As steted in the title above ,long time awaited review of LampizatOr Level 4 DAC had just been published. Please take a time and read:
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2012/05/lampizator-level-4-dac-test-review.html
I like to point that the same DAC in full monty version is available for British listeners here at G Point – Audio for audition in our venue or as a loaner in YOUR own system. Please contact us to make an arrangement ,txs.
G-Point Audio is pleased to announce that we add a new brand to our collection. Already famous Ancient Audio from Cracow ,Poland is well known and recognised
around the world due to their radical design and unusual achievement with digital sources, as well as complete range of valve amplifiers and matching speakers,sharing the same design concept and being build from slabs of granit. Mr.Waszczyszyn ,the man behind the brand is well known for his vast interest in art and music particulary ,which he turned into his creations for : ” The Best Music Reproduction Quality I can make ” as he used to say.
We are proud to announce that the newest Jaromir’s “child”, Lector VI CD Player will be soon available for audition in United Kingdom at G Point’s Audio listening venue.This successor of well known Lector V and Lector Prime players is the latest company goal sporting both – incredible beauty with extraordinary musicality.
Our collection Ancient Audio page will be updated soon.
As I have been asked about an IA -120 review a few of you tried to find ,but could not.
Let me explain that not all texts and articles appear on English version of webzine
To fullfill demands I managed to translate it for interested parties,however bear in mind
that it was published few years back ,hence few changes apply to design,price ,etc…..
I put this all between the [..] commas to set up all in our realities and make it up to date.
Here is a link to original text:
http://www.highfidelity.pl/artykuly/0904/ar.html
And my translation below: ;- ] enjoy
LINEAR AUDIO RESEARCH
IA-120
Review by Wojciech Pacula
Published on http://www.highfidelity.pl
Polish products are and always were the apple in my eye. From the first issue, which was released May 1, 2004, I tried to present in “High Fidelity” the most interesting appearances on our audio market. Let me remind you that we covered the MC-11 monitors there, and we gave a brief description of Ancient Audio Harmony speaker. The most important thing however was not just that the product was made in Poland, but it also was the best possible and highly competitive with imported units. Fortunately it is not so difficult at all. Experienced and talented engineers and designers – simply devoted to the sound – are present around in significant numbers. Design is not a problem. But implementing the product and going through all promotional process is.This is an extremely complex and difficult undertaking, requiring not only a good deal of money, but also determination and ability to take a risk and take a gamble. For all those reasons it hardly happens, but when it does, we are dealing with something what can not be ignored, and located near Wroclaw, Linear Audio Research is a perfect example of this.
I know the company and its owner, Mr. Eugene Czyzewski, from their beginnings. At that time they operated under the name Orlik. When it became clear the name was already taken, the company converted to LAR, and moreover, it was a good move for them. Since then, and for seven years, I’ve tested almost all their products, praising, heralding and recommending how good they are; without even thinking about their origins, as it was clear to me that I am dealing here with true world class products. As often is the case with small businesses, LAR was not able to jump over a certain threshold in the initial period. They used to be a bit harsh – but unlike many Western devices, they stepped over the threshold and offered concrete, very interesting solutions. Since the company became a marriage of a respected artist and designer they managed to work out a new and attractive outlook with full respect for technical functionality. It took them out of the crowd filled with boring and W.A.F-less black boxes.
It is no different with their latest product: The Integrated amplifier IA-120.
This one is the first solid-state amplifier in the company’s history. Both the IA-45, and the Nazca were tube amps. Its front fascia is simple, but very interesting: It sports two round meters, VU-meters, resembling binoculars for stereoscopic images. The device is small, but the manufacturer claims a power output of 120W at 4 Ω.
Housing is, as usual in the case of LAR, extremely robust and promises a long, trouble-free operation. This is the aftermath of Mr. Czyzewski long-term cooperation with military market needs and companies producing medical equipment – the places where reliability is a must. Hence the almost fanatical devotion to personal safety and quality.
The amplifier also boasts a good number of features which atest to its audiophile credentials. The construction is fully dual-mono, with separate transformers for each channel. Regarding all these qualities – the price is a real hit – 4880 PLN [ in 2010, now unit is offered as a hybrid with valve based preamp section ,but for die hard SS fans one without can be obtained on demand ; ad: Gpoint-audio ] which puts it in a very favourable position with regards foreign competition, which quite often is not on a par with regards quality and, due to changing currency rates, more expensive.
