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Review of Dartzeel NHB-108 Amplifier

Dartzeel is a relatively new entry to the high-end game. Despite being reviewed by John Marks in a recent issue of Stereophile, the company's only current product offering, the NHB-108 stereo amplifier, hasn't gotten a lot of press on these shores. Hopefully this "review" will do its part in rectifying that.
As many of you probably already know, Switzerland-based Dartzeel is the brainchild of one Herve Deletraz. Herve is a wonderful guy who's dedicated to the very best customer service. As essentially a one-man operation, I'm sure his time is limited, but he's always responded to my e-mails in an extremely courteous, timely manner.

On to the amp. I'm not one for technical details, so I'll leave them to those of you who want to visit Dartzeel's website. Basically, the 108 is a "purist" stereo amp rated at a relatively modest 100 wpc. Its smallish dimensions belie its weight, which measures around 65-70 pounds.

Internally, the amp is incredibly well laid out (if tightly packed), with an attention to detail that one should expect--but doesn't always receive--from components in this price range.

Outside, it's purely love-hate. (Refer to the website for pictures). Either you get it or you don't. Personally, I've grown used to its appearance over time, but it's taken a while to become acclimated. If WAF factor is any sort of issue, practice up on your compliments. Then again, I may be overstating the case. While it's not Liv Tyler, it's not Janet Reno, either. Time reveals its inner beauty.

Performance-wise it's a much more straightforward issue. In my experience the 108 is the most balanced, natural-sounding amp I've ever heard. It has a way with timbre that's downright spooky--up there with the very best tube units one cares to mention. The sound is just "right"--every note is reproduced with a tonal correctness and warmth that is as close to the real thing as I've heard in an amp. Because of it's sheer naturalness, it can take a while to overcome the initial impression that it is somehow soft or rolled off. That is most emphatically not the case! Dynamics are crisp and fast, and the frequency extremes are right where they need to be--not overstated or highlighted at all, just perfectly natural and realistic.

The only potential weakness of the 108 is its power rating. It flows a nice amount of juice for 100 watts, but one could theoretically run into problems with particuarly current-hungry or inefficient speakers. Part of the amp's midrange purity, I believe, is attributable to the use of the bare minimum of bipolars in the output stage. That, of course, comes at the price of power, but in this case the tradeoff is more than worth it. Just take some care in speaker matching--as you should, anyway--and you'll be rewarded with a sound that balances the very best of solid state with a midrange that will make some question whether they even need to fuss with tubes.

Despite its novel physical appearance, the need for careful speaker matching, and the fact that the US dollar has been taking a Tyson-like beating lately, the Dartzeel is a serious contender in the super-amp category. Yes, there are amps out there that do this or that "better" than the 108, but I've yet to hear one that strikes a better balance between the various areas of performance. It's a stunning piece of engineering and a landmark amplifier.

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Product Weakness: Appearance is strictly take-it-or-leave-it. Power rating requires some attention to speaker load. Cost.
Product Strengths: Naturalness, midrange magic of the highest order, speed, dynamics

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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Dartzeel NHB-108
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): EMM Labs DCC2
Sources (CDP/Turntable): EMM Labs CDSD
Speakers: Von Schweikert VR-4 Jr.
Cables/Interconnects: Jena Labs Pathfinder
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock, blues, country, some classical
Room Size (LxWxH): 24 x 20 x 7
Room Comments/Treatments: Echo Buster, ASC
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Shunyata Hydra-8
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
hooper
mikelavigne
2,243 posts
 
i've gone back and forth whether to respond to 'Cinematic Systems' regarding his interpretation of mine and other posts as some sort of dismissal of Kharma in favor of Von Schweikert. i guess some response is in order.

first, no one has had a chance to directly compare the better Kharmas with the new VR9SE as of yet. until that happens any actual comparitive opinions are just that.....opinions. does the VR9 equal Kharma's coherence, Kharma's ability to disappear, Kharma's mid-range clarity? those are questions.....of which answers can only be guessed at.....some can even make educated guesses.....and some have.

i have loved Kharma's for the last 4 years and i still love them. they have a certain magic and will continue to have it. like any speaker, there are some design trade-offs. the Kharma doesn't plumb the depths of deepest bass, the Kharma is not the most macro-dynamic speaker. the Kharma is all about getting out of the way of the event......and having a great balance.

the VR9 may just equal the Kharma at the Kharma's strengths......if so it actually may be that 'speaker without compromise'.......since it definitely has the dynamics and deep bass thing down pat.

any Kharma owners should be secure and confident in their speakers. nothing has changed. we just have a few poster's that like to over-simplify things......if a Kharma owner (me) choses another speaker due to dramatically different room challenges......all of a sudden Kharma has slipped a notch......that's a bunch of bull.

the reason we have lots of Kharma owners is due to the very special performance of those speakers. this special performance has never been about the best anything. it has been about being real. when anyone tries to break down the Kharma into pieces he completely misses the whole point of the speaker.

people change speakers and amps for a host of reasons. sometimes it is that the SOTA has moved on, sometimes it is a desire for more bass or dynamics, sometimes it is a desire for a more intimate and non-hifi sound. i have changed for all those reasons at one time or another. there is even changing due to non-perfomance reasons.

as far as amps, while i think the world of the DarTZeel the Tenor is still on the same level to me......different but equal. both amps have their strengths.....and both likely have their ideal speaker match.

sorry for the rambling......but this whole 'better and worse' thing is just wrong.
sirspeedy70680e509
1,064 posts
 
Springbok,I was definitely NOT alluding to you,or the 3.2's in my post.I think the little(only in size)3.2 is one of the most "musically convincing" and enjoyable speakers to come along in some time.Also,can be placed in a variety of differing rooms.I think they are a bit pricey,but so were my Avalons when I bought them.

