Lampizator Komputer vs. Aurender N10

[Alpinist]

To bring this thread back onto its original track, does anyone have any experience using the Lampizator Komputer? I am curious how it stacks up sonically compared to the Aurender N10 or Antipodes DX. Right now these three are the top choices to be the music server in my system.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[RubenV.]

I had a listening session last Friday with the Aurender N10 as source (tried out various dCS and Emm Labs dacs). I wasn't that impressed, but it sounded better then a stock computer. The looks of the machine and the usability (especially for people that have little experience with a computer) are good.

 

[bonzo75]

I am building a CAPS 4 like PC because HQP and Bughead are the way to go, and the easy upgrades to a PC based on the improvements that happen every year will be impossible for a fixed product like Aurender to keep up with.

I haven't heard the Lampi yet, but where it clearly has advantages over my PC is that Lukasz is adding his own magic to the power supply. The Jriver plug in integrates with Bughead so one gets the GUI friendliness with the Bughead SQ. I think they are attempting to upsample through HQP to let Bughead play natively but not sure about that. Wisnon will know better.

 

[wisnon]

Upsample with Jriver to dsd256, in order to keep the great GUI. Lukasz does nit think that the inferiority of upconversion vs HQP matters that much when BHE is the final playback engine.

 

[asiufy]

I had a listening session last Friday with the Aurender N10 as source (tried out various dCS and Emm Labs dacs). I wasn't that impressed, but it sounded better then a stock computer. The looks of the machine and the usability (especially for people that have little experience with a computer) are good.

Just curious, but what exactly you didn't like about it?

 

[sbo6]

It is a C.A.P.S. machine. Also, the best media servers are with audio - only purpose built motherboards. MBs from ODMs are garbage. I've worked with ODMs and OEMs for ~10 years building them as part of client PCs. Not that you cannot get good sound with a x86 Media PC, just not world class. BTW - I have the same case, bet mine costs me less...

Update from Lampizator's site: $320 US$ for a 7" tablet!! That's ~$200 over retail!!!!

 

[Alpinist]

I was wondering if anyone has recently purchased a Lampizator Komputer and if so, could offer their opinion on it sound quality and functionality.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[wisnon]

Update from Lampizator's site: $320 US$ for a 7" tablet!! That's ~$200 over retail!!!!

Simple, buy retail then! I am sure Lampi does not want to be in the tablet business, but offers one for completeness sake for those who dont want to get their own via normal retail channels.

 

[wisnon]

I was wondering if anyone has recently purchased a Lampizator Komputer and if so, could offer their opinion on it sound quality and functionality.

Thanks,
Ken

I only heard one at the Warsaw show...but I didn't operate it.

 

[bonzo75]

It is a C.A.P.S. machine. Also, the best media servers are with audio - only purpose built motherboards. MBs from ODMs are garbage. I've worked with ODMs and OEMs for ~10 years building them as part of client PCs. Not that you cannot get good sound with a x86 Media PC, just not world class. BTW - I have the same case, bet mine costs me less...

Update from Lampizator's site: $320 US$ for a 7" tablet!! That's ~$200 over retail!!!!

Lukasz himself has said everyone should build one. He sells it because his clients would like a one-stop shop. And yes, everything he touches has magic.

 

[khonfused]

Lukasz himself has said everyone should build one. He sells it because his clients would like a one-stop shop. And yes, everything he touches has magic.

That makes me want to shake his hand now.

 

[dminches]

FWIW, I have 2 CAPS-like builds, one with a XEON processor and one with and i7, both with upgraded parts including Paul Pang's USB card. I also have an Aurender N100H. I have used all of these with my Big 7, via USB. I prefer the N100H by a pretty good margin. I have not ever listened to the Komputer so I can't comment on it. I also prefer the lack of tinkering required by the Aurender as compared to the CAPS builds running Jriver and Audiophile Optimizer.

 

[Blizzard]

FWIW, I have 2 CAPS-like builds, one with a XEON processor and one with and i7, both with upgraded parts including Paul Pang's USB card. I also have an Aurender N100H. I have used all of these with my Big 7, via USB. I prefer the N100H by a pretty good margin. I have not ever listened to the Komputer so I can't comment on it. I also prefer the lack of tinkering required by the Aurender as compared to the CAPS builds running Jriver and Audiophile Optimizer.

A good reclocker in your I2S/DSD path would nullify the need for anything besides a sub $200 computer for your renderer for best performance. And yes it will out preform your Aurender and Caps computer. But the drawback is the $235 cost and 10 minutes labor to install.

 

[bonzo75]

FWIW, I have 2 CAPS-like builds, one with a XEON processor and one with and i7, both with upgraded parts including Paul Pang's USB card. I also have an Aurender N100H. I have used all of these with my Big 7, via USB. I prefer the N100H by a pretty good margin. I have not ever listened to the Komputer so I can't comment on it. I also prefer the lack of tinkering required by the Aurender as compared to the CAPS builds running Jriver and Audiophile Optimizer.

What LPS and software do you use on the caps? Also is this built to caps 4 specs, or earlier?

 

[dminches]

What LPS and software do you use on the caps? Also is this built to caps 4 specs, or earlier?

Isn't CAPS 4 an Intel NUC? I don't recall the LPS, but it is at least CAPS 3 and runs windows server 2012 R2 with Audiophile optimizer.

 

[bonzo75]

Isn't CAPS 4 an Intel NUC? I don't recall the LPS, but it is at least CAPS 3 and runs windows server 2012 R2 with Audiophile optimizer.

No, from what I have heard from the likes of Elberoth, CAPS 4 is a good jump over CAPS 3.

Power supply, software used, also makes bid difference, apart from the H/W

 

[dminches]

No, from what I have heard from the likes of Elberoth, CAPS 4 is a good jump over CAPS 3.

Power supply, software used, also makes bid difference, apart from the H/W

As I said, I haven't heard the Komputer but when I build both of my CAPS-machines 14 months ago I used all the top H/W available including ECC memory for the Xeon build. I prefer the N100H over both the machines.

 

[bonzo75]

As I said, I haven't heard the Komputer but when I build both of my CAPS-machines 14 months ago I used all the top H/W available including ECC memory for the Xeon build. I prefer the N100H over both the machines.

Was this Jriver, HQP, or Bughead?

 

[dminches]

Looking at the CAPS v4 pipeline, my specs equal or exceed those including the intel mobo for Xeon.

 

[dminches]

Was this Jriver, HQP, or Bughead?

jriver