Surprising DAC Comparison: Accuphase DC81L (from 1989) vs Lampizator Atlantic TRP 2 (from 2020)

[AnonymousAudiophile]

Long-time user of Lampizator TRP 2 as most of my system has changed around it. Always very pleased with overall sonics, and have even hot-rodded it with swiss digital fuse box, space tech labs super rectifier, and F2a or NOS EL34 output tubes. Recently took a flier on a $900 used Accuphase DC81L in pristine condition; its a discrete R2R DAC originally selling for $8k in 1989. Really floored by the presentation of this Accuphase machine. That and the build-quality, which makes it seem like the Lampizator was made in somebody's garage in comparison.

All of my observations are via Black Cat Tron SPDIF cable from LDMS custom server, volume level matched with handheld SPL meter, and with max bitrate of 48k (the Accuphase will not accept higher-res data). Note that the Accuphase has a captive power cord. Lampizator using 2 aftermarket cords (Less Loss CMARC, Audio Illuminati from Poland) sandwiching the swiss digital fuse box (standard copper fuse bar).

Lampizator TRP2: great tone, good body, great focus/precision with natural detail, balanced throughout frequency spectrum, highly holographic, great "air".

Accuphase DC 81L: supernatural-level saturation/density/body, timbrally rich/colorful, very intimate and life-like, very live-sounding, emphasizing of bass/midbass, resolving but diffuse imaging, lack of soundstage depth.

In direct comparison, the Lampizator excels at epic portrayals of music made in the studio with higher levels of 'production' and emphasized textures, such as hard rock, electronic, "new age", metal, dense pop.

The Accuphase excels at live-recorded, naturally-miked, more intimate, older music, but lack of precision of imaging and spaciousness loses much of what makes good studio production music appealing.

My overall preference is for the Accuphase signature, but couldn't rely on it for all of my favorite music.

Any recommendations for a different dac that keeps the supernatural 'saturation/density/body' like the Accuphase without losing the focus/precision of the Lampizator? TotalDAC, Aqua, Ayon, newer Accuphase...? I will keep using both dacs in my system until I find a suitable ideal new contender.

Attached photos are stock.

 

[LL21]

Very interesting experience. Along comparable lines, I have been a long-time owner of the Zanden 4-box digital for many years, and probably sometimes around the original the changeover from Scarlatti/Vivaldi just stopped looking after listening to many wonderful digital set ups from DCS, MBL, Emm Labs, Audio Research, Metronome (Calista), and a number of others.

In the end I have found the Zanden better balanced, more human in its playing if you will...but also have found its level of detail (in its original form) lacking in comparison with newer generation digital. So?

I updated the tubes to NOS Mullards, discovered it responded incredibly well to isolation and mass damping, good grounding...and then discovered that continuing to reduce any form of noise in the system really helped: Waversa Ref INT Plus...sitting in between the transport and the DAC. The Zanden now has had a completely 'modern update' in its ability to create dynamic detail, punch and drive...while at the same maintaining every bit of its rareified ability to relate the natural sense of tone, decay and harmonics that it always has excelled in.

In some respects, my read of your search mirrors my own over the last few years, and hence I thought I would share this if it is helpful. All these things simply seemed to remove 'grunge' (physical vibration, lower quality power, EMI/RFI)...and each time that happened, the quality of the sound improved...but particularly in the areas you mention. The sound has greater dynamic scale, faster reflexes if you will, much much better ability to delineate massed strings and also has a far greater muscularity when called for while also maintaining its extraordinary delicacy and nuance which it always had.

Your system may not benefit from any of this...but if the Accuphase shares anything with the Zanden from their perhaps similar vintages (actually yours even older by a generation), then it just might.

 

[AnonymousAudiophile]

Very interesting experience. Along comparable lines, I have been a long-time owner of the Zanden 4-box digital for many years, and probably sometimes around the original the changeover from Scarlatti/Vivaldi just stopped looking after listening to many wonderful digital set ups from DCS, MBL, Emm Labs, Audio Research, Metronome (Calista), and a number of others.

In the end I have found the Zanden better balanced, more human in its playing if you will...but also have found its level of detail (in its original form) lacking in comparison with newer generation digital. So?

