ugh, you’re telling me! I am dead-set for the LCD-4 sometime this year, BUT as for the M-Scaler, I may just skip that and save up for the DCS Bartok instead as my end game. I know I can sell the TT2 for good money once I get the Bartok.
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Yeah I can’t believe how mint the condition on these NOS tubes!
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Excellent setup. Truly a very nice space to enjoy your audio in.
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The $1700 pair of Wave Storm Reference BNC cables alone is pretty wild! But they do make a difference!
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Go for the Bartok, man! Although I really love the look of the Lampizat0r line.
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Is that the cable they used on the Nostromo? Serious HR Giger vibes.
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Bartok is awesome, right up there with the HMS/Dave combo, just different for some and a tad better for others - just a matter of preference tbh…BUT at $13.5k (DAC only) and $15k (DAC+headphone output) MSRP and given how rarely they come by in the used market plus the difference in performance when compared to the HMS/TT2, you’ll be way deep into the diminishing returns territory for the extra $7-8k (when compared to a used HMS/TT2 combo) you’ll spend for the Bartok. You could easily scoop a HMS for $3.5k and those fancy BNC cables and be done…for now.
If you have the means for the Bartok, heck go for it and you will be amazed!
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I know, it is enticing, although if you add the streamer in addition to to the TT2 and M-Scaler, since the Bartok has one, it’s actually roughly the same price
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Oh man, I wonder how the Lampizator sounds like. Is it that comparable to the Bartok?
Good point. The Bartok as a single box “do-it-all” seems like a good proposition and it has immense WAF (Wife Approval Factor).
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I haven’t heard any of the higher end DACS. I plan to visit the Lampizat0r factory next time I’m in Poland (which could be this fall with any luck although the virus may be an obstacle). But those units can run up to and beyond 20k. I just love the idea of the Bartok because it can serve as a pretty much standalone everything … just add headphones and a Qobuz subscription and you’re off to the races. Or run it through your Cayin. I’m kind of a less is more person, so the fewer boxes and cables and outlets needed, the better. The Lampizators look so cool and sci-fi though that is hard to resist the tech-lust.
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The Bartók is one I’d love to hear. Their design aesthetic also nice and subtle.
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Unless you simply have crazy money to spend on hi fi … it really seems like it’s a last-stop piece of gear. Especially if, like PS Audio and Bel Canto, they update the software routinely via download. And, yes, I agree … it’s beautiful to look at (if not curvy-wurvy like the other models).
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One of these days, there are going to be live concerts again. Life is short. Buy the good seats.
And you’ll have a new standard.
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Viva Egoista should be on any TOTL tube headphone amp list I think! Anyone try one?
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Next time I am in NYC … In Living Stereo has one (or two) in its impressive headphone annex (various amps and 'phones there). Definitely on the pricey side of pricey.
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Anyone tried the Bartok with ZMF headphones?
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@tmarshl owns both the Bartok and ZMF VC.
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Actually I am using the ZMF VC on my home setup from an exaSound Playpoint and e32 DAC, and it sounds fantastic there.
In my office (man-cave) I am using the Bartok with my Raal SR1a (via SPL s800) or the Focal Utopia, direct from the Bartok+HP. I can bring in the ZMF VCs and see how they sound.
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Looking forward to those days again!
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