Horizon DAC

HORIZON-2 DAC

The DAC of the future

Since the first concept Horizon DAC has been 7 years, and we acumulated enough knowhow and feedback from Aphrodite and feedback from old Horizons - that we feel it is time to launch an all new Horizon-2.

When making the Horizon 2 we had two main guidelines in mind: 1. To improve the sound and functionality as much as possible within the same price target

and 2. to design all improvements to be retro-fittable to the existing Horizon1, Horizon 360 and Horizon 360X DACs. Nobody (users) must be left behind, the path to current version must be always possible.

The new DAC is unmistakenly a Horizon, and undeniably the Lampizator. We introduced to the general sound characteristic of the Horizon just MORE of the things that we love, things that made us famous - huge 3-D soundstage, clarity of presentation, liquidity of flow, non-fatiguing, non "digital" sound characteristic of reel to reel. There is more cloud of small plankton, more instrument separation, more speed and rhythm, more fun factor, more true timbres of natural instruments, more around the head experience. We have a lot of fun listening to this DAC on every music genre we try.

This DAC has a very unique digital board, with power supplies so advanced that it is probably 4x more advanced and sophisticated compared to what the industry standard is. From custom transformers , custom 4 layer PCB, 17 separate power circuits, completely insane music conversion topology, customized muting solutions, our proprietary firmware and software, new tube scheme, new tube operating points , TRP (tube rolling paradise setup), new chassis, new heating scheme, new SuperVolume control with bypass feature and 100 precise steps, new LCD display from Aphrodite trickle down, elimination of knobs, elimination of visible screws and bolts, new USB reclocking solution, new superclock circuit with optoisolation and ultra high precision crystals, antivibration CNC milled support for PCBs, - everything about this DAC is new, rethought and redesigned.

The resulting DAC is a true masterpiece. It has everything it can have, and we know for a fact that nobody else uses solutions that we use. I can say with full confidence that you are getting a unique masterpiece of craftsmanship that will deliver top of the game sound for many years to come. Who knows - chances are - it will never be surpassed.

THE OLD HORIZON INFORMATION HAS BEEN MOVED TO HERE ->

Horizon-2 is our first so major improvement of our flagship Horizon DAC since its creation 7 years ago. This move is mainly enforced by the Nixie availability limitations that triggered a need to redesign the display, and in avalanch effect we introduced everything we have from Aphrodite project. We decided to give the project a green light and we considered it worthy of calling it the new name - Horizon-2

We decided to handle our precious flagship DAC with extreme care and not risk any unnecessary changes just for changes. We left the same tubes, same output caps, same chassis and dimensions. We wanted to make sure that Horizon remains Horizon and when we are asked - we will answer with confidence that the new one is BETTER not just different and if you liked the H1 - you will love the H2 changes undeniably !

We offer the upgrade packages. We have 3 main areas of change:

Digital engine change to the H360X engine if you previously had the first Horizon1 version.
Analog section - entire tube and preamp section - with all circuitry other than the digital - we redesigned it following Aphrodire R&D and we call it H2 (green color)
Volume and input handling section with SuperVolume relay-less board and 100 steps
Display and firmware section with new front panel, display, 4 buttons, new remote, new Aphrodite user functionality and new firmware that controls our conversion chipset

On the back panel we have:

Taiko XDMI link input is replaced by the 3xBNC i2S link but TAIKO can be ordered when requested at no extra charge.
HDMI with low signal balanced i2S link
X bypass output XLR pair
improved USB with DSD512 and reclocking and optoisolation
AC input of power has a much better relay that switches the power by a software command
New remote control. with Aphrodite functionality (phase switching, modulator switching, filter switching, display switching, memorising setting mode, etc.

Horizon360 in its original form is be phased out and we offer H360X in mint factory refurbished form from our stock of pre-loved equipment.

The remaining parts will be shelved for the future service needs.

The upgrade from H1 to H2 service will be offered starting from November 2026 and only through the Dealer network.

You can distinguish visually the new version by the front panel without Nixie as well as the rear panel description

Lukasz Fikus, September 15th 2026

Horizon-2 key highlights:

Proprietary, firmware driven conversion process with 1520kHz PCM and DSD1024 (both software limited)
No silicon anywhere in signal path past the conversion stage
Silver wiring inside
Copper film, true metal sheet capacitors in the signal path
CNC milled chassis, No-screw design.
6SN7 conversion tubes
KT88 output driver tubes
Volume control "SuperVolume" of the highest possible caliber in every unit, featuring a full bypass function
All units are trully ballanced and SE at the same time
Zero feedback, neither local nor global
Zero opamps
Tube rectified power supply
Hundreds of tube rolling combinations.