I updated the tubes to NOS Mullards, discovered it responded incredibly well to isolation and mass damping, good grounding...and then discovered that continuing to reduce any form of noise in the system really helped: Waversa Ref INT Plus...sitting in between the transport and the DAC. The Zanden now has had a completely 'modern update' in its ability to create dynamic detail, punch and drive...while at the same maintaining every bit of its rareified ability to relate the natural sense of tone, decay and harmonics that it always has excelled in.

In some respects, my read of your search mirrors my own over the last few years, and hence I thought I would share this if it is helpful. All these things simply seemed to remove 'grunge' (physical vibration, lower quality power, EMI/RFI)...and each time that happened, the quality of the sound improved...but particularly in the areas you mention. The sound has greater dynamic scale, faster reflexes if you will, much much better ability to delineate massed strings and also has a far greater muscularity when called for while also maintaining its extraordinary delicacy and nuance which it always had.

Your system may not benefit from any of this...but if the Accuphase shares anything with the Zanden from their perhaps similar vintages (actually yours even older by a generation), then it just might.

Thanks for sharing. The Accuphase is so over-engineered I'm not sure what else I could do to it. I had considered whether replacing the captive power cord, for example, might unlock some hidden detail/focus, but had been dissuaded by an experienced Accuphase tech, told that this old DAC has certain limitations inherent to its design.

 

[LL21]

Thanks for sharing. The Accuphase is so over-engineered I'm not sure what else I could do to it. I had considered whether replacing the captive power cord, for example, might unlock some hidden detail/focus, but had been dissuaded by an experienced Accuphase tech, told that this old DAC has certain limitations inherent to its design.

I think that could be right...the only areas where I suggest you might try are: the connection between your files and your Accuphase DAC (assuming you are using files instead of the CD tray). That is less about the Accuphase and more about how your digital cable goes from file to DAC...and whether some of these ethernet EMI/RFI connections help. The Waversa is one such intermediary and it is fantastic in between the Transport and DAC.

I dont know whether equipment isolation will help the Accuphase depending on how they built it. I can say the Zanden was designed with multiple layers of materials in the Transport to avoid vibration-related issues. The DAC however does benefit quite a lot from isolation.

 

[Al M.]

Long-time user of Lampizator TRP 2 as most of my system has changed around it. Always very pleased with overall sonics, and have even hot-rodded it with swiss digital fuse box, space tech labs super rectifier, and F2a or NOS EL34 output tubes. Recently took a flier on a $900 used Accuphase DC81L in pristine condition; its a discrete R2R DAC originally selling for $8k in 1989. Really floored by the presentation of this Accuphase machine. That and the build-quality, which makes it seem like the Lampizator was made in somebody's garage in comparison.

All of my observations are via Black Cat Tron SPDIF cable from LDMS custom server, volume level matched with handheld SPL meter, and with max bitrate of 48k (the Accuphase will not accept higher-res data). Note that the Accuphase has a captive power cord. Lampizator using 2 aftermarket cords (Less Loss CMARC, Audio Illuminati from Poland) sandwiching the swiss digital fuse box (standard copper fuse bar).

Lampizator TRP2: great tone, good body, great focus/precision with natural detail, balanced throughout frequency spectrum, highly holographic, great "air".

Accuphase DC 81L: supernatural-level saturation/density/body, timbrally rich/colorful, very intimate and life-like, very live-sounding, emphasizing of bass/midbass, resolving but diffuse imaging, lack of soundstage depth.

In direct comparison, the Lampizator excels at epic portrayals of music made in the studio with higher levels of 'production' and emphasized textures, such as hard rock, electronic, "new age", metal, dense pop.

The Accuphase excels at live-recorded, naturally-miked, more intimate, older music, but lack of precision of imaging and spaciousness loses much of what makes good studio production music appealing.

My overall preference is for the Accuphase signature, but couldn't rely on it for all of my favorite music.

Any recommendations for a different dac that keeps the supernatural 'saturation/density/body' like the Accuphase without losing the focus/precision of the Lampizator? TotalDAC, Aqua, Ayon, newer Accuphase...? I will keep using both dacs in my system until I find a suitable ideal new contender.

Attached photos are stock.

Very interesting report, thank you.

