Product Strengths

• Reproduces a sense of 'air' in recordings, accurately capturing ambient detail and instrument placement in the soundstage
• Significantly reduces distortion and improves linearity compared to its predecessor, resulting in enhanced dynamics, detail, and a more resolving sound
• Has excellent tonal purity, providing a beautiful and natural sound for both vocals and instruments
• Expands transparency by avoiding the artificial gloss and sheen, enabling the sonic power at its core
• Delivers authority, control, and the sheer drama and dynamics

Product Considerations

• Being a multi-box setup (DAC, Upsampler, Clock), requires careful setup and cable management
• While versatile with adjustable output voltage, optimal performance depends on proper gain and impedance matching with the preamplifier and amplifier
• The design, while impressive, is eleven years old

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Has a better ability to translate the still-fragmentary micro-universe of zeros and ones to the level of enhanced music listening than other DACs
• Compared to Ayon, Gryphon and Esoteric SACD players, dCS shows the signal smoothly, delivering a brighter, clearer sound

Takeaway: The dCS Vivaldi Apex DAC system brings music to life by uncovering more of the details within recordings. This system allows listeners to feel closer to their music, offering joy and an awakening of the senses.

Product Strengths

• The Ideon Absolute ε DAC received a very positive review and became Cost-No-Object DAC of the Year in 2021
• The Absolute Signature Time brought a further level of calmness to the event of playing music at home
• Dynamics, and especially bass reproduction, is greatly enhanced and is instantly noticeable with either of these devices installed in a system
• The Absolute Time devices help to develop more depth and width in the soundstage, add clarity, and emotion, especially to vocals
• The Absolute trio (DAC, Stream, Time) bring out the very best they can deliver, making it one of the best complete digital sources one can buy today

Product Considerations

• The price tag puts it in a category where diminishing returns and price-to-performance ratios are not primary concerns
• Textural information was noted as being a little smooth and a slight harshness was noted in the treble region
• The Absolute Time's S/PDIF reclocking has a sample rate ceiling of 192kHz, which could be a limitation if using an upsampling CD transport
• The Absolute Time Signature is better than two Standard Absolute Times, and one should always choose the Signature version over the Standard Time devices
• The need to buy USB cables to link to the product

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• It annihilated the dCS Rossini Apex and Clock, even though it is less expensive
• The Ideon Absolute Epsilon DAC provided something along the lines of a twenty-five to thirty-five percent overall improvement over the benchmark-setting performance of the original Absolute Epsilon DAC

Takeaway: The Absolute can greatly improve the sound quality of a high-end system by enhancing timing accuracy and overall clarity, especially for those seeking the highest levels of performance. The resulting listening experience can make music sound effortless and natural.

Product Strengths

• Retains all the music's delicacy, refinement, and fluidity, being revealing without becoming clinical
• Offers a wide and deep soundstage, is timbrally spot-on and very natural, well-focused, richly textured, and well-endowed in terms of transient attack and dynamic impact
• Is significantly more revealing, without introducing any negative by-products, and is still the superbly musical and emotionally involving DAC that the C1 was, only better
• Capable of being more discerning of differences in sources and source material

Product Considerations

• Precise calibration is of paramount importance for any multi-bit DAC chip
• Files played directly from the Swiss device have a slightly contoured character

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The C1.2 is even more neutral and even more revealing than the C1, without sacrificing even the slightest hint of refinement, delicacy, fluidity, decay, or flow
• The original C1 DAC has always sounded fuller and more sonorous than other CH Precision products, for instance, the L1 preamp, with the C1.2 upgrade, the DAC has become more neutral and now sounds more in line with the L1
• The CH Precision device combines the opening of the sound with the lack of brightness better than the Ayon player
• The CH Precision delivers recordings in an uncommonly precise manner than the Weiss DA502 D/A converter

Takeaway: The C1.2 is a DAC that retains all of its virtues while becoming more neutral and revealing, and it is still superbly musical and emotionally involving. It is worth buying because of the overall enhancement in audio quality.

Product Strengths

• Noticeable improvement over the Lampizator Poseidon, especially in low-end authority and resonance of notes
• Immersive, organic, and realistic sound quality, replicating a vinyl-like analog experience
• Excellent black background and tighter control, especially beneficial for electronic music compared to the Poseidon
• Pinpoint accuracy in instrument placement, even during complex musical passages, prevents individual instruments from being lost
• Excels in reproducing the ambience and textural information of recordings, creating a realistic and engaging listening experience

Product Considerations

• Soundstage is smaller but more focused compared to the Poseidon
• Stock tubes are good, but tube rolling is highly recommended to maximize the DAC's potential
• The DAC remote also controls the Poseidon, which could cause simultaneous switching if both are in the system

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Horizon 360 offers better low-end authority and tighter control than the Lampizator Poseidon, generally a step up, even with upgraded tubes on the Poseidon
• Horizon 360 and Ideon Audio Epsilon Ultima 2024 are standout performers, the Epsilon Ultima is more authoritative and detail-focused, while the Horizon 360 is more tonally realistic—recreating a live performance feel

Takeaway: The Lampizator Horizon 360 is an exceptional DAC that offers an immersive and realistic listening experience, especially for those who appreciate the nuances of live music and the warmth of analog sound. It's designed to draw listeners into the music and deliver a non-fatiguing, enjoyable listening session.

Product Strengths

• Tuneful backbone infused by steroids felt significantly more ferocious and fresh
• Massive tone and juiciness were its key strengths
• Highly saturated sonic landscapes were distanced enough to feel a touch mysterious, yet still vibrant, full of charm, and clear
• Rounder, beefier, and more massive sound
• The early rumble of drum kicks and electric guitar was more hefty, meaty, and slamming, and yet remained elastic, tight, and dynamically charged

Product Considerations

• Lower focus on detail and edge limning

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs LampizatOr Pacific DAC: The DAC DHT emphasized outline filler, relaxation, connective tissue, boldness, and textural saturation, while the Pacific focused on outlines, immediacy, accuracy, radiance, and acceleration
• Vs LampizatOr Pacific DAC: The Pacific's perspective was closer and more finely sketched, so higher on precision and more striking, while the DAC DHT pleased with expressive content that was most enjoyable

Takeaway: The Audio Phonique DAC DHT offers a full-bodied and engaging sound with a focus on tone and texture, and its strengths make music more hefty and slamming. If a vibrant, charming, and clear sound is desired, it could be a worthy addition to a hifi system.