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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
sirspeedy70680e509
1,064 posts
 
I TRULY respect those of you who have responded like gentlemen to my comments,but I firmly stand by them.I own a business,that manufactures products.My pricing is based on my costs.There is NO WAY anyone is going to convince me that the Kharma line is priced on manufacturing costs.Importer cut or not. The pricing of Wilson,and my Avalons are beginning to look cheap,in comparison.Other overseas mfgrs. as well.Suddenly,the Sonus Faber Strads don't look so pricey.Fact is,as I see it, the Kharma importer has a GREAT little set up going for himself.

Ex:Want to update to a Diamond TWEET,20 grand.Now take a look at the B&W Diamond updated product pricing.PLEASE!

Look,openmindedly,at the MIDI GRAND CERAMIQUE.Not overtly heavy as Mikelavigne's previous speaker,so shipping is not as high.Cabinetry is high density fiberboard.Very good drivers,and crossover,with a nice paint job.56k.Let me repeat 56k.Do any of you really think this is a fairly priced product.Come on Mike,I,ve seen pics of your room,and know you love Kharma,but lets get real.Even you admitted you lost bass,when you redesigned the new room.You like rock oriented music,as I believe I have read,so why go from a SUPERB speaker,like you had(exquisite REF)to a smaller internal chambered cabinet,with one more bass driver?You are still NOT going to drive your,superb,room unless you add the Kharma sub(or other subs,but you will definitely stay with Kharma,in this area,from my impressions of your product tastes).I hope you are only reviewing the Midi Ex,and will not replace your Ex Ref,with them.After all is said and done,why not add a stereo pair of Kharma subs to the Ex Ref.I realize the Midi Ex is the speaker,here,but,used the Grand Ceramique as an example,for pricing sanity.

I know my comments may seem extreme,and I'm sorry,but in the case of you mr Lavigne,a Genisis 200 would blow away any Kharma you care to rationalize,in a FAB room,as you have.

I too,had a room built for my system.I did not have the capital on hand to go extreme,so I called Avalon,and asked for the ideal size to drive my speakers.I still had to add a REL STENTOR sub.For acoustics,I had my large record collection built into mirrored sidewalls,for diffraction,with general room treatments added as time went on.I am FINALLY truly happy,but being so enamored with this hobby,I admit to getting a bit too passionate about aspects of it,that bring it down a bit.Not the hobbyists,but too many underhanded industry types.Why should so many of us be such easy prey.Oh,yeah.Because we can!!
mikelavigne
2,241 posts
 
Sirspeedy; if you look at the price issue of any Euro product......it has taken a hit in the last few years......the Kharma's more than some. i am not going to judge the current importer.....he can either make the case for value or not. i would only say that Kharma's still do most things better that are important to me than most competing speakers at ANY price point. Charles von Oostrom is an artist at designing speakers and IF you love what he does then you may want his speakers. i would also say that Kharma's have as much refinement in their speakers from the bottom to the top of their price range as any other.

i would agree that Kharma is not the best bang for your buck speaker......if that is most important.

i currently do not own Kharmas.....the Midi's are loaners while my Von Schweikert's are being built. details of my speaker journey are on my system thread if you are interested. my Kharma Exquisite 1D's, the Midi Exquisite's, and the VR9's are three different speakers which are all easily justifiable in my mind.......and i could live with and love any of them.

as you can see; i have no ulterior motive to promote Kharma. i just happen to really enjoy them and their way of playing music. but they are not the answer to everyone's taste, or everyone's priorities, or all rooms.

my previous smaller room would have been 'overwhelmed' by the VR9's......my Exquisite's were quite good there. if i had stayed with a medium sized room i would have never even thought of changing speakers.

i do expect that the VR9 will ultimately get me closer to my musical nirvana than any other speaker that i have heard could......but that is a story for a future day when it is in my room, broken in, and properly set up.

i reserve the right to come to whatever conclusion that presents itself at that time.
dbk
44 posts
 
What about the VR-7? At 20 K less are these really not close to the VR9's?
twilo
357 posts
 
Why didn't Wes compare the Dartzeel amp to his Conrad Johnson Premier 350 solid state amp.
sirspeedy70680e509
1,064 posts
 
Mike,thanks for not getting too hot headed towards my comments.I will tone down my act.I have a friend in NY,who is unmarried,and very wealthy.He goes through megabuck equipment like golfers go through putters.I hope you do not fall into this category.He also,never gets the performance from his stuff that the equipment is capable of,since he really gets off on "The Latest Stuff" and is quick to turn around his purchases.Yes,it is NONE of my business,but,when you post pics of such a fine custom room,it is human nature to analyze what may or may not be best served.

Since I do feel that the Exquisite REF is,not only a fabulous speaker,but a work of art as well,I simply cannot believe anyone dumping them for anythimg else.I suspect you like to have equipment come and go,and it is your own decisions,but you do pass yourself off as an "experienced and capable hobbyist/reviewer"so you become subject to scrutiny.To me your decision to go towards the Von S seems to try to move closer to your Rock Music tastes,and I understand that.I am surprised you didn't want to try adding the subs.

When you posted a review of your "WONDERFUL" room process on Positive Feedback,both I and my friends felt you could never live with the Kharma's,based upon the comments made about you losing bass.We also were surprised,since you seemed to love the Ex Ref,that you didn't build a slightly smaller room to allow those speakers to pressurize it better.

When all is said and done,since I too went through my own set of decisions when driving my own custom room,it is only your business what you do.I appologize,in advance if I seem to question your process and decisions.However if you put it out there,this is what good critical audio discourse can be about.Anyway I wish you the BEST and hope you,and all other "Thinking" hobbyists enjoy your music!!
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