What I was speaking to, was,and is,the endless mentioning of anything Kharma, by a well known reviewer,who just so happens to have these pieces for what appears to me and quite a few others,in the hobby,as an almost "you constantly mention how great the line is,and you can live with your dream speaker for as long as you like"arrangement.This is SO rediculous,as to be almost laughable.Here, this snob reports from CES,where there is virtually a ton of great speaker systems.He pays lip service to a couple that he hopes to review(God forbid,even one would be under 20k),and then,as is almost getting to be TOO predictable,he goes on "ad nauseum" about how,naturally,his new (megabuck Kharma)was the best sound at the show.With the little 3.2 as a leading contender!Keep pitching,Mr V.

I have no problem touting such a fine speaker like the 3.2,as 21k is not that out of the ordinary,and it fits into so many differing environments,but I HAVE heard the MIDI-Ex model,and although it is a beautiful speaker,can't touch some competitors for significantly less.Yet the power of advertising and the desire of a few lucky owners have pushed the pricing envelope the way Vinyl records headed in the mid eighties.

Ex:MIDI-EX at 75k vs Dali Megaline at 42k,or TAD model 1 at 45k,or Nova Utopia at 37.5k,space permitting the Grande Utopia be is still in the MIDI's price range.Not to mention a speaker like the Genisis 200's at around 45k which would smoke the Midi EX,as would any other I've listed here.No wonder Von S is killing the competition.More power to him!!

I have no real vendetta,but would like to see a sense of sanity restored to both the hobby,and audio press.I'm not holding my breath.
mikelavigne
2,243 posts
 
sir speedy; i heard all the speakers you mention at CES and in other places......as well as the Midi Exqusite's at CES.

first, i was NOT impressed by the Midi's at CES......and if you based your opinion of the Midi based on CES i would understand your comment. the same for the VR9.....there were times when it did not sound satisfying (other times magnificent).

i have now had the Midi's in my room for the last 2 months......and what i hear is on a higher level than those other speakers in terms of refinement, coherence, and simply getting out of the way of the music.

none of those speakers 'smoke' the Midi's to my ears......although if you focus on particular aspects of the sound you can make any case you want.

the Kharma's aren't cheap.....but this level of precision never is.
howie
230 posts
 
Sirspeedy, I am in no position to comment on what is behind a reviewer's endless mentioning, but I do know that many audiophiles, including reviewers, can be excited and genuinely are in love with certain products. So I actually don't have too many problems with people who rave here about products they own or heard. We all have our individual biases and I find that learning them kind of puts me closer to these audiophile friends that I've never met but may one day meet.

I hate the Kharma pricing. I thought long and hard before spending pretty much all my savings buying my pair of 3.2s. But here in Canada, unless I buy Canadian, there's another importor/distributor taking a cut on the Sonus Faber and Wilson speakers that I was looking at at that time. I wanted the Puppy 7s and Amati, but couldn't afford them. The Guarneri and sub combo cost almost as much as what I got the 3.2s for, which I was convinced to be even better than the 7s and Amati. At that time, Jtinn carried nothing better, and his experience and service, as well as his proximity to me, provided me with tremendous value. There's no one carrying the Dali Magalines locally anyways, and the Utopia Be's, like most other speakers, would cost me around 1.6X the US retail price if I was to buy locally. Like Mike said, I think a lot of products are pretty close, and being able to drive down and pick up something from a dealer I trust, is enough value added for me. I'm not so critical that I would find many equipment not enjoyable, so back to the Dartzeel, I would have no hesitation buying it.
jtinn
1,124 posts
 
Mikelavigne: I do not necessarily agree that a direct comparison has to been done. I do not believe that the systems need to be in the same room at the same time for a conclusion to be made. This is not to say that the room is not extremely critical. However, if everything else is constant, it should be easy to tell the differences.

I have had the Kharma Exquisite 1a Extended Reference Enigma, Midi Exquisite 1a Diamond Enigma, Midi Grand Ceramique Enigma, 3.2 Ceramique Enigma Reference Monitor and have listened to them with the same exact equipment and cabling as I have with the VR9SE's and I have no doubt that the Von Schweikert VR9SE's complete a package that the Kharma's do not. As far as the VR9SE's disappearing like the Kharma's, they do. They also, in my opinion, have a larger soundstage front to back, left to right and have much greater resolution, control and depth in the bass. As far as midrange, I find that there is a more natural midrange in the VR9SE's, but the Kharma certainly is no slouch in this area. Prior to hearing the Von Schweikert's, I had not heard better than the Kharma's other than a prototype speaker a local company is building. Another area where the VR9SE's better the Kharma is in the highs. Even compared with the diamond tweeter, the VR9SE's tweeter/super tweeter offer greater realism with more air on top.

Certainly Hooper and Mes share my experience and have had both Kharma and Von Schweikert speakers in the same room with the same equipment.

I have to say that I re-read this thread and do not see where anyone tried to "break down the Kharma into pieces". I believe everyone here acknowledges how special the Kharma line of speakers are. I just think that the few people who have had both prefer the Von Schweikert's. They really do most of the same things, but where the Kharma stops, the Von Schweikert goes further.
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