If the sound of the most magical high-end equipment were sold in Fabergé eggs, handcrafted by ninja descendants born in leap years, using delicate and time-consuming methods and the finest materials, it would undoubtedly be a best-seller.
Jokes aside, there is indeed an Olympus in high-fidelity, accessible only to the gods of mankind. Just below that, we find the royalty of high-fidelity, consisting of brands solely committed to sonic excellence.
One of these brands is LampizatOr, a high-end Polish manufacturer specializing in DACs. The creative mind behind this brand is Łukasz Fikus, whose work is among the most respected in the high-end DAC market. Here, in this small rectangle we call Portugal, these DACs range from eight to over fifty thousand euros, making them inaccessible to most bank accounts.
In Chopin’s homeland, we also have Toroidy, known for supplying transformers to many high-fidelity manufacturers. This company launched its own high-fidelity brand, Fezz Audio. Mr. Łukasz Fikus and Mr. Maciej Lachowski (the figurehead of Fezz Audio) probably cross paths frequently, not just in the land of pierogi but also on their way to and from international audio events.
Legend has it that Mr. Fikus had a DAC project tucked away that wasn’t going to be used by LampizatOr because it didn’t support DSD. He suggested it to his friend. Fezz then created a transformer that met the needs of this circuit and placed it inside one of their design-awarded cases.
This circuit contains two Burr-Brown PCM 1794 DAC chips operating in dual-mono to convert signals up to 24-bit/192 kHz (PCM only. How many people still listen to DSD?). The input signal is galvanically isolated, and on the output side, we have a Single-Ended Triode circuit with no feedback, using an ECC82 or 12AU7 tube, proudly displayed through a small transparent window on top of the converter. Beyond the aesthetic effect, this window allows easy access to the tube for swapping, enabling the customization of this DAC’s sonic signature.
What does all of this tell me? I could say a lot, but before even listening, the truth is that it tells me that much! However, those three magic letters—SET (Single-Ended Triode)—tend to make music float and materialize the sounds in listening rooms.
In short, Mr. Łukasz Fikus had a DAC tucked away that didn’t support DSD (which, as we know, kept it out of not only Olympus’s expectations but also the royalty of hi-fi) and saw the opportunity to place it in a brand that doesn’t compete in the same league as LampizatOr and that didn’t yet have a dedicated converter. Who won? In relation to others, I don’t know, but I won! Why? Because I had the opportunity to hear it chez Moustache. The €2600 asking price from Fezz Audio? It must be a printing error. But don’t tell anyone, lest they wake up and add a thousand euros or more to the price. This will be our secret.
What the eyes see
The Fezz Audio Evolution line won the Red Dot Design award, and it’s easy to see why. I mentioned over a year ago in Silver Luna Prestige’s integrated review that if Jony Ive, responsible for Apple products resurgence, were into audio equipment, he might have designed this Fezz Evolution line. Pictures are worth more than a thousand words.
On the front, in the center, the brand logo is subtly backlit. To the left, the LampizatOr logo-brand. On the right, the selection button, with a discreet lit LED indicating the selected source. On top, the window with access to the tube, allowing its replacement if we want to change the sound signature of this DAC, and, of course, to appreciate its orange glow. On the back, we have the power cable input, the ground selector, the RCA outputs, and the USB-B, coaxial, and two optical inputs.
What did I pair with the Equinox by LampizatOr?
Francisco from Ultimate Audio sent me a streamer to accompany Fezz’s DAC, an example of how streamers should be: a small box, and that’s it. No panels or lights creating noise, no excessive electronics to complicate things. After all, don’t we usually control the streamer through a smartphone or tablet? This little box is the Primare NP5 Prisma MkII and is available for €600. It works with the streaming app developed by the Swedish brand, which is one of my favorites for its simplicity. To compare, I used the Volumio Primo, a streamer with an integrated DAC (review coming soon). Amplification for both setups was handled by the Pier Audio MS-480 SE integrated amplifier (review here). The speakers were B&W 607 S3s and Triangle Borea 03s.
What about the sound
Okay, okay! I know many of us are used to reading three-line texts, and I’m way past that, so I’ll summarize the sound in three words: organic, detailed, and energetic. And muscular!, which, while not exactly the same, deserves mention. So that’s four, not three!
Examples? “Cold Little Heart” by Michael Kiwanuka. Kiwanuka’s slight raspiness pairs perfectly with the distortion pedal and contrasts with the backing vocals and strings. The Equinox wears this music like a charming suit. When I say “wears,” I mean it like a filter complements a camera shot. The entire presentation is part of the same suit. Here are the blazer, pants, shirt, tie, cufflinks, shoes—they all make sense together. Even when the shirt contrasts with the suit, the cufflinks match the shoes. Everything makes sense, everything connects, despite each piece presenting with full detail. This is how this DAC conveys the textured and detailed sound of digital music.
“Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield. Springfield’s voice timbre and that of The Sweet Inspirations are extraordinary. Nina Simone, with “Lilac Wine,” and especially “Don’t Explain,” reaches almost unbearable emotional depths. Is it the first time these songs have hit me deeply? No, it’s not. But the combination of the Equinox with the 480 SE had the power to make me feel Nina’s pain more profoundly.
“I Feel You (live 1993)” and “Condemnation (live 1993)” by Depeche Mode. This time, it’s Martin Gore’s afflictions of love and devotion, with the backing vocals on the first track and Dave Gahan building up in the second, catching me off guard with the fantastic energy flowing from the music. “Querelle” by Pop Dell’Arte, the music seems to come alive, and I once again feel the rising tension present in the music video. The organic sense it adds to the vocals in “Chuva” by Mariza and “Escrevi Teu Nome No Vento” by Carminho. I imagine myself in Matosinhos, Portugal, on a terrace, eating crème brûlée caramelized by the hot iron that was heated by the same coal that also grilled the sardines. And just like in Matosinhos, the creamy voices of the fado singers shared the musical space with the crisp crackle of the Portuguese guitar, without either invading the other, with a fluidity that’s uncommon. The Equinox also kept the highs well-extended but always controlled, never intrusive or tiring.
“Flight From The City” by Johann Johannsson, Yuki Numata Resnick, Ben Russel, Clarice Jensen & Tarn Travers delivers a deep and dark atmosphere. The piano sounds rich, with the strings appearing in layers, each sound with a different depth, but once again, everything connects, everything makes sense as a whole. Here, the spotlight could go to the piano, but the Equinox doesn’t give it more attention than necessary, always keeping it dark and rich in tone, like a good grilled steak. The bass and mid-bass notes present in much of this track have clarity and tonal richness.
In “Tribulations” by LCD Soundsystem, the deep, dense bass notes I was used to hearing with this band take the lead and drive the music forward with energy. Always detailed enough, contributing to an open soundstage, but without pushing it in your face.
The bass produced by this DAC is powerful, articulate, and very present but never overwhelms the mids and highs, even with its dominance. I’d also add precision to the bass, with well-defined details, while the mids have substance without adding weight or causing any sense of sluggishness. The midrange stands out, offering vocals and instruments with natural tonality, resulting in a lively, balanced, and incredibly natural sound.
The highs are often sweet and extended, with the brightness never becoming glaring. Detailed and open. The soundstage is open and especially deep, with enough delineation of instruments.
I never felt the urge to end listening sessions; quite the opposite. With the consequences on neighbor relations.
Despite the excellence of the equipment that’s passed through chez Moustache, this was one that left me feeling a real sense of loss when I returned it. This was a joy to experience, and I’d happily be content with it for a long time without feeling the desire to upgrade to something else.
All of this is elevated by the fact that the Equinox delivers much more than its price tag would suggest. For this price, the Equinox is a bargain!
Warning:
The Equinox by LampizatOr from Fezz Audio may not be for everyone. In a market trained to first look for the converter chip reference, this DAC might fly under the radar for some unsuspecting buyers.
This DAC was my third surprise of the year. The first was a pair of true ribbon cans, capable of elevating music to a level I thought impossible for headphones. The second was a hybrid integrated amplifier, featured in this review, that delivered sound capable of embarrassing many systems twice its price (and you’ve heard me say multiple times that I don’t believe in giant killers. But alas, the moment came for me to eat my own words).
The third was this DAC from Fezz, which, first and foremost, delivered sound that made me immerse and float in the music, as only certain systems belonging to the Olympus of audio can do. And secondly, at a price point I thought was impossible for everything it offers.
Specifications
- Type: D/A converter powered by Lampizator
- Model: Equinox EVO D/A converter powered by Lampizator
- Tube type: 2x ECC82/12AU7
- Digital inputs: USB type B, 2x S/PDIF, Coaxial
- Output: 1x RCA
- Operation amplifier: Burr Brown PCM 1794
- S/PDIF Receiver: Asahi Kasei AKM4118
- Harmonic distortion THD: < 0.05%
- Power consumption: 9 W
- Net weight: 10 kg
- Dimensions: 355x380x95 mm
Equipment in this review:
- Fezz Audio Equinox by LampizatOr
- Primare NP5 Prisma MkII
- Oyaide interconnect cable
- Volumio Primo
- Pier Audio MS-480
- B&W 607 S3
- Triangle Borea 03
- Ansuz Speakz X2 speaker cables