Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
GM-70 SE
reviews
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Output Transformer Options: 8 ohm & 4 ohm, 8 ohm & 16 ohm
Description
The flagship GM70 is the real McCoy, a SET DHT amplifier in dual mono configuration. Absolutely no compromise music-making-machine. It challenges every 845, 211, or 805 SET out there on musical grounds.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- LampizatOr products, particularly DACs, are designed with a high degree of tube rolling flexibility, allowing users to significantly alter the sound signature by experimenting with a wide variety of tube types and brands.
- LampizatOr products are often described as possessing a uniquely organic and natural sound, often producing a three-dimensional soundstage that avoids digital harshness.
- The brand distinguishes itself by using directly heated triodes (DHTs) in its designs, which are notoriously difficult to implement, but, according to LampizatOr, provide superior sonic performance.
- They offer a generous trade-in program, allowing owners of older "Golden" series products to upgrade to newer models at 100% of their original list price.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Amber 5 DAC
- Positioning: The entry-level digital-to-analog converter, designed to offer high-quality sound at an accessible price point.
- Description: Delivers impressive audio performance, featuring copper output capacitors and a tube rectified power supply with CLC filtering. Unlike higher-tier models like the Baltic 4, offers a true balanced option and an analog preamp of high quality, making it suitable for users seeking affordability without compromising on essential features.
Baltic 4
- Positioning: Sits between the Amber 5 and higher-end models, providing a balance of performance and value.
- Description: Offers a true balanced topology with four monophonic channels, one for each phase of stereo sound, enhancing audio fidelity. Compared to the Amber 5, includes a fully tubed, directly heated dual diode rectified power supply and supports PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD256.
Atlantic TRP
- Positioning: A mid-tier DAC designed for tube enthusiasts who appreciate the flexibility of tube rolling.
- Description: Allows users to experiment with various power tetrodes and pentodes, offering a customizable sonic experience. Unlike the Baltic 4, uses overkill power tubes instead of small signal tubes, providing greater dynamics and authority in sound reproduction.
The Golden Atlantic TRP
- Positioning: An enhanced version of the Atlantic TRP, incorporating premium components for improved performance.
- Description: Includes upgraded chokes, capacitors, connectors, and other boutique components, elevating its build quality and sound. Compared to the standard Atlantic TRP, offers a more refined audio experience.
The Big Seven mk3
- Positioning: A high-end DAC featuring an output stage based on directly heated triode tubes, offering a unique audio experience.
- Description: Uses directly heated triode tubes like 45, 2A3, or 300B, directly coupled to the DAC chip without any series components, ensuring purity in sound reproduction. Unlike the Golden Atlantic TRP, provides an output stage with no series components between the DAC chip and the output.
The Golden Gate 3
- Positioning: A premium DAC that expands upon the Golden Gate series with significant upgrades for enhanced audio performance.
- Description: Features a redesigned PCM engine, supports DSD512, and includes an auto-switching capability between formats. Compared to the Big Seven mk3, offers a revised power supply scheme and improved volume control implementation.
The Pacific DAC
- Positioning: The former flagship model, representing the pinnacle of their DAC technology prior to the Horizon series.
- Description: Incorporates a unique tube conversion output with single-ended triode, directly heated triode, and active dynamic tube anode loading. Unlike the Golden Gate 3, includes a new USB and LAN computer interface with a preinstalled ROON bridge.
Poseidon DAC
- Positioning: Bridges the gap between the Pacific and Horizon series, offering high-end performance at a more accessible price point.
- Description: Sharing substantial DNA with the Horizon, offers customizable aesthetics and a vast array of tube options. Features innovations like a new remote control, OLED display, and record-breaking impedance levels.
Horizon 360 DAC
- Positioning: The current flagship model, showcasing their latest advancements in digital-to-analog conversion technology.
- Description: Introduces a new conversion chip with a completely redesigned PCB, enhancing sound quality over the Pacific DAC. Supports i2S via HDMI without needing a master clock and can be configured for DSD1024, though it is currently limited to DSD512.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$10,001-$20,000
Used For Sale
1
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
356
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
13
Founding Year
2010
Our take on the brand
Lampizator is a Polish hifi brand that handcrafts custom-built DACs, known for their unique tube-based designs that include pentodes for power regulation and Nixie tube displays. Their DACs are distinguished by extensive tube-rolling options and multiple power supplies, creating a rich, analog-like sound that handles even lower-quality recordings exceptionally well.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
From our interview with
.
Brand Page
What if you spend more?
