LAIV Harmony

I reported above that the input stage of my LAiV Harmony Dac died. After I reported the problem, I had a response in a matter of hours that a new board would be sent to me. It arrived by FedEx along with a ground strap, white gloves, new screws and a new warranty sticker in about three days. Half an hour to install following a YouTube video with installation instructions and the problem was solved.

LAiV wanted the old board back. I took it to UPS and they wanted $115.00 to send the old board back (maybe six ounces). I then went to the US post office and it cost $14.00 to send it back.

I asked why the failure and was told that a board supplier had sent an initial batch of boards with a latent defect and there hasn't been a problem since.

StandardModel

@standardmodel This is how it should be done.  I hope American manufacturers are taking notice.  I’m still miffed about the lack of communication from a certain California/ Texas based company.  I had to return not one, but two of their flagship products for the same defect.  Technical Service had no response, and days later, Customer Service asked if I wanted a refund or if I wanted to try again (?!)

Yes, should have fine backing and service with Vinshine. Also, not unheard of for runs of certain parts to be defective, mass production here. Modular design of Harmony makes repairs easy, just as @standardmodel found. Before judging reliability let the things live in field for at least a while.

So, finally inserted Musetec 006 into system, I have to say the 006 lives in different realm from my Musetec 005 and Harmony.  Resolution/transparency on a scale above. Still, I'd easily choose Harmony over 005, Harmony has a more relaxed presentation in NOS mode than either of the Sabre chip dacs. 00l6 DEMANDS attention, Harmony lets you choose. Presentations are important for source components, many will choose the relaxed over the hyper detailed, in any case Harmony doesn't lack detail as it can easily draw you in. Harmony still a  very nice dac in my book.

Now I saw an interesting take on youtube the other day, face off between Harmony and MSB (can't recall the model), Harmony didn't embarrass itself against this far more expensive dac. They preferred the Harmony with Aurender via USB vs Hifi  Rose via I2S.

@sns Thanks for your nice write up of your impressions of the Harmony incl vs the Musetecs.

A few comments from my experience that may be of interest to you or others:

I’ve found high quality USB sounds terrific, better than I2S I’ve tried, and scales further with changes to USB cables and even vibration damping. I’m using a chain of USB regens incl an externally clocked LHY UIP which I’ve previously compared to the Innuous PhoenixUSB (which is awesome BTW a different class, the UIP wasn’t embarrassed as it is very good for its price & the ext clock closed the gap a fair bit) - and and a much cheaper AliX unit both employing the latest gen ADuM USB isolator chips. With all due respect to Weng-fai who has suggested the Harmony’s internal USB isolation should limit the effect of USB regens etc I’ve found it to be very sensitive to improved USB quality which is consistent with what the YouTuber you refer recently found - the Harmony DAC sounded better via USB from a Hifi Rose 130 than I2S from same and Aurender USB better again. Handily beats my Gustard U18 via I2S even when the U18 has the benefit of the LHY feeding it. I’ve also messed with various clock options using I2S, LAiV internal, U18 internal, U18 external and even though the latter was a bit of an improvement over LAiV internal (U18 internal last) USB trumped both by a good margin. A more expansive and timbrally rich sound.

Secondly, and I appreciate this may not be your or everyone’s cup of tea, nor a requirement to get the Harmony sounding great, but using the LAiV in NOS mode and oversampling externally in HQplayer (SincMx my preferred oversampling filter for the time being) produced the best sound in my system. Rich, natural but with more detail, micro-dynamics.

And lastly I’ve managed to eke a good bit more dynamic and soundstage scale and decay length, as well as reducing residual glare and increasing midrange palpability a touch, from tweaks like vibration damping with good footers and an fo.q sheet on top (the aesthetics, I know!) along with chassis grounding. I’ve a bit of experience damping components with milled aluminum enclosures and have found they respond enthusiastically to this.. may be a function of their high rigidity.

@sns Thank you for your review!