Very interesting review of the NHB-108 Model One here if anyone's interested: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/dartzeel/108.htmlOriginally Posted by doodoos
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Very interesting review of the NHB-108 Model One here if anyone's interested: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/dartzeel/108.html
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I've heard this before about the darTZeel, so no doubt it's a wonderful piece of kit, but so it should be for the price!
Doodoos, you've undoubtedly got a fine amp there. I would like to hear it against a top-notch 'bespoke' valve amp (preferably a KT88 push-pull design) using the best NOS components and valves to see what would happen
I rate EAR valve amps highly (my friend had a pair of 509 monoblocks) but they do have the tendency to sound somewhat 'dry' and transistor-like, in my experience, so it's perhaps not too surprising that you didn't miss the 'true magic' of valves with your change over to the darTZeel.
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
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Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
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It's darTZeel's styling that makes me chuckle; 'left eye', 'right eye' and 'power nose' - delightful!
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Someone compared the Dartzeel to Anthony's Soul amp in character
Hans
MBL 1531 -> Allnic L-4000 -> Audiolab 8000S used as power amp only -> Quad 2805. Cables: Transparent Ultra
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Interesting. Who is this "someone" then, Hans, and what exactly did they write/say?
That could well be the result obtained and if it is then the darTZeel will really be something special!
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Senior Member
Posts: 329
I can't remember now; can you think of a reviewer who has a Soul amp ?
Hans
MBL 1531 -> Allnic L-4000 -> Audiolab 8000S used as power amp only -> Quad 2805. Cables: Transparent Ultra
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Location: South Wales
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now thats a comparison worth a demo.
back on track though, if i have to use solid state devices in bespoke equipment,[soul and soul-mate] then i prefer to use fets for the signal path as they tend to do more of what i like about valves than bi-polar, and so they should after all they are the closest devices character wise in the sand world to valves, thats not to say that bi-polars arent capable of doing a great job in the right aplications because they definately are.
the article was very interesting and it definately runs closely parallel to my own findings over the years.
anthony,TD...
Last edited by anthonyTD; 29-11-2008 at 22:06.
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