SOUND
LAR-amplifier from very beginning surprised me with something unusual – for such a relatively inexpensive device not to mention a transistor based unit – the colour palette offered was stunning. For the first few records I could not really determie how it differed from my reference units: [Ayon Polaris II preamp and Luxman M-800A power amplifier combo]. I knew it was not the same device, but the ability to present tonal richness in a similar way to the much more expensive reference was so unusual that I could not get really stop listening and go to the analysis. The first I thought was it is “dark”. But dark in such a way as for example K2, K2HD,and XRCD recordings are. With good, expensive equipment it is similar as when we go to concerts (a completely different world, but in some way related to each other). We know that, what we believe sounds a tad darker in fact is a “real” sound, lacking distortions and edginess. The same applies to feeling an attack on the strings as “soft” which is not in fact softening of any kind, but the natural way the signal rises without ringing and without rigidity. And this is in large part how the LAR sounds. Without knowing the designer himself and other equipment the company supplied I could risk to say that it is in some way a reference to the valve school. And this was possibly the goal, as I see that clearly Mr. Czyzewski tried to preserve the delicate balance between the foundation of the sound and higher harmonics – the coherence of the whole signal which valves are so famous for.
After more time with the amplifier it becomes clear that it is ultimately not a device from tens of thousands dollars league, but by the end of listening nothing really disturbed a noble taste which came after the first listening. Contrary to what one might think, this is not a device which immediately puts you on your knees in a short demo in a crowded store. To appreciate what you hear and experience the true soul of the unit advanced listening sessions are needed. Sorry to all for that superior sounding tone , which can be dragged out of my speech., but I am 100 percent sure that the bigger one’s live music experience is, the more one will be able to find the live experience when listening. And I refer to “experience” and “familiarity”, because to this point, which is the IA-120 itself , it comes to those who are capable to chill out and notice this audio device is more than just hi-fi. Also in his case, you need to try playing it with various speakers to find the best. Same applies to the K2 recordings I already mentioned. When we compare them with conventional pressing, or even with the SHM-CD, it turns out that although, if at first glance, they seem to be not that open, the latter did not have such a perfect sonority. They do say more about music and are closer to what one can hear from vinyl, which is for now still the best reminder of the master tapes available in commercial medium. The LAR-amplifier is exactly like that. Jazz recordings from 50-70 era, had been registered with slightly restricted heights, however they posses incredibly rich decays, harmonics, thick and internal consistency. This amplifier from Wroclaw let them express these special features and hardly missing any of them. For example really beautifully played piano from Wynton Kelly’s ‘Kelly Blue’ was slightly “smoky” – such registration – but it filled a dialogue with Bobby Jaspar’s flute perfectly, keeping the right balance of this musical conversation. The same was with the wonderful Chet Baker trumpet’s from ‘Piece’ CD reissue (everyone should have it! Is available on CD Japan) which had a nice grip and great colour transparency. The amplifier is not the one to flash your eyes straight on, but slowly, consistently building a mood, depending on the music it is dealing with.
If I wanted to put a statement regarding its tonal balance, I would say that it is based on a strongly built mid range image, supported by thick and tonally matching upper bass register. It was particularly easy to hear on Chris Connor’s ‘C.C Sings Ballads of Sad Cafe’ as well as on Benny Green’s ‘Walkin ‘& Talkin’’ ,where both vocal and trombone articulation had been set up a bit on the dark side and bass line contribution were more clearly „visible” to that which i was accustomed to. This finding had been confirmed immediately after listening to the groundbreaking album „Salzau Music On The Water” by Danielsson / Dell / Landgren trio, where we have got an incredibly natural bass. In fact there is more similarities on both compact discs in terms of impact and slightly diffused decays. There is a perfect sense of „presence” without any feeling of weakness or unnatural contour being given to the sound. Really cool! LAR showed its class with no shame.
