203 replies to this topic

[Marcin_gps]

Naturally synergy is very important. All the best components in the world are no good if can't 'play' together.

 

Anyway I'm going to meet Łukasz Fikus today (Lampizator) to hear his latest achievement. I'll report back on how it sounds

 

Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

Hi guys, 

 

The DAC shootout took place on last Monday. Lukasz brought his latest achievement, which most probably is going to be Gen4 of his Lampizator offering. Sounded wonderful, charming with the most impressive bass extension and control I've heard. I still can't get that bass out of my head - it hit the bottom of hell! And lots, lots of air! It was way better than the other DAC, modified dual mono Buffalo, also maxxed out by Lukasz. The Buffalo was quite similar to JKDAC - it was better in all departments, but overall character was the same; analytic, delicate, thin and a bit dry to my ears. But mind the price difference - the modified Buffalo was at least 5k EUR, that's 10 times the price of JKDAC, so John's converter is a real bargain if one likes its sound signature and there are people who love it. For instance, the owner of the modified Buffalo - he could have any DAC in the world. He used to own dCS Scarlatti, but switched to Buffalo... 

 

If you're on Facebook, here is the short report with pictures: Lampizator DAC shootout

 

Oh, and here's what Lukasz had to say about jplay:

 I must say your transport is mind blowing work of art. It is the most radical approach on HDD file "transport" ever and believe me - it mops the floor with any CD spinner at any price. I dont know how you guys do it but I am sure I never heard my DAC playing so well.

 



 

Regards, 

Marcin

[gammelnok]

Thanks for the write-up, Marcin.

The HDD transport used in the shootout, is that your PC as described here? 

http://jplay.eu/foru........uter/#p786

)gammelnok

[Marcin_gps]

Worse, much worse   Cheers,  Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

Here's a very interesting DAC: AURALiC ARK MX+

Anyone heard about it? I'm very curious how that Sanctuary processor, based on a dual-core ARM9 structure with 500MIPS per core, work with jplay...

 

Marcin

[gerardhn]

Marcin,   I read the lampizator pages. Very interesting and humorous guy! Really devoted guy!   Gerard

[DavidFrench]

Hello, I personally found more differences with Jplay with the change of "DAC" I think it does not carry half the possibility of a DAC. Already with the quality of recordings: they are made ​​to pass on up to the system. I use a USB DAC in California (asynchron). It works very well.

[hugson]

DavidFrench said:

Hello,

I personally found more differences with Jplay with the change of "DAC"

I think it does not carry half the possibility of a DAC.

Already with the quality of recordings: they are made ​​to pass on up to the system.

I use a USB DAC in California (asynchron). It works very well.

I wonder if different DACs suit some types of music better than others. Perhaps classical needs a different DAC to, say, rock?

[DavidFrench]

It will depend on the "AOP" and especially on your system. Personally, the source is important.

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[stefaeri]

I think the new Beresford Bushmaster looks really promising. The Caiman G was awesome and this should be better. Will probably buy one just to try out…/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif

 

S

Edited by stefaeri, 29 November 2011 - 02:21 PM.

[Brumjam]

Hi Marcin, I'm using a Weiss DAC202 to great effect with JPlay. I think it meets all your requirements, plus it has balanced outs should you want to move away from unbalanced in the future. Sounds great to my ears :-) Cheers, James

[Marcin_gps]

I'm not trading my Ibuki for anything, I love it! Just an upgrade of PSU and clock for now would be enough Haven't heard DAC202 myself, but I've heard few Sabre-based converters and I can imagine how it performs - not exactly my taste. It can produce great sound though, but, despite common opinions, it needs top quality transport to deliver good performance, that's according to my experiences. If anything in the chain isn't great, it'll painfully reveal it.    Cheers,  Marcin

[kiskaprince]

Anyone heard APL HiFi DAC-S?? Made in Bulgaria by Alex Paychev Wonderful sounding Compared to top guns and won on every aspect   Thank you

[Marcin_gps]

What guns did you compare it to?

[Elprior]

And what was the system used ? Without it, pretty much a bold statement to me

[kiskaprince]

It was compared to: dCs Debussy Ayre Q9 Bel Canto DAC-3 Grace m902 ($1,600) Musical Fidelity X-Dac v.8 Benchmark DAC1 USB Apogee Mini DAC PS Audio Digital Link III Benchmark DAC1 and couple more I can't recall now Couple of guys did like dCs but only by margin it should be better if you pay 5x more System used was Dynaudio Sapphire,B&W 800, Revel Studio,Gravitas NB1 Cardas Golden Reference wiring all around Placette Audio Dual Mono Active Stage Pre,BAT VK-55,SimAudio Moon W7,Ars Sonum Filarmonia There was some if's but at the end DAC-S came at the top with less fatiguing,more detailed,pin point imaging sound Highly recommended I learn over last 20+ years not to trust any reviewers but your ears Thank you

[Elprior]

Thanks for the details ! I agree 100% with you about listening for ourselves.   Guillaume

[kiskaprince]

Thank you I used to buy gear recommended by Stereophile and some other magazines Find out years later (after spending fortune) there are much better component out there that  get never mention anywhere and sound out of this world One more thing I have to say  I am into computer,Dac music (love it) all my library is on the hard drive (more then 2000+ albums) everywhere you read "they" recommend Apple computers so what do I do bought apple computer if fact I had 3 of them verdict -somebody need his ears check Win7 and lately Win8 developer version sound waaaaaaaay better then anything out there with apple Hope people will come to their senses and hear for them self what windows7 has to offer before they spend hard earn cash on any apple I notice some of you guys use AMD processors Never try it always thought Intel would be better Might do that next

[Elprior]

Well yes, you need windows to a least experiment with Jplay !   You could post pictures of your dac to the Remarkable stuff gallery thread. I opened it to show such products to the world   About AMD vs Intel, I've got no clue. I have bought once an AMD processor, and wouldn't even consider buy another one again.   Guillaume

[kiskaprince]

Where do I do that? Can't find that galery