McIntosh
MC3500 Mk II
30000
30000
/
4
Reviews
McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
Expand Details
.svg)
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers 350 watts into 2-ohm, 4-ohm, or 8-ohm loads
- The design has a purity that is quite amazing
- Effortless power
- Soundstage is big
- Transparent
Product Considerations
- Not necessarily suitable for pairing with extremely cold sounding, sterile or bright speakers
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- MC3500 is more open and airy, with base not as hard fisted, compared to Krell KSA 250
- It compares with brands like soulution, big Audio Research, and CH Precision, but at a lower cost
Takeaway: The MC3500 is an impressive amplifier that delivers a natural and pure sound, able to drive almost any speaker. If you're in the market for a McIntosh amp, this is the one that makes music sound pure, simple and unadulterated.
Video review
Our take on the brand
McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
Product Page
Product Page
Balanced Audio Technology
Rex 3 Tube
25676
25676
/
1
Reviews
Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) designs all their components with fully balanced circuits and dual-mono power supplies, which deliver better channel separation and cleaner sound reproduction. BAT's signature approach includes zero global feedback and their Unistage circuit design, which amplifies the signal only once through a short signal path to preserve the original audio characteristics.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- 'Dynamic', 'extended', and 'smooth, yet revealing' performance
- Makes everything sound more real, providing a deeper understanding of the music
- Brings the listener closer to the essence of the original performance
Product Considerations
- Might sound a bit 'tight' when brand new, out of the box
Takeaway: The REX 3 seems to be a high-quality product that offers a very real and engaging music listening experience. It could be worth buying if you want to get closer to the heart of the music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) designs all their components with fully balanced circuits and dual-mono power supplies, which deliver better channel separation and cleaner sound reproduction. BAT's signature approach includes zero global feedback and their Unistage circuit design, which amplifies the signal only once through a short signal path to preserve the original audio characteristics.
Product Page
Product Page
What competes at this price?
Thöress
SE-300B
10581
/
Released
2023
The SE300B Mono Amplifier is an all-tube power amplifier employing the famous classic 300B filamentary triode in single-ended operation mode for an output of up to 10 watts into a 4, 8 or 16 ohm loudspeaker load.
Thöress is a hifi brand known for its unique EHT Topology, which combines single-ended triode tubes with MOSFET output stages in Class-A mode, setting it apart from typical tube amplifiers through its transparency rather than warmth. The brand's products feature a distinctive vintage laboratory aesthetic with German labeling, and include the Phono Enhancer, which lets users adjust equalization curves on-the-fly without conventional tone controls.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Pure sound, free of coloration while retaining musical detail, allows a graceful and effortless listening experience
- Natural and tangible sound due to accurate reproduction of details, creates a believable presentation
- Solid and controlled bass performance, unusual for a 300B single-ended triode amplifier
- Excellent sense of touch and tactile sound, making instruments like plucked strings and bowed violins sound very convincing
- Wide and deep soundstage with good 'air', providing a transparent and 'hear-through' sound, especially with complex music
Product Considerations
- Careful matching with partnering equipment is required, especially speakers with high efficiency
- Relatively low overall gain requires a source with a high output voltage
- Output transformer links need to be correctly set for speaker impedance, requiring dealer assistance
- Some reviewers found the top end sounding a bit rolled off before use of appropriate high efficiency speakers and source gain settings
- Changing the EL803S driver valves requires carefully matched pairs supplied by Thöress
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Shindo Haut-Brion/Corton-Charlemagne, Thöress has more treble extension and transparency, Shindo has better upper-bass/lower-midrange substance and body—and more drive
Takeaway: The Thöress SE-300B offers a supremely musical and detailed listening experience with a focus on accuracy and sonic purity. When paired with the right speakers, this amplifier could be an excellent choice to bring out the best in music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Thöress is a hifi brand known for its unique EHT Topology, which combines single-ended triode tubes with MOSFET output stages in Class-A mode, setting it apart from typical tube amplifiers through its transparency rather than warmth. The brand's products feature a distinctive vintage laboratory aesthetic with German labeling, and include the Phono Enhancer, which lets users adjust equalization curves on-the-fly without conventional tone controls.
Product Page
Product Page
Fezz
Audio Lybra 300B
10306
/
Released
2023
One of the finest parallel single ended 300B tube amplifier made by Fezz Audio. It provides openness and spatial sound. Powerful, sublime, very involving and uniqe to itself.