The lower range was slightly stronger than my reference set up presented, but without a shadow of being overblown. And then I felt an illumination coming! Damn me if I had not heard something similar before ? Yes, in Pass Labs’ INT-150 amplifier. Both devices sharing lots of character and the overall sound edge. The way they solve problems is giving me a feeling that the designers seem to have a similar taste . The American amplifier is however built larger, more expansive soundstage and individual instruments were slightly “boosted”. His bass also seems to be larger. However, it is slightly less resolved, and not as equal and quick as LAR’s one. The latter is a little more tonally balanced as well as it does not pump the midrange up to blow up images. With large speakers, like my Harpia Acoustics’ Dobermann IA-120, sometimes they can slightly extend the lowest fq resonance. It is nothing that can be heard with an acoustic double bass, but with electronics, like on Thom Yorke’s „ Eraser” or Depeche Mode’s „Abroken Frame” the impulse was cut off more quickly and more accurately with Ayon/Luxman combo. Pass tend to have more delay too, but there it was covered by middle bass thickening, which puts more attention on saturation and”vitality”. Here, the bass is conducted in a more natural manner, and although it is slightly bigger, it is not so much as the American amp is, so it can be heard clearly.
The area where it looses more compared to the reference source, (not the Pass however and only a little to Belles maybe), is in the image size and intensity of the virtual sources. They are a little further back with LAR than they are with both Americans. It is specially easy to spot when listening to the Danielsson recording, due to the fact in terms of “tangibility” it is such a splendid recording. The IA-120 slightly withdraws the saxes to the back and did not let vibes get fully open. I guess it is associated with the slightly recessed highs, but also due to the slightly smoothed dynamics (please note that what I’m talking about here is when it compared to my reference and amplifiers costing four times as much as the amplifier we are reviewing. In its own price range ,or even double or triple it is absolutely perfect amp). The latter requires connection to rather open and vital speakers or source such as the Ayon CD-1s or Meridian G06. After connecting LAR to the brilliant Spendor A6 speakers the overall feeling of warm on the top of the range became slightly overloaded. Speakers like Polish Harpies, ESA, Akustyk or British Monitor Audio or ProAC are perfect partners for it. I mentioned those manufacturers on purpose – these are the ones which put measurements on a pedestal and are tuned in a strictly engineering manner just a the LAR is and it comes as no surprise that they like each other.
Regarding the LAR/Spendor A6 matching I need to mention one thing: That marriage resulted in very sublime, super-nice balanced sound in the midrange. After some time I revisited this configuration, but changed the source to Cambridge Audio Azur 840C CDP and cables to Chord. Then I got a very balanced overall sound. Heights were still gently recessed, but what a tonal quality it was!
So if you are looking for a great set up and are tired of edgy or sandy sound coming out of the speakers, try this:
∙ CD players – Cambridge Audio Azur 840C (may also be DacMagic converter 740C from same company)
∙ Amplifier – Linear Audio Research IA-120
∙ Speakers – Spendor A6 or Amstaff Harpia Acoustics (Amstaff Mini)
∙ Interconnect – Chord Chorus
∙ Speaker cable – Chord Epic (Super) Twin or Hotline series Spiral Tech
∙ Network Strip – Gigawatt PF-1
∙ Network Cables – Wireworld Stratus Aurora
You can take my word for that it is finished and complete system for years.
And that’s the rule of that game – to listen to the music with best stuff one can afford and with never ending joy and satisfaction. With one of these things missing full enjoyment can not be obtained. The LAR is a great amp with a distinct “personality” and just a few disadvantages. Ranked against much more expensive competition, however it looks great and only thing I was missing was a remote.[ again this issue has been rectified and now comes as standard ad: Gpoint audio ] Its sound is tasteful and „mature” if I may say so. This is well established circuit which had „seen” no one change only. It went through trial periods and finally survived in its current incarnation for only one reason – fulfilling its designers expectations! Although its tonal balance resembles valve amplifiers from similar price level it beats them easily – it’s a complete surprise – but it has much better abilities than them to show a full colour palette and has a more sophisticated tonal balance. High registers are gently restricted towards the treble, but it is carried out smoothly, without deviation and inequality. The device is build like a tank that confirms the designer ‘s experience with the highly demanding military market. It would be good if more audiophile equipment combined the ethos of pro-and-phile. Then we would all be healthier.
