Fbhifi, I entirely agree that at RMAF the sound and imaging were quite good, but at CES it was terrible, probably because of a too small room. Like you, I do not know if the speakers added to or subtracted from the sound of the Dartzeel. |
In the last few weeks I'm enjoying my system more than I ever have and it's probably not a coincidence that the Dartzeel amp came in a few weeks before this.
The amp has run flawlessly and it is excellent.
I have owned a lot of gear of all types and I have never been less aware of the equipment than I am currently.
I really can't explain why this is but it has me just listening to the music for the first time in quite awhile
When I do focus and "break it down" all the qualities I value in the sound are there I'm just not overtly aware of any one thing... the music just flows in a very natural and pleasing way.
I have ordered the pre and am looking forward to seeing for myself what the combo produces...I'm pretty optomistic and excited.
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JTinn: "Essentailaudio: With all due respect, I do not think Mike was really addressing you."
Think again :-) Mike used the same expression 'Andy (Hooper/Quint)' in his post as I did, and no one else brought up Andy before I did. I find it very peculiar that Mike responded and you did not, nor have you explained why Andy's amp burst into flames, if indeed the description is accurate. |
I don't understand what the issue is here. If Andy's amp burst into flames and Andy use SST, he must think that he shorted something. This is certainly possible with SST. Are you implying, Essentialaudio, that it was not SST? It also seems that no one else has had this problem. Where is Andy in all this discussion? |
Just to elaborate a bit on my comments above about the NY 2005 Dartzeel/VR9 system, in most fine systems, if I listen closely and think about what I am hearing, there is a delicate balance between detail at one end of the scale and smoothness at the other, and I can usually pinpoint where on this spectrum the sound resides. However, I could not really do this for Dartzeel/VR9 system, as is somehow seem to avoid this trade-off entirely, and was extremely detailed and involving while simultaneously smooth as silk at all frequencies. I would describe it as a paradox, both involving and relaxing. This is a very neat trick that was very impressive. |
I wish i could have heard the 2005 show sound. The CES 2006 sound was way dissappointing. Shows are weird.
where's the next show this combo will be heard at ? |
Wow, alot of discussion since I last posted.
FWIW, I've now had my dartzeel amp for 1 month. I have had zero problems, even switching back and forth from 120V to 240V. Out of the box it sounded very good...with 30 days of break-in on it the performance has become simply fantastic. I cannot over emphasize the need to let this amp break-in before listening critically to it.
I am driving a pair of Dynaudio Temptation speakers which are not the most efficient design and the dart drives them to "earflappin" levels with no hint of distortion. The low end control, resolution, detail is simply amazing. I have not compared the dart to an endless number of other amps, but I have had Linn Klimax Solo's, Boulders, Spectral, Nagra, ASR Emitter II and Art amplifiers in my room for extended periods of time. To my ear, the dart is easily better than all of them combining the best virtues of solid state and tubes. There is this transparency and artifact-free presentation which has you just sitting back and listening to the music and not the equipment. I would be the first one to say that the dart may not have the power to drive all speakers in all room sizes.
With the amp now nearing full break-in, I went back and reran some tests on the power feed. Here's what I found:
- In 120V mode the dart, in my room at least, sounds audibly better with a Hydra 2 in the chain versus going directly to the wall outlet (when I first ran this test the amp was in the steep phase of it's break-in and it invalidated my initial findings). There is a noticeable reduction in grain/noise, more microdetail and no sense of any loss of dynamics. I realize that many PLC's restrict current flow, but the Hydra does not seem to suffer from this ill.
- Replacing the Hydra 2 with a Hydra 8 yields a further, significant improvement. I know it's not cost effective to just have one device plugged into the Hydra 8...
- Now the kicker...I have been using Shunyata Anaconda power cables all around in my system for the past 12-18 months. Just last week I tried the newer Python Helix (which is one step down from the Anaconda) and it simply blew away my non-Helix Anaconda versions.
- With the Python Helix's and a Hydra 8 120V the dart's performance ascended to yet a higher level.
