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DartZeel compared to Pass Labs XA-160/200's

Has anyone had the pleasure of auditioning both the DartZeel amp and Pass Labs XA-160 or 200 monoblocks? They all retail for around $20000.00 and are true reference pieces. If so, what did you hear concerning the sonic signatures in the different amps and what other gear were they being used with. I'm very interested because I will being to try to set up home auditions of both amps in the near future and both have gotten raves and are supposed to be the most "tube-like" SS amps there are, offering both "warm/sweetness" of tubes and at same time have the slam/extension/clarity of SS. Thanks in advance if anyone has this information based on their own listening experience.
teajay
branimir
236 posts
 
Teajay, I was suprised when my friend told me that be bought DartZeel NHB108. He is having same Amati Anniversario speaker as I do. So, two days ago I visit him and we listen to his system(Anniversario,NHB108,NHB18 and ARC CD3MkII)... Results? Well, his NHB108 has only 300hours on it and NHB18 is dealer loan but, my system is better by far. I will keep my opinion for myself but, Dart costs 18000Euro in Europe! It is a good(but,IMO not excellent) amp... I would also like to audition Pass XA160 monos.
I bet that many people here on Agon will rave about Dart and say to all of us that Dart is the best amp ever.
Last thing, my friend is also not very happy with Dart but, he needs to live with it(he traded ARC VT200MkII and REF2MkII for Dartzeel NHB108-some extra cash were also involved!).
downunder
1,329 posts
 
Branimar, only 300 hours on the dartzeel. really if it does not sound competent at 300 hours it will never souud good. But you all ready know that right:)

ps I'll give everyone a secret tip, consance cyber 800. 78 watts of pure tube heaven.

do you think this will drive Amati Anniversario. Is it really that much easier to drive to get effortless music from them.? ie compared to Vienna Mahler?
elberoth2's avatar
elberoth2
1,223 posts
 
Downunder -> I heard the Aniversarios driven by 40W tube amp (using 4xKT88 tubes). The combination souded excelent, so I assume the new SFs are not a that difficoult to drive.
branimir
236 posts
 
Downunder, as Elberoth2 said Anniversario's could be driven with lower power tube amp. But, from my experience you will need 70W tube amp or 100W ss amp for start.
Tube amp should be able to handle 4ohm load as well as ss amp. We all know that some amps have a tough time with speakers that are droping below 4ohms...
snook2's avatar
snook2
627 posts
 
I have had the Dartzeel for about 3 months and it came broken in. Only recently have the full potential seem to bust out. It extricates more music than any amp I have EVER owned. The Dartzeels 100 watts sounds more dynamic and powerful than amps with a 300 watt rating(tube or SS). An amp that it rivals would be the audio research-600. You owe it to yourself to check one of these amps out
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