canada. Hans is the CEO and Founder of Infigo Audio. Hans was very straightforward, very low-key and very knowledgeable about digital audio circuit design.
On a couple of the tracks with which I was unfamiliar I could not tell which DAC was which. But on familiar tracks I could determine which was the Method 4 and which was the Apex.
Overall I found the Method 4 to be smoother and slightly warmer and more analog-sounding than the Apex. I found the Method 4 to offer generally slightly greater decay and more harmonic resonance than the Apex.
On Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" on Grace the attention-grabbing guitar pluck in the beginning of the song sounded synthetic and unnaturally edgy on the Apex. On the Method 4 the guitar pluck sounded like I am accustomed to it sounding. It sounded more organic and golden, rather than unnatural and silvery.
The last track we used to compare the DACs showed us something interesting. This particular track had a dance vibe. When we played it on the Infigo we felt we had a bit of a drive literally to get up and dance. Playing this track on the dCS I had no such feeling to get into, or to connect with, the music. The dCS made this lively track sound clinical and unengaging.
The dCS Vivaldi Apex is the champion of resolution, detail, dynamics, and low-frequency punch. To my ears it is the sound of the Boulder electronics in the functionality of a DAC.
The Lampizator Horizon remains my favorite DAC in this on-going audition and comparison process. Interestingly I preferred the Method 4 over the Nagra, even though the Nagra has a tube amplification stage. To my ears the Method 4 sounded a touch more natural and tube-like (this, for me, is a compliment) than did the Nagra.
Full disclosure: I am an Infigo Audio dealer. My business partner Duke LeJeune of AudioKinesis and I had a paid marketing section prior here. If this post is unwelcome, I respectfully request the moderator delete it.
Considering Ron's comments Re. the Lampizator DAC, I am anxious to hear it.
I respectfully request to share two brief experiences Re. Infigo and CEO Hans Looman, who visited a few weeks prior to 2022 FLAX (AV Showrooms and Enjoy The Music awarded Infigo and our AudioKinesis Gina speaker Best of Show @ 2022 FLAX.)
Eventually Infigo's $35k Method 4 DAC, $50k/pr Method 3 mono blocks and Infigo cables replaced all components of similar function in my system. At some point in this process my spouse Debra entered the sound room solely to grab something from the freezer in the cold storage and return upstairs to the kitchen. Instead, she stayed downstairs listening for over an hour; the sound producing a look on her face like someone who just went sailing on the Mediterranean Sea.
Later, Debra was gone, all the Infigo gear was installed, the system was tuned, and Hans left the sound room to perform a chore in my office next door. I picked up the tablet and streamed one of my favorite albums on Tidal, Letters by Jimmy Web. Letters is special to me both for the music and the memories of the era when it was released. Recording quality is middling or a little better. Letters reminds me of being with a friend in his room with his Magnavox stereo, a friend with whom I played original music he wrote and who introduced me to Webb, Tim Buckley, Traffic, John Fahey and more great music.
While Hans was away, longer than expected, I had one of those rare out of body experiences, transported 50 years prior with my friend in his room, experiencing all the emotions of that moment. I was so emotionally far away that when Hans suddenly appeared, I was immediately and almost violently brought back to the present. Reliving the emotions with my friend then suddenly being shocked back to reality made me openly weep and I could not quickly stop.
I apologized to Hans for my embarrassing outburst of emotion. It was nice and comforting to hear Hans say that he considered my reaction a complement.