- While many debate whether or not an amp sounds better with 120V feed vs 240V feed, I have decided to buy a Hydra 8 240V (since I have dedicated 240V power to use) and new Anaconda Helix power cables. I can't wait to hear this combination based on my listening tests.
I accept that I may live in an area with dirty power and results would vary. I do have dedicated home run lines for all of my 120V and 240V feeds however.
I bought the dart pre-amp without even hearing it based on how impressed I was with the amp and can't wait to hear it, especially with the 50ohm interconnects. Currently I am using a 30' balanced XLR to connect my pre-amp to the dart amp.
Lastly, JTinn and Herve (the designer/owner of dartzeel) have provided me with absolutely first class service, and no, they did not ask me to post that! |
Earflappin....Can you provide a bit more "color" on how the DARTs differ with the Linn Klimazz Solos...the latter which I currently use? I have been considering "upgrading" amps and your exp with both would be most helpful...thanks in advance |
Henryhk,
The darTZeel improves upon the Solo's performance in the following ways:
(1) Greater tonal accuracy and density - the Solo's sound "thin" compared to the dart. Instruments and voices are more fully formed and true to live music. In this aspect the dart reminds you of great tube gear.
(2) Absence of artifacts - listening to the dart there is a clarity, transparency and absence of artifacts as compared to the Solos that allows you to listen much more deeply into the soundstage. There is greater three dimensionality to the music and greater space between instruments and vocalists and no listener fatigue. I would say that the dart is just more musical. Micro and macro detail is amazing...bass notes for example can be followed note by note all the way through the long decay. The dart gives you all of this without the warmth or colorations that most tube amps bring along with the ride.
(3) Slam - My listening room is 23'L x 17'W x 9'H so it is not a large volume. But the Temptations are not an easy load either. One of things I loved about the Solo's were the slam they delivered. I love deep, controlled, strong bass. In my room on my speakers the dart easily matches the Solo's in this regard, but with superior clarity and pitch definition.
Hope this helps. In the past whenever I tried other amplifiers I always ended up going back to the Solos because of their overall performance envelope and musicality. The other amps each did something better than the Solos, but the overall package was not sufficiently better to make me want to switch. I must admit that the ASR Emitter II Exclusive was very good and had I not auditioned the dart I might have bought it. But compared to the dart it sounds colored and a bit dark.
I strongly suggest you audition the dart, but make sure it is properly broken in before you make your final evaluation. It sounds good right out of the box, but it really blooms after about 3-4 weeks of burn in. |
Thanks Earlappin ...very helpful. The Linns I like due to the exactly same reasons u suggest; slam, tight and controlled bass that is deep yet not muddy, and overall smoothness and consistency across the spectrum...yet I do know it lacks that tonal color and density as you described well and having been trying to think what to do for awhile. |
I want to comment about the Dartzeel failure at my home a couple months ago. When it blew a channel, we were swaping pre amps trying to see which pre was most synergistic with the Dartzeel. On initial power up a Dart channel blew. At that point I removed that pre amp, which hand never given me any trouble, and went back to the Supratek Grange. Because I alredy new I liked that one best with my current amp. But recently I put that old preamp into my system, and it blew a fuse on my power amp on power up. So mabey that pre was the caused the channel to blow in the Dart. I say mabey because, mabey the Dartzeel damaged the pre. I don't know for sure. However, the pre was a old pre and I suspet that it caused the channel to go out in the Dartzeel.
I Just wanted others to know that may be considering the Dartzeel.
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Dlanselm: Certainly a single call to me could have given you the answers you are looking for. I do not even know who you are. Where did you purchase the amplifier?
It sounds to me like your preamplifier has a problem and sent DC out to the amplifier. The fuse in the amplifier did it's job.
If you want more help, please give me a call or email me. |
Jtinn....a novice question: I have been considering to purchase the NHB combo....(I live in HK)...but the power amp placement needs to be in front of a ceiling to floor window....given its transparent top, is this a extremely bad idea for the NHB? |
Jtinn,
I was trying to state the DARTZEEL is NOT prone to failure.
I don't own the Dart, I was auditioning one.
If you read post 2-15-06 in this thread your will know.
David |
