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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
hooper OP
396 posts
 
Tab110:

From the look of it, any Merlin speaker should be a pretty benign load. The specs listed on their website indicate 89dB efficiency and an 8-ohm nominal impedance, with a minimum of 6.5. The Dart should be able to handle that load pretty easily. But, if I were you, I would call Merlin direct and see what they think. In my experience, Merlins have been somewhat finicky about the gear they're paired with. Hope this helps.
jtinn
1,124 posts
 
The darTZeel in "Hi" impedance mode will easily handle the Merlins. I have heard them driven quite well with much less power.

The only time impedance is an issue for the darTZeel is if the speaker drops below 2.9 ohms. If so, the amplifier needs to be set to "low" impedance mode and there would be no issue.
arooj
12 posts
 
Wow, what a rush! I know of some of the gentlemen posting here, but I wouldn't mind some kind of audiogon Playbill "List of Characters" to keep up with things since it's been 2 1/2 years since my last post (note to all: the withdrawal/rhythm method really doesn't work).

Not to crash the party, but I imagine even casual and new readers to this and other forums as well as newbies to the High End would use some sense and reason before saying farewell to their loved ones (oops, I meant $$$) and purchasing rather expensive merchandise before doing some due diligence - with regard to the equipment AND the respective dealers. One might get those nice warm and fuzzy self-congratulatory feelings when "warning" others of what one perceives, but when the body count is over all that's left is a bunch of (cue violins.....now) hurt feelings.

OK, I'm stepping off my soap box. How about those Yankees?
keithr
1,306 posts
 
Howie- I said that based on the positive feedback review, where the reviewer notes, even though measured differently, he didn't find/hear anything appreciable below 50hz. The several times I've heard them, I would tend to agree.

It's still a 2-way speaker (the most expensive of its kind, I believe) and has limitations based on that 7" driver. Don't get me wrong--I've heard it and think it sounds great, just don't agree that 2 70lb 2-ways is worth anywhere near 22k, irrespective of sound. Merlins are 1/2 that price and obviously compete as well. And people dog Wilson on pricing :)

I would love to see measurements on the Kharma, I admit although I'm not sure they have been published.

MikeL- I agree that for me personally it's tough to justify any 18k amp. But that aside, just while I'm sure it sounds utterly amazing, it's tough to swallow an amp at that pricing point that a) isn't a monoblock and b) can't drive all speakers.

Of course, just my opinion....
howie
230 posts
 
Keithr, I would love to see some measurements too. But my own in-room measurements mimic the positive feedback reviewer's. There's some output below 30hz, but as the speakers are rated to go down to 35hz, it's only natural that that is about where the bass starts rolling off. Wayne Garcia in the recent issue of TAS claims that the speakers down go much below 40hz but "deliver the most solid, forceful, and well-defined 40hz I've encountered in my room."

So where did that extra 10hz go? Perhaps it's due to the positive feedback reviewer's room? The SET amps that he seemingly spent most of his time with? His tweaks that may have decoupled the speakers from the floor? Alas, it just happens so that he was reviewing the Ceramique sub as well, whose lowest crossover setting conveniently happens to be 50hz I believe. Nah, I enjoyed the review and he seems like he genuinely enjoys the speakers and that's all it matters. I do strongly believe that most people will "hear" something "appreciable" below 50hz in most rooms though.
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