CONSTRUCTION
The IA-120 from Wroclaw’s Linear Audio Research, led by Mr. Eugene Czyzewski, is a stereo integrated transistor based amplifier. The entire casing is made of aluminium, with top and bottom walls being a protecting shelter sub chassis with thicker walls on which all components are mounted. The front panel is made of two elements – a base wall and imposed upon it thick aluminium with rounded edges. In the middle there are two circular VU-meters, almost identical to those used in the Phonitor headamp SPL. The meters attract your attention first, but they are only part of the overall aesthetic concept – minimalist, but very consistent. On the left we have the polished input selector knob, and volume on the right. The former also acts as a switch. Between the two a small LED indicator in amber colour can be seen. The rear view is similar to that which I know from an earlier Mr. Czyzewski’s design. An extremely successful tube amp IA-45. It seems to me that the whole body comes from that project, which has certainly helped to save money. They do so at Linn, Naim, Cyrus, Micromega and others and it really works. In any case, on the back we have a solid, gold-plated speaker terminals and RCA. We are given five line inputs (LAR has an external two boxes phono stage for interested parties ;g-point) and an output for recording. The connectors are gold plated, but it would be a better if designer- like screwed connectors could be used. Well, yes, I know – the price … IA-120 is extremely affordable and in this way the budget is probably not possible. [ Well things change and now all current production is based on screwed RCA sockets of superior quality with the price range kept ad: Gpoint audio ]
The interior of the amplifier is extremely intersting. First all can see an unusual order. The preamplifier is mounted on one plate, soldered to the RCA jack. This is the same, at least it looks like, shallow, as in the IA-45, which was a hybrid amplifier. Switches are fantastic contactron units (same used e.g.in McIntosh machines) probably the best money can buy. The signal is amplified by Burr-Brown OPA2604 chip, one per channel. They put them in stands, so one can substitute and try some other models in the amp. On the same PCB there is a power supply section, separate for each channel. Because IA-120 has dual mono construction – from beginning to end. The signal then is supplied from the preamp to the Alps pot (in malachite colour, without a motor) by shielded cable, and next to the output stages. These are assembled on separate PCB’s, with only discrete components use. Output transistors, along with a driver ones are screwed to the heat sinks. Latter ones, operating in push-pull, class AB, are the HEXFET type IRFP9240 + IRFP240. Resistors are precise, metallic, and – very the few capacitors present are all polypropylene (EVOX and Wima). The best however is the power supply. It uses two large toroidal transformers, one per channel, canned and vertically attached to the sides of inner walls. Voltages are filtered in four (two per channel) capacitors with a total capacity of 10 000 uF each. Voltage of IEC mains socket is filtered in a big Pi type filter. All connecting points are realised on PCB mounted wire sockets without soldering points.
We tested the following devices of LAR:
MM phono Argus MMP-02 – MkI + MkII
Integrated Amplifier IA-45 MkII
Nazca V2 Integrated Amplifier
***********************************
If there will be further interest expressed
please do not hesitate to ask.I can help
and translate 211/845 NAZCA monos
review as well and post it here ;-]
Dear All
I opened this topic for those who are interested to gain some knowledge about the brand and their products ,please follow this link to find more about IA – 30 MKII integrated amp .
http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-144&lang=en
As more is coming I allocate all here in the same thread to keep it simple:
http://hifipig.com/linear-audio-la30-amplifier/
Dear All,
with great pleasure I announce that as of next week all DACs equipped with
remote volume will have a remote controlled switching of digital inputs as
well as reset function.
There will be no price increase.
There will be a retrofit package available as a kit for 100 Eu and the DACs
which will come to my lab for upgrades or repairs of any kind can have this
installed during the service visit.
You can do the retrofit yourselves with my simple manual, only soldering
iron is needed.
Apple remote will not serve these functions as you need a numeric keypad,
as present on the standard remote. The relays will be operated by numeric
keys 7 (input switch) and 8 – reset.
Also starting May 1-st I will introduce again a “300B” DAC with tubes
exposed on the top. The tubes will be three kinds from “300B family” –
300B, 2A3 and 45 (quality increasing respectively) and also the two (dual
mono ) rectifiers will be exposed – the 5u3 (giant coke bottle shaped)
With this DAC there will be a choice of newest supercool TDA1541A dac board
as well as the old 5/9 board or the new Level 5 – “553” board (which works
“as modern as 5/9” but sounds like AD1865 from Audionote Level5.
