I used to be dashing previous a whole lot of reveals within the 4 big ground-floor exhibit halls of the MOC when Lab 12’s exhibit caught my eye. On the advice of Herb Reichert, my audiophile buddy, Scott, purchased the Lab 12 tube preamp proven above with Stratos Vichos, Lab 12’s proprietor and designer, and perpetually sings its praises.

My preliminary intention was to easily snap a photograph for Scott. But then I realized in regards to the Naya ($TBD, in all probability round €3500–4000), Lab 12’s forthcoming Hypex class-D energy amplifier with built-in DAC and phonostage (above). Named for Vichos’s oldest daughter, the amp, in his phrases, “might be very candy in addition to dynamic and wild. We try to maintain the pure, non-fatiguing sound of tubes whereas choosing class-D for efficient energy of 100Wpc into 8 ohms.” Although entrance panel aesthetics could change, its DAC will decode as much as DXD. Vichos doesn’t consider in DSD, and is at the moment not sure if the DAC shall be do MQA Please keep tuned.