Audio Reasrch REF 5 Vs. Dartzeel NHB 18NS

Hello Dev. I wish I could hear them in my setup but I`m not able to do that since no dealer in my country is holding them on display. The ARC Aniv pre seems to me to high priced and the knowledge that the new crowned king is always around the corner, gives me no incentive to put that kind of investment on it, with out SOTA phono stage inside. I was told that the REF 5 goes 95%+ of the Aniv way, so the ARC Aniv pre is not for me .
Any way, the reviews on the Dartzeel pre seems to prase their transperancy and musicality, on par with the ARC and they are built in a way that allows upgradability plus near SOTA phono stage. Hence my above question.

Dev - Thanks for your comments.

Hi Papaya, you still haven't mentioned what is the smplification, cables and other pces you have currently paired up with your ARC Ref3 and Maxx2's.

sources - Playback designs Mps-5, TW Raven Ac-3. Power amp(temp)- Parasound, cables - Shunyata all on Finite Element Master Reference.

Papaya, Playback designs Mps-5, TW Raven Ac-3, on Finite Element Master Reference very nice.

Are these the only amps (Parasound, are they the mono blocks?) that you have paired up with your MAXX's?

If I was you I would check the threads for MAXX owners to get a feel for what they are using amp/pre combo. I personally have six friends with them and all of the presentations and sonics are very different.

Jadis 80/80 mono's
ARC Ref5/610 mono's my old 610T's
Joule Ma/Destiny mono's
ARC/LAMM Ref3/Lamm ML & M 1.2 mono's my old Ref3
Mac 1000/2301's mono's
ARC/CAT Ref3/Cat JL2 Sig stereo my old CAT amp

it seems like most of my freinds like to have tubes but I have read other members on this site who own different Wilsons and are happy with solid state.

Off topic your TW what arm and cart are you using, I'm using a Phantom MK2 w/DYN XV-1s with great results. I personally really like TW product.

Dev. I`m using the exact arm and cart as yours on my TW. I was thinking of the Ravn phono, but the decision on the preamp will effect my consideration.
What setup do you use in your system? and as you mentioned your freinds, which of their system do you like best?
I was thinking myself getting the LAMM 1.2 REF or the ARC 210 but I`m not sure. If I will go the Dartzeel road then I don`t think these options are good match. I can see that ARC + Lamm goes well in other member`s system. Have you got any suggestion from your own experience?