The lack of depth and spaciousness probably is a result of lesser low-level linearity inherent to the design.

As for saturation/density/body, hard to give recommendations since, without having heard the Accuphase, it is difficult to estimate how it would stack up against other contenders.

 

[hongkongfoufou]

Long-time user of Lampizator TRP 2 as most of my system has changed around it. Always very pleased with overall sonics, and have even hot-rodded it with swiss digital fuse box, space tech labs super rectifier, and F2a or NOS EL34 output tubes. Recently took a flier on a $900 used Accuphase DC81L in pristine condition; its a discrete R2R DAC originally selling for $8k in 1989. Really floored by the presentation of this Accuphase machine. That and the build-quality, which makes it seem like the Lampizator was made in somebody's garage in comparison.

All of my observations are via Black Cat Tron SPDIF cable from LDMS custom server, volume level matched with handheld SPL meter, and with max bitrate of 48k (the Accuphase will not accept higher-res data). Note that the Accuphase has a captive power cord. Lampizator using 2 aftermarket cords (Less Loss CMARC, Audio Illuminati from Poland) sandwiching the swiss digital fuse box (standard copper fuse bar).

Lampizator TRP2: great tone, good body, great focus/precision with natural detail, balanced throughout frequency spectrum, highly holographic, great "air".

Accuphase DC 81L: supernatural-level saturation/density/body, timbrally rich/colorful, very intimate and life-like, very live-sounding, emphasizing of bass/midbass, resolving but diffuse imaging, lack of soundstage depth.

In direct comparison, the Lampizator excels at epic portrayals of music made in the studio with higher levels of 'production' and emphasized textures, such as hard rock, electronic, "new age", metal, dense pop.

The Accuphase excels at live-recorded, naturally-miked, more intimate, older music, but lack of precision of imaging and spaciousness loses much of what makes good studio production music appealing.

My overall preference is for the Accuphase signature, but couldn't rely on it for all of my favorite music.

Any recommendations for a different dac that keeps the supernatural 'saturation/density/body' like the Accuphase without losing the focus/precision of the Lampizator? TotalDAC, Aqua, Ayon, newer Accuphase...? I will keep using both dacs in my system until I find a suitable ideal new contender.

Attached photos are stock.

The source is very important.
I don't like streaming music.
I prefer vinyl, after CD.

Transport CD is very important too.
I have done a comparison between Esoteric K-03XS and TotalDac transport d1-CD....
Winner is TotalDac transport.

 

[Argonaut]

I dont know whether equipment isolation will help the Accuphase depending on how they built it. I can say the Zanden was designed with multiple layers of materials in the Transport to avoid vibration-related issues. The DAC however does benefit quite a lot from isolation.

@AnonymousAudiophile , Regardless of considerations regarding the A/D chip set and circuit topology of the DC 81L perhaps not revealing of levels of micro detail and resolution inherent to some of todays DAC’s … I would still recommend , as have others above, that you trial and error a few of the aftermarket isolation footers readily available and/or isolation platforms with your Accuphase .

Whilst some of these aftermarket products can be eye wateringly expensive , You don’t necessarily have to sell a child or a kidney in order to achieve a degree of improving the clarity of your audio signal Viz :

https://www.stereotimes.com/post/arya-audio-labs-revopods-damping-feet-by-ron-cook/

 

[LanschePlasmaGuy]

Long-time user of Lampizator TRP 2 as most of my system has changed around it. Always very pleased with overall sonics, and have even hot-rodded it with swiss digital fuse box, space tech labs super rectifier, and F2a or NOS EL34 output tubes. Recently took a flier on a $900 used Accuphase DC81L in pristine condition; its a discrete R2R DAC originally selling for $8k in 1989. Really floored by the presentation of this Accuphase machine. That and the build-quality, which makes it seem like the Lampizator was made in somebody's garage in comparison.

All of my observations are via Black Cat Tron SPDIF cable from LDMS custom server, volume level matched with handheld SPL meter, and with max bitrate of 48k (the Accuphase will not accept higher-res data). Note that the Accuphase has a captive power cord. Lampizator using 2 aftermarket cords (Less Loss CMARC, Audio Illuminati from Poland) sandwiching the swiss digital fuse box (standard copper fuse bar).

