DarTZeel Preamp


Does anyone have experience with the new DarTZeel NHB 18NS Preamplifier? A few 'Goners have commented on hearing the unit at 2005 CES, but I was wondering in particular if anyone has purchased one, or heard one in a familiar system or at a dealer for instance. Thanks.
ubglub
Wow. Thanks for the information.

As far as the 2X DSD, the CDSD can switch between 1x fs and 2x fs by pressing the Alt-Play-Stop buttons simultaneously. Pressing the above button combination switches the 1x/2x multiplier. So pressing/releasing, pressing/releasing cycles 1xfs --> 2xfs --> 1xfs... and so on.

The DCC2 will lock with the CDSD at 1xfs and 2xfs. The DAC6 will only lock on 1xfs. I have the DCC2 and have tried switching multipliers. I can hear a difference between the 2. I prefer 2xfs.

In my particular CDSD, you can tell what multiplier you are listening to by looking into the CDSD through the transport draw and looking at the board to the right of the transport mechanism. There is an array of 4 green lights. The left most light is always off. The second and third light are always on. The fourth light goes on and off depending on the multiplier.

Light is off == 2xfs
Light is on == 1xfs

This is only when a CD is in the transport. When an SACD layer is active, all lights are off.

Rich
Jafox, thanks for the comments. i agree that obvious 'raves' like mine do typically require a reader's personal experience to become credible. it CAN be arranged.

a couple of weeks ago i did have some visitors to investigate my perceptions of what the dart pre was doing in my system.......although they were hesitant to identify what was doing what......they were pretty taken with what they heard; compared to other previous sessions in my room.

i have not tried the K-S Emotion in my system. when i get the production version of the dart pre i will be investigating how regular cables will compare with the BNC approach of the dart. if i get the chance i'll try the K-S.....they are on my short list of cables i'd like to try.
RMaurin

As best as I am aware the DAC6e with the discrete DAC's is the only unit which can read 2X DSD.The DCC2 does NOT have the discrete Meitner DAC's so I am unsure what you are hearing
I lied. I just verified with Philip O'Hanlon and it is the NEW CDSD which upsamples to 2X DSD. Either the DCC2 or the DAC6e will be able to read this
Rich- Great post and info. I didn't even know my CDSD had those "features". I couldn't see the array of green lights you described through the transport, but I removed the cover and discovered an array of four orange lights that toggle in the manner you described.

Looking from the front of the transport, left to right, they were labeled- D8 D7 D6 D4

D8 is always off
D7 and D6 are always on
D4 toggles between on and off with the ALT/PLAY/STOP buttons

My DCC2 locks onto either mode.

I'm just wondering if D4 is 2xfs or 1xfs when on or off since my array is a little different.

I haven't done any listening comparisons between the two.

The "default" mode was D4 "off", so I wonder if that is indeed 2xfs as described in the manual.

Frank