Just in: Lampizator Baltic-3 DAC

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Puma Cat, Nov 23, 2020.

  1. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    Just arrived for review is the new Lampizator Baltic-3 DAC...

    The latest brainchild of Lampizator founder Lukasz Fikus, is the new "mid-range" Baltic-3. This model sits below the Golden Gate and sells for about 1/3 price. A design goal by Lukasz Fikus was to offer performance comparable to the Golden Gate for a notably lower price.

    Lampizator file photos (I'll some pics of my own in the studio at some point)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Specifications
    PCM 384 kHz, DSD x512, fully balanced from input to output

    Output impedance 200 ohm per phase

    Output level: 2 Vpp (low gain) or 6 Vpp (hi gain) @0dB

    Operating systems: USB input is compatible with Windows, Linux and MAC (the only limitation is that MAC plays max DSDx256)

    Tube Complement: 2 5963 JAN (or ECC802), 2 6N8PA, (or CV181-T or 6H8C or 6SN7GT), and one tube rectifier for the power supply: 5U4G or 274B or 5C3S or 5Y3 or GZ37 or 5R4WGB.

    This particular unit uses NOS JAN 5693s (Sylvania) for the analog stage input tubes, the Psvane 6SN7GT, and a Russian NOS 5U4G tube rectifier that is over 50 years old, I'm told. Folks can also roll their own favorite tubes that match the tube specification.

    Features Lampizator’s Engine #53, their best selling engine which will handle DSD512. True Copper output capacitors are used and there is no volume control, not even as an option.

    There are four digital inputs: USB, SPDIF, TOSLINK and AES/EBU as standard. The CLC filtered anode power supply is fully tubed, directly heated dual diode rectified.

    Just fired it up today, so it is still burning in, so just first impressions at this point, but...it's very impressive. Very quiet, very transparent, especially so for a tube component. Tonally accurate with superb resolution, definition, and microdetail, but has the presentation qualities of the best analog sources like my Michell Gyro SE TT w/ SME V arm and Koetsu Urushi Vermilion M/C cartridge, with the exemplary neutrality of the Rega Planar 10 turntable.

    More to come over the following weeks.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2020
  2. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    MSRP price: 4900 Euro plus VAT.

    Ugh. I'll stick to a non-tube Yggdrasil or Holo spring 2 at half the price, thanks...
     
  3. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    so is lampizator paying you for this advertisement?
     
  4. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    Just arrived for review is the new Unicorn Bouncy Castle...

    The latest brainchild of Unicorn founder Alfonso Castello, is the new "mid-range" Bouncy Castle. This model sits below the Jumbo Castle and sells for about 1/3 price. A design goal by Alfonso Castello was to offer performance comparable to the Jumbo Castle for a notably lower price.

    Unicorn file photos (I'll some pics of my own in the studio at some point)

    [​IMG]

    Specifications
    Extendible slide with oil or water lubrication support
    Slide velocity from 200 cm/s (water) or 400cm/s (oil)

    Compatibility: Kids younger than 9 can play

    Additional accessories: Ball pit, mosquito netting, factory insalled unicorn decal, breathing vents, built in chicken nuggets dispenser

    Just fired it up today, so it is still burning in, so just first impressions at this point, but...it's very impressive. Very quiet, especially so for a bouncy castle.

    More to come over the following weeks.
     
  5. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    No. And if you have an issue with someone posting first impressions of a DAC, I'll delete the post.

    On another point, what's with the hostility?
     
  6. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    Tbh I don't mind these types of posts since sbaf seems to harp on the same products alot. Sure this is pretty damn high end for most of us, but it's different from the same ol.
     
  7. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Plus given @Puma Cat's location he can maybe send stuff around to others who've shared impressions of those same usual suspects for more context. Stuff like this is decades removed from my pay grade but it's still fun seeing what look to be novel designs.

    Of course there's always the possibility that this ends up measuring like spaghetti on a broiler and will sound very niche as a result so who knows. Only one way to find out really.
     
  8. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    PumaCat swingin' big dik around, or small in wbf
     
  9. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    It comes down to the SNR, not a whole lot of substance here. Just specs and numbers one can read off the website. No real impressions. Whole thread is better severed as a profile post. Impressions and measurements tend to be what new threads content should be.
    What is great about it? any comparisons vs previous gear. What movements in speaker placement are needed vs the previous setup. Music that takes you away and makes you forget about it all.

    Just any other thread about gear makes it obvious the quality content should have to warrant a new thread.
     
  10. mitochondrium

    mitochondrium Friend

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    Give him a break, he wants to show his new toy, we all like to do this from time to time. A more in depth description might follow. Might make for a good read. Nobody is obliged to read the thread nor is one obliged to buy this thing.
     
  11. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    I'm with you. Most of us are value looking ppl on sbaf.

    But I look at this review like @purr1n s review of the Rockna Wavedream which starts out at around $6k. It's interesting to see what else is going on in the price bracket without having to go to an ORFAS site.
     
  12. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    I think you hit why this is not looked upon well by some sbaf ppl. He maybe should have started this thread after he had done enough listening to warrant his takes and subsequent discussions.
     
  13. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    Hey gang, I just got it fired up yesterday, it's still burning in, the caps need forming, and the tubes are running in. Marv just posted first impressions of the Soekris DAC he just got in, and that seems to be fine with folks. Give it a week or so to get run in and I'll post some impressions...if you're interested.

    Just some background: I don't own this DAC, it was sent to me by my Editor for review. Yes, it's pretty pricey and certainly out of my personal budget range. But, there are DACs that sell for what this DAC sells for (and a lot more), so it seems the only thing that is driving the nature of these comments is...its price. If it were $1500 and branded "Schiit", would there still be these type comments? My guess is...likely not.

    And, FWIW, my personal DAC is a Schiit Gungnir Multibit...which I love.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2020
  14. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    I don't own this DAC, it's a review unit.
     
  15. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    As am I. Which is why I own so much gear from Schiit Audio.
     
  16. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...ve-we-become-schiit-and-massdrop-shills.4754/

    Can we not do this all over again? Please? I liked your post before the edit where you just tossed that out of nowhere and got all defensive. Also of course people are going to be more skeptical of an item that costs as much as this does given the state of the market— that's how the whole ORFAS joke came around, for the love of Betelgeuse.

    Subscribed for impressions v. Gungnir Multibit, good luck writing.

    P.S.
    You can multiquote.
     
  17. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    Cheers and thanks for the reminder on multiquote; this is the only forum I visit that has that functionality, so it's not top of mind or SOP, but I will make a note to use it.
     
  18. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    I’m pretty interested to hear impressions of this DAC vs Gungnir Multibit. Do you have the A1 or the A2 @Puma Cat?

    No way I could afford this new, but maybe in the future on the used market, who knows.

    I’ve always been curious about Lampi DACs, esp because tube-based DACs are not very common, and I like-a da toobs. I like-a da toobs alot! :)
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2020
  19. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    Sorry, rlow, what is the A1 or A2 Gungnir Multibit? I'm not familiar with these designations.

    Yes, I like-a da toobs a lot, too! ;) My power amp and preamp are tube.
     
  20. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Well, around these parts, there was an acknowledged “silent revision” to Gungnir Multibit that happened around the same time as the launch of Yggdrasil Analog 2 (A2). Mainly this is recognized by having a “B” in front of your serial number on the back of the unit. I had both an A1 and A2 version at the same time and they definitely sounded different.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2020

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