LAIV Harmony

My update ~2 days in... 

Had to make some adjustments, but it's sounding really good.  Easily the best value DAC for the money.

• How it sounds so far:  Best I can describe is that no particular frequency stands out for me, everything has an excellent balance to it.  It doesn't have the hard edges from the ESS DACs that give a bit more 'definition' to vocal placement for my MBLs, but it also makes it much easier to listen to.  Imaging extends well beyond the room and no particular complaints.  Undecided on NOS/OS and phase, but left it on OS and positive phase for now.
• Initial Issues: 
  • Forwardness - I've seemed to tame this with some tweaking or, perhaps, my ears have adjusted. 
  • Stuttering / Dropouts - Seems to have been caused by my router (Netgear RS700s) which is in its infancy and buggy.
  • Unresponsive Remote - Reinstalling the battery and flipping the triangle/square selector a few times seems to have resolved this.
• Will I keep it?  Yeah, I think so.  Barring any issues, it's a great all-around DAC for my needs.  Rocka is coming out with the new MKII version of their Wavedream Signature and I anticipate Holo and MSB will follow with updates so I'll keep an eye out and possibly consider/audition in the future, but the Laiv Harmony will hold me over for a while (and be great in my spare systems if/when I upgrade).

Here's a pic of the Harmony in its new home, but please excuse the cable mess:

@pynkfloydd 

I thought exactly the same thing having a little DAC around is a great utility I think I’ll eventually put it into my video editing system until I find my tube DAC.

I connected the Harmony DAC to ch 1 (I2S ) and my PSA MK 2 (AES) to to ch 2 on my Boulder preamp so I could go back and fourth instantly, there was less difference than I thought when evaluating the Harmony this way. I did like the slightly more analytical presentation of the Harmony better. 

I thought exactly the same thing having a little DAC around is a great utility I think I’ll eventually put it into my video editing system until I find my tube DAC.

I connected the Harmony DAC to ch 1 (I2S ) and my PSA MK 2 (AES) to to ch 2 on my Boulder preamp so I could go back and fourth instantly, there was less difference than I thought when evaluating the Harmony this way. I did like the slightly more analytical presentation of the Harmony better. 

@donavabdear - That's a great point!  It's something I wanted to hold off saying until I had more time with the Harmony, but the initial reviewers made it sound like it's a life-changing experience, which it is not.  I think the words 'inoffensive' and 'enjoyable' come to mind.

Sadly, my preamp only has 1 pair of balanced inputs, but doing an imperfect comparison led me to the same conclusion, which is that it's very, very, slightly different and does its job very well.  This also makes me wonder if spending any more on a DAC wouldn't better spent elsewhere.

Hi Guys ,

 Just got through listening to the Harmony Dac here at my house yesterday for about 2 and 1/2 hours . My friend brought it over so I could here it before mine came in about 2 weeks or so (I hope). 

 My gear - Pass Labs XA-25 amp , Pass labs XP-22 pre amp , Aurender N100 server , Reference 3-A Taksim speakers and I use a PS Audio Directstream Jr Dac.

 I am not an official reviewer . So I'll do my best .

The harmony Dac is a very smooth and even keeled type of Dac . Nothing really jumped out at me at first. That is a good thing .

Its soundstage is not as forward or up front as much as the PS Audio. It has a nice laid back type of sound . Not all may like that , but I do . Very good resolution . So is the PA Audio . Some have said they heard things with the Harmony Dac that they had never heard on there own Dac . But I did not experience that . Resolution was top notch on both Dacs . The PS Audio was a little bolder  and somewhat forward with its soundstage and resolution . But there was a smoothness , relaxing type of sound that really struck me with the Harmony Dac. I will be listening more when mine comes . But for now I am leaning toward the Harmony Dac . There's just something about its nature that I like .

Questions??

solarjam, thanks for your impressions.   As an audiophile with tinnitus, it is good to know the Laiv has a smooth and relaxing nature.