Lampizator TRP2: great tone, good body, great focus/precision with natural detail, balanced throughout frequency spectrum, highly holographic, great "air".

Accuphase DC 81L: supernatural-level saturation/density/body, timbrally rich/colorful, very intimate and life-like, very live-sounding, emphasizing of bass/midbass, resolving but diffuse imaging, lack of soundstage depth.

In direct comparison, the Lampizator excels at epic portrayals of music made in the studio with higher levels of 'production' and emphasized textures, such as hard rock, electronic, "new age", metal, dense pop.

The Accuphase excels at live-recorded, naturally-miked, more intimate, older music, but lack of precision of imaging and spaciousness loses much of what makes good studio production music appealing.

My overall preference is for the Accuphase signature, but couldn't rely on it for all of my favorite music.

Any recommendations for a different dac that keeps the supernatural 'saturation/density/body' like the Accuphase without losing the focus/precision of the Lampizator? TotalDAC, Aqua, Ayon, newer Accuphase...? I will keep using both dacs in my system until I find a suitable ideal new contender.

Attached photos are stock.

If your after its of "Supernatural saturation / density / body but still have good focus and precision have you tried any of the better Abbas dacs? You also have the ability to play with tubes to craft the sound and balance the body / transparency in your system that way. I thought I would dip my toes a couple of years ago into the new dac camp to see where technology got me and ended up with a Holo May KTE, then a MSB discrete with dual power supplies and then upgraded to the MSB Premier with it's largest power supply option (the power base) and using what MSB was convinced was it's best connection type (the pro-isl), I then upgraded the streamer / server to Antipodes etc. These were a large step up from the Holo May KET and the entry level MSB discrete (which was still better overall than the Holo May) and had wonderful transparency etc. BUT.....

With all this stuff I was always impressed with the sound but I found it hard to connect with the music.

Having spent so much on digital and not having a connection to the music was not good so I sold the digital off and went back to vinyl and bought a cheap Gustard R26. The R26 was not comparable to MSB but it was giving me similar enjoyment while still not having great connection with the music.

For a sanity check I bought a used ABBAS tube dac and after some tube swapping, and equipment support changes / cables I was deeply connected with the music and really couldn't care less that I'd lost some detail and resolution. I bought another ABBAS with a different chipset which to my mind was even better along with a tube usb - spdif converter and another streamer and that was so good I placed an order with ABBAS for one of his top of the line Psyche Signature dacs. I also have a close friend with a larger 3.2 signature dac with something like 9 tubes in it (a step up from my Dac's but the Psyche Signature is supposed to be substantially better again). His products are stupidly underpriced for what you get and are really wonderful (in my different systems that are mainly large horn or high efficiency systems).

They have enough resolution for me whether they have enough for you I can't say but often I get the same sort of feeling and emotional joy that I get when I'm going to a good live performance which I never ever got with the MSB. Resolution is something I haven't really focussed on for a long time. When I hear live music I never think about resolution or air or any of these things. When I was much younger I would Analyse music in this way. Now I tap into my emotional response to what I'm hearing whether it be live or through the hifi. It's a different way of thinking about audio but it works for me.

LPG

 

[Al M.]

If your after its of "Supernatural saturation / density / body but still have good focus and precision have you tried any of the better Abbas dacs? You also have the ability to play with tubes to craft the sound and balance the body / transparency in your system that way. I thought I would dip my toes a couple of years ago into the new dac camp to see where technology got me and ended up with a Holo May KTE, then a MSB discrete with dual power supplies and then upgraded to the MSB Premier with it's largest power supply option (the power base) and using what MSB was convinced was it's best connection type (the pro-isl), I then upgraded the streamer / server to Antipodes etc. These were a large step up from the Holo May KET and the entry level MSB discrete (which was still better overall than the Holo May) and had wonderful transparency etc. BUT.....

With all this stuff I was always impressed with the sound but I found it hard to connect with the music.

Having spent so much on digital and not having a connection to the music was not good so I sold the digital off and went back to vinyl and bought a cheap Gustard R26. The R26 was not comparable to MSB but it was giving me similar enjoyment while still not having great connection with the music.