Parameters:

Weight: 33 kg / 70 lbs net, 50 kg / 110 lbs gross
Dimensions without tubes: 440 mm W x 550 mm D x 170 mm H (height with tubes 290 mm)
Digital inputs: 1 x USB, 1 x S/PDIF RCA, 1 x AES/EBU, 1 x TOSLINK, 3 x i2s, (1x Taiko XDMI by request)
1 x analog input RCA, 1 x analog input XLR fully balanced
1 x analog output pair RCA and 1 x XLR balanced output and 1 x XLR BYPASS output)
Output level: 0DB full level @3V peak sinus 1 kHz m per phase, 6V p-p for balanced
Mains 110-115 - 220 - 230 - 240 V AC / power consumption 60 VA

Colors: (sorry: no gold, no anodizing, no car paint (like Mazda Red)

Matt Black Hole
Silver Sahara (very light, cold, aluminum-look grey with specs of shiny dust)

The dust cover plate around the tubes on top can be ordered in these colors:

Copper - for the famous "Duracell look" (Black body and copper top)
Stainless steel mirror-like chrome look
Black Hole black matt
Silver Sahara to match
Semi Translucent Red
These above top colors can be mixed and matched with the two basic body
colors (for example black body with Sahara Silver top plate)

Packing in custom hand made flight case

Tube compliment:

1 x 5U4G rectifier or equivalent, 274B, 5Y3, 5C3S, GZ34, GZ37, GZ480, 5AR4WGB

2 x 6SN7GT or adapter fitted 6N1P, ECC99, VT99/6F8G, ECC88, 6922, 6DJ9, 6900, 12BH7, 5687 Ecc182

4 x EL34 or 6V6, 6L6, KT66, KT88, KT90, KT120, KT150, 6550, 5881

Remote Control - CNC milled metal "slab" remote, new model with AA batteries

Footers: non exchangable but with M8 provision of threaded footer mounting holes

Display: LCD color display

DSD: 512x, PCM: 768k 

PRESS RELEASE:

LampizatOr Announces the Horizon 2

Nearly two decades ago we made ourselves a promise.

Never stop improving.

If we discover a better way to reproduce music, we build it. We don't wait for product cycles, marketing calendars, or model years. We simply follow the music.

The Horizon has been our reference DAC for many years. During that time it has continually evolved through countless refinements, culminating most recently in the Horizon 360. But development never truly stops.

Over the last several years, while creating the Aphrodite, we developed entirely new ideas: a completely redesigned analog stage, our new SuperVolume architecture, an updated processor and display platform, Aphrodite-style remote functionality, and our new 3xBNC digital interface. Some of these advances naturally belong exclusively in Aphrodite. Others proved simply too good not to find their way into the Horizon.

Today, we're pleased to introduce the LampizatOr Horizon 2.

This is not a new philosophy.

It is the next chapter of Horizon.

The Horizon 2 incorporates a completely redesigned analog stage born from four years of refinement, a new SuperVolume implementation, an updated processor and OLED display, Aphrodite-style remote functionality, and our latest 3xBNC digital interface. Every one of these changes was made for one reason only:

To improve the sound.

If you've heard the evolution from the original Horizon through the Horizon 360, you already understand how dramatically this platform has progressed over time. Horizon 2 continues that journey. It remains unmistakably a Horizon, only with greater refinement, ease, dimensionality, transparency, and musical realism.

Some will naturally wonder whether Horizon 2 now equals the Aphrodite.

No: that was never the objective.

What we discovered during the Aphrodite project was that many of the ideas developed for our flagship could also elevate the Horizon. Those ideas have now found their way into Horizon 2, resulting in a substantial musical advance. But Aphrodite remains a fundamentally different proposition. Its much larger physical platform, quad custom EI transformers, more elaborate analog stage, and uncompromising architecture still provide a level of effortless musical expression, scale, and authority that only a true statement product can achieve.

Horizon 2 is not "Aphrodite Lite."

It is simply the finest Horizon we have ever built.

Just as important is what this announcement is not.

It is not a price increase.

Despite the substantial engineering changes incorporated into Horizon 2, the price of a new Horizon will remain unchanged throughout the remainder of 2026. We believe these improvements belong in the product itself, not behind another increase in MSRP.

Nor is it intended to leave our existing owners behind.

For over twenty years, LampizatOr has supported its flagship owners by making meaningful factory upgrades available whenever genuine advances were achieved. We believe great components should evolve alongside our engineering, not become obsolete because a calendar page has turned.

Accordingly, every new Horizon will now be built to Horizon 2 specification.

For existing Horizon and Horizon 360 owners, we are also pleased to offer a comprehensive factory upgrade package that brings your DAC to full Horizon 2 specification for €12,000 as a complete package that incorporates every major advancement into one cohesive evolution of the platform.

We wouldn't introduce any of these changes if we didn't believe they made the music more believable.

That philosophy has guided LampizatOr from the very beginning, and it continues to guide us today.

The Horizon 2 is the latest expression of that philosophy.

We look forward to sharing it with you.

Some resources:

Whatsbest Forum - Horizon thread:

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/lampizator-announcement-launch-of-our-all-new-totl-horizon-dac.33950/page-63

Part Time Audiophile:

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2022/02/22/lampizator-tobian-soundsystems-vac-final-touch-audio-destination-sound-group-flax-2022/?amp

Video materials:

Ron Resnick's interview:

https://youtu.be/t8GkzTgdtzU