My review plan included the stablemate Horizon360. Both converters saw the Boenicke Power Gate outlet multiplier's captive M2 cords. DIY cables built from LessLoss entropic-processed C-MARC connected them to the Trilogy 915R preamp's XLR inputs. From there the companion 995R mono amps and sound|kaos Vox 3afw monitors took over. To swap between DACs, I had to reconnect only a USB cable and change inputs on the pre. The Statement server/streamer recognized their USB receivers pretty much instantly. Today's contestants output the same voltage so I didn't even have to adjust volume. Convenience was king. As the donor recipient of the 1st-gen Horizon's full digital stage, Genya makes quite a few sonic promises. Prior to explaining what it inherited and what's new, let's revisit the recent fight between the two Horizon versions. There I wrote that: "…I wasn't sure whether my bias towards the 1st-gen Horizon got the better of me but right off the bat I liked it more than its younger sibling. Early on the former seemed quicker, more articulate and specific on instrumental and vocal outlines which rendered closer to the seat thus naturally larger. In that sense the original Horizon felt spicier and very much in line with the brand's house sound. At the time I thought of it as a Pacific on ungodly steroids. Meanwhile the Horizon360 felt less flashy and mechanical but more tangible, grounded and collected, fuller and a touch darker. As such it didn't reveal all its aces right away. Rather it grew on me gradually one song at a time. The original Horizon emphasized copious amounts of freshness and excitement that felt very familiar so my focus was mainly on the speedy traits it flaunted. Once I fully accommodated to the newer sibling's profile, the same kind of intensity and zest registered but also so much more. Atop exceptional dynamic potency, off-the-charts imaging skills, effortlessness etc., the Horizon360 also dug deeper, hit harder, packed extra heft and textural fruitiness in images, sounded gutsier and eventually emerged as a higher-tiered more mature model."

Then there was this: "In comparison to the evolved sibling, the 1st-gen Horizon produced sound that was frostier, leaner, shinier, a touch pointier and more incisive. It also packed the closest images inside leaner frames. This resulted in a well-defined profile that catered mainly to an audience in pursuit of ultimate speed, directness, articulation, openness and the here/now sensation. The Horizon360 didn't have any apparent bias. The longer it was on the job, the more competent and polished it proved on all fronts. On agile radiant tracks it easily matched the first Horizon's quickness, snap, clarity, pronunciation, detail retrieval, background blackness and electric demeanour then added greater tonal mass, wider dynamic range, deeper bass, higher energy and greater overall might. While on sensual calm acoustic fare busy with a single vocal line it was just as smooth, intimate and delicate, it upped the ante on juiciness, expressiveness, suchness, seductiveness and colour. On spatially complex music it was more organic, moving and vivid and also noticeably more gifted on the visibility of deeper layers. This long list of achievements felt fit for a machine as good as they come."

And lastly, "if the 1st-gen Horizon were a speaker, I'd see it as a purist widebander inside a large folded rear horn on a mindfully curated system. The successor would be topologically the same but on a far better amp and intelligently crossed over to a RiPol sub. While both would fare similarly, the latter would simply do noticeably more and much easier at that." This context is extra useful now because Genya largely behaved like the first Horizon DAC which was good news considering its price. That said, very shortly I noticed the manufacturer's signature openness, quickness, illumination, control, accuracy and freshness that kept music elastic, direct, effortless and spatially large. When needed, Genya felt anchored and atmospheric without overdoing any specific discipline. Without the Horizon360 on hand, I'd most likely see Genya as a cut above the 1st-gen Pacific I had for several years. This notion alone sufficed to consider its position in the manufacturer's roster justified. The newcomer however also packed a few surprises that made me see it more as its own thing rather than a reskinned Horizon in a poor man's case.

While my system with Genya clearly leaned towards traits that make music quick, open and adventurous, on calm fare it proved exceptionally relaxed, posh, sensual, free from tension and enjoyably flowing so much so that I deem this as today's main forté parked atop the usual LampizatOr house sound and elegantly emphasized. When asked about my findings, Lukasz explained that Evgenyi was all about this particular ease and flow and that all circuitry inside Genya serves this purpose. Check. There's another side. While this DAC proved plenty quick, spatially grand and feisty, it didn't reach the Horizon360's wickedness. The latter was dynamically broader, more effortless, hit harder, dug deeper and had still quicker reflexes so naturally was more authoritative, spatially even larger, more guttural, intense, ripped and direct. This was apparent on each agile song dosed at party SPL. The latest Horizon is a monster that has intensity as middle name. The main takeaway however goes beyond these observations and doesn't diminish what Genya can do.