For a sanity check I bought a used ABBAS tube dac and after some tube swapping, and equipment support changes / cables I was deeply connected with the music and really couldn't care less that I'd lost some detail and resolution. I bought another ABBAS with a different chipset which to my mind was even better along with a tube usb - spdif converter and another streamer and that was so good I placed an order with ABBAS for one of his top of the line Psyche Signature dacs. I also have a close friend with a larger 3.2 signature dac with something like 9 tubes in it (a step up from my Dac's but the Psyche Signature is supposed to be substantially better again). His products are stupidly underpriced for what you get and are really wonderful (in my different systems that are mainly large horn or high efficiency systems).

They have enough resolution for me whether they have enough for you I can't say but often I get the same sort of feeling and emotional joy that I get when I'm going to a good live performance which I never ever got with the MSB. Resolution is something I haven't really focussed on for a long time. When I hear live music I never think about resolution or air or any of these things. When I was much younger I would Analyse music in this way. Now I tap into my emotional response to what I'm hearing whether it be live or through the hifi. It's a different way of thinking about audio but it works for me.

LPG

I hear you. Resolution without body, density and saturation is not emotionally involving. I have both these sound characteristics to a good extent. My DAC is a Mola Mola Tambaqui, and I have a tube preamp/amp combo (Octave). My PranaFidelity speakers also produce sound that is more on the weighty, saturated side. For system details, see my signature.

Resolution is there, but it does not draw attention to itself, just like in live (unamplified) music.

 

[LanschePlasmaGuy]

I hear you. Resolution without body, density and saturation is not emotionally involving. I have both these sound characteristics to a good extent. My DAC is a Mola Mola Tambaqui, and I have a tube preamp/amp combo (Octave). My PranaFidelity speakers also produce sound that is more on the weighty, saturated side. For system details, see my signature.

Resolution is there, but it does not draw attention to itself, just like in live (unamplified) music.

It may be system related also.

I sold my streamer / server to a guy who had a Tambaqui. He asked if he could hear my MSB Discrete and if I could bring it over to try in his system when I delivered the streamer to him.

Had a short listen (perhaps an hour). Tambaqui always on and the MSB was playing from cold (MSB needs to be on 24 hours to sound stable and and its best I;ve found). His Tambaqui was preferred by him and me. It sounded fab in his system. Toward the end of the hour or so of listening the MSB was getting very close and better in a couple of areas but we still preferred the Mola Mola.

After trading in my MSB Discrete and ordering a new MSB Premier / Powerbase / Pro-ISL it was a huge upgrade on the Discrete and I think would have been in a class level higher than the Mola Mola sound wise.

In my systems I much prefer the sound of the better Abbas dacs (and probably the better Audio Notes, etc.). Way more tonal density and richness than these other dacs and a totally different approach. Definitely not better just different and preferred by me with my gear. But the Tambaqui which I haven't heard in my system may be that goldilocks perfect blend. I think these things are so system dependant. I've often wondered if certain pieces of gear that I have moved on and discounted years ago wouldn't be competitive today as the system evolves. Bruno Putzeys is a genius.

LPG

 

[Al M.]

It may be system related also.

I sold my streamer / server to a guy who had a Tambaqui. He asked if he could hear my MSB Discrete and if I could bring it over to try in his system when I delivered the streamer to him.

Had a short listen (perhaps an hour). Tambaqui always on and the MSB was playing from cold (MSB needs to be on 24 hours to sound stable and and its best I;ve found). His Tambaqui was preferred by him and me. It sounded fab in his system. Toward the end of the hour or so of listening the MSB was getting very close and better in a couple of areas but we still preferred the Mola Mola.

The MSB Discrete / Powerbase / Pro-ISL was a huge upgrade on the Discrete and I think would have been in a class level higher than the Mola Mola sound wise.

In my systems I much prefer the sound of the better Abbas dacs (and probably the better Audio Notes, etc.). Way more tonal density and richness than these other dacs and a totally different approach. Definitely not better just different and preferred by me with my gear. But the Tambaqui which I haven't heard in my system may be that goldilocks perfect blend. I think these things are so system dependant. I've often wondered if certain pieces of gear that I have moved on and discounted years ago wouldn't be competitive today as the system evolves. Bruno Putzeys is a genius.

LPG

Totally agree, a lot of things are system dependent!