The 300B DAC price will be listed at 4000 Euro.
Also starting in May I will introduce the highest-end USB cable made by
order to length. The quality of USB cable makes HUGE difference, far bigger
than IC or speaker cables. It is a night and day difference.
Price is 200 Eu regardless of length (max 6 m). It will be made of highest
quality silver in teflon coax belden from USA and dressed in thick PVC tube
and sexy sleeve.
Also effective today we introduce new packing – with dual box of much
higher quality and better, softer foaming. (absorbs much higher DROP
accidents).
Also effective today, we introduce new chassis for cheaper DACs. You are
familiar already with our bomb-proof INOX steel chassis for L4 and L5, now
L1, L2 and L3 and transports too will get one step heavier chassis – less
ugly than before and 2 x thicker. It will be painted in light grey
powdercoat to avoid “old bucket” associations.
I hope all that will help you to win in the market.
I updated the WWW with four newest reviews, and new good review is coming
up from Matej Isak’s Monoandstereo service. Matej is a really great
reviewer. Very influential. Another good review is coming up from The Part
Time Audiophile from USA.
I can confirm that V-CAP capacitors are getting rave opinions from users
who got them.
Effective May 1st the Level 3 and L4 will get upgraded caps – the newly
found soviet PIO which I used in last 2 months for L4 will now go to L3 and
L4 as standard will get the newly found Jensen Tin foil in Paper and Oil.
(very musical caps).
Best regards
Lukasz Fikus
Here we are . That is thread I created to keep all Albedo products reviews in. As it ‘s going to be short at the beginning until some press reviews will appear here in Britain. So let’s start with some translations I did after polish magazines ,and then I will keep rest of them simply linked bellow. Watch dates of publishing I kept in links. Here is a couple then ; ]
REVIEWS in ENGLISH :
Albedo Monolith XLR interconnects
HiFi PIG – Albedo Interconnects Family ( English )
Albedo Flat One RCA ( Audiocavi review – English )
Recenzje w j.polskim
Albedo GEO – kable XLR (na audiostereo.pl)
Albedo Monolith – kable XLR ( na audiostereo.pl)
G-Point Audio is proud to announce that Autotech, the Polish manufacturer of front loaded horns, Diy horns and waveguide loudspeakers ,we have been appointed as an exclusive reseller for in Britain, will be in attendance at this years High End show in Munich (from 3th – 6th of May ~ in Room F 231 B ).
They will have on demonstration the following products:
1.Universum 3-way horn (Pictured)
Universum – advanced 3-way horn loaded speaker utilising JMLC-200T midrange horn and JMLC-1400 high frequency horn. Premium drivers used are: Radian 950PB with Truextent Beryllium diaphragm and tweeter with polyester diaphragm. Bass enclosure is of aperiodic vent type with actively driven 15‘’ woofer. This construction is adjusted to give smooth, relaxed sound with lowest distortion possible even at driver resonant frequency – thanks to JMLC horn contour.
2. “SEOS Front Panels” (Making their World-wide premier at the show )
SEOS-10 FP (front panel) was designed on demand of US DIY market and available as a kit or complete speaker set. Made out of solid surface offers best price/performance ratio. Waveguide used is oblate spheroidal contour (property of Dr Earl Geddes) but with linearly changing super elliptical cross section. Drivers used are B&C DE250 and 10CL51. Bass section is of bass reflex type and uses active STX 10.2.400.2×4.F.S.PP aluminium subwoofer. This type of speaker offers life like sound reproduction and should be toed in up to 45 degrees for stable imaging
3.Mummies
Professional highly effective (96dB/1W/m, Z = 4ohms) 2 way speaker set, built on the basis of specialised transducers. 30 cm woofer with a powerful magnet engine and a very low moving mass provides superb transient reproduction. Thanks to the low ,carefully chosen cross points and use of compression tweeter (1”) with a unique ellipsoidal waveguide units sound very consistent and have excellent directional characteristics. That allows them sound correctly in almost every room. Unusual design is completed with an extremely rigid chassis with fibreglass composite and multi-layer damping, reducing coloration to a minimum and allowing the speakers to use their full potential dynamic.
G-Point Audio is pleased to announce that we add
a new company to our collection. Polish LAR.