Fezz Audio distinguishes itself by being the first to implement toroidal output transformers in single-ended tube amplifiers, a design choice that enhances efficiency and reduces noise. Their Evolution series, developed in collaboration with the KABO & PYDO design studio, has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Red Dot Design Award.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers an incredibly rich, flavorful midrange and a sweet, relaxed treble
- Has a more sophisticated presentation than the utilitarian bent-metal chassis sported by most integrated tube amps on the market, and the smooth lines of the chassis help the amp stand out from the crowd
- Has a clever tube cage design with a clear Plexiglass front panel that delivers an unobstructed view of the tubes and is easy to install and remove
- Is seriously quiet, and there was effectively zero noise through any of the speakers
Product Considerations
- Can sound wildly different, depending on the impedance of the speakers
- The four slightly squishy feet underneath the amp may cause stains
- The power switch is on the rear of the chassis, which may be problematic if installing the amp in a cabinet with limited access
- Needs a good 20 minutes to warm up, and on initial startup, the amp sounded a bit thin, bright, and constipated, but after one album, it opened right up
- Limited power output (15Wpc) may not be sufficient for all speakers or listening preferences, especially when wanting to play music very loud
Takeaway: The Fezz Audio Lybra 300B is a well-designed tube amplifier that delivers a rich and flavorful sound. It can bring out the best in your speakers, offering clarity and great sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Fezz Audio distinguishes itself by being the first to implement toroidal output transformers in single-ended tube amplifiers, a design choice that enhances efficiency and reduces noise. Their Evolution series, developed in collaboration with the KABO & PYDO design studio, has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Red Dot Design Award.
Product Page
Product Page
McIntosh
MC2301
13500
/
Released
From the demands of massed chorale to full-on rock and roll, the MC2301 delivers the most extraordinarily lifelike and dynamic performance ever heard from a McIntosh tube amplifier. With an output of 300 Watts, it provides enough high power to drive even the most demanding loudspeaker.
McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Fast response, with detail, and a warm tube sound
- Picks up detail with speed when playing Hi-Res digital content
Product Considerations
- Lacks sound stage depth/width, power, and feel compared to the reference system (vintage MC275 amplifiers)
- Super tweeters seemed to be sleeping—as if there was no data provided at that frequency
- Lacks a big window of performance, energy, and feel, providing a smaller window of performance albeit nice with a tube-like sound
- Bass with the MC2301s was starving when compared to the 275's
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs vintage 1960s MC275: MC2301 lacks sound stage depth/width, power, and feel, a full rich lush enveloping sound, and energy that stirs emotion
- Vs later generations of the MC275: MC2301 would be superior
Takeaway: If you don't have access to vintage MC275s, the MC2301 could be a good option, providing a tube-like sound with detail and speed. McIntosh should look back and reconsider past designs.
Video review
Our take on the brand
McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
Product Page
Product Page
Tektron
TK Two 2A3/300BPSE-I
11899
/
Released
2021
Tektron Italia handcrafts visually stunning tube amplifiers in Italy, using both vintage NOS and modern tubes to achieve exceptional audio performance. Their amplifiers are distinguished by their muscular dynamic ability and flexibility to use various power tubes (300B, 2A3, 45), creating an immersive soundstage that makes voices and instruments feel palpably present in the room.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- A variety of tubes can be used (45, 2A3, PX4, PX25, 300B, or 300B XLS) to produce different power outputs (1.5 to 22wpc)
- It can operate in single-ended (SE) or parallel single-ended (parallel SE) mode
- It is very adaptable—allowing for changes to input tubes and 5AR4 rectifiers to alter the amp's sound
- Built-in bias meters and pots allow for re-biasing when changing tubes
Product Considerations
- The right speaker load (high output impedance) is needed to perform optimally
- Single-ended amps shun negative feedback, which would lower their output resistance
- Speakers not well-suited for high output impedance amps may experience premature bass roll-off and a rising presence response
Takeaway: The TK2A3/300PSES-i Ref amplifier offers a lot of flexibility for tube rolling and sound customization. It is well-suited for high-efficiency speakers.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Tektron Italia handcrafts visually stunning tube amplifiers in Italy, using both vintage NOS and modern tubes to achieve exceptional audio performance. Their amplifiers are distinguished by their muscular dynamic ability and flexibility to use various power tubes (300B, 2A3, 45), creating an immersive soundstage that makes voices and instruments feel palpably present in the room.
Product Page
Product Page
Questions? Ask the brand's dealers.
All Dealers
How to buy
Amplifiers
Search all hifi products
Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.