Linear Audio Research is one of those manufacturers
who are handling both enthusiasm for music quality
and solid technical background helping to achieve it.
The very 1st product which will be available is an
integrated IA -30 T amplifier ,which got raving
reviews on 6moons and hifidelity.pl and is claimed
to equal 4 times more priced competition even ,
coming from companies like well acclaimed Leben.
http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-144&lang=en
please read review above to find out more about. Our collection file regarding that will be updated soon.
Here we have got all reviews of LampizatOr products I am aware of being posted. Keep your eye on this as I keep watching around and it will be constantly updated whenever any new post related will appear ;-]
MONO & STEREO
LampizatOr Level 4/gen 5 DSD DAC ( April 2015 ) by Matej Isak
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
LampizatOr Level 4 /gen 4 DSD DAC issue 73 (June 2014) by Marc Pearson
LampizatOr Level 4/gen 5 DSD DAC Issue 76 (Nov / Dec 2014) by Brian Moura
ENJOY THE MUSIC
LampizatOr Level 4/gen 5 DAC – World premier review ! (December 2014) by Wayne Donnelly
HEAD – Fi
General LampizatOr thread – with Focus on the Big 5, Big 7 and HEAD DAC
AUDIO CIRCLE FORUM
Living with Lampis – (November 2014) by Steven Rowan – my personal favorite !
LampizatOr Level 3 { gen3.} Dac
LampizatOr Level 4 {gen.3 } DAC thoughts ( user review )
LampizatOr Level 4 {gen. 4 } DAC ( private user thoughts )
LampizatOr Level 5 {gen.4 } DAC ( private user thoughts )
LampizatOr BIG SIX {gen.4 } DAC (private user thoughts )
What’s Best Forum
World’s First no Chip DSD DAC ( about LampizatOr DSD pcb )
LampizatOr DSD DAC mini review (by Bruce Brown of Puget Sound Studios)
AUDIOGON
LampizatOr DAC Level4 gen, 4 ( latest thread )
LampizatOr DAC Level 2 (customer review)
Audiogon Experiences w/ Lampizator level 2?
Ayon Skylla II vs Lampizator DAC 4 or DAC 5
AUDIO EAGLE
LampizatOr DAC Level 4 generation 3 review
SWG BLOG
LampizatOr GM 70 SE Amplifiers ( private British customer )
LampizatOr GM 70 SE + SILK review
LampizatOr Level 7 first impression comments
LAMPIZATOR FORUM
STEREO.NET .AU FORUM
The LampizatOr (epic) journey (user DAC Level 4 review )
Don’t listen to the LampizatOr DAC ! ( user review )
New LampizatOr TranspOrt ( user’s reviews )
AUDIO TWEAK .nz
STEREO MOJO webzine
Stereomojo LampizatOr DAC DSD only
Stereomojo LampizatOr DAC 4 Exclusive World’s First review !
PART TIME AUDIOPHILE webzine
PTA – LampizatOr Level 4 DAC with USB
PTA – LampizatOr DAC revisited
PTA – LampizatOr DAC revisited again
PTA – Some final thoughts on the LampizatOr Level 4 DAC
PTA – LampizatOr DSD DAC – First listening and confession
PTA – LampizatOr DSD DAC – Revisited and further impressions
MONO & STEREO webzine
LampizatOr GM 70 mono block amplifier
LampizatOr GM 70 mono block amplifiers {final review}
HIGH FIDELITY webzine
LampizatOr TranspOrt & LampizatOr DAC Level 4 combo
HiFi Pig webzine
LampizatOr Level 7 DHT DSD DAC
Art of Sound forum
HiFi Wigwam forum
Pink Fish Media forum
LampizatOr DAC Level 4 gen. 4 & TranspOrt ( private user review )
the absolute sound …coming soon
Also for those who can read Polish ,please have a look at this texts on the bottom:
LampizatOr DAC Level 4 + TranspOrt na Hi-Fidelity.pl (red:M.Dusza)
LampizatOr USB TranspOrt na Hi-Fidelity.pl (red:M.Dusza)
Finally have a look here to see Canadian LampizatOr re seller offers. Bear in mind that British prices are same as this is part of the policy. Warranty however is not. Here at G Point Audio we offering 5 years warranty for LampizatOr DAC ,not a year only as it is a point in America and Oceania.
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