LAIV Harmony

@solarjam Great feedback, thanks.  I assume your friend's unit has over 100 hours on it by now?

I'm at the point where I don't know what I want.  Row 5 or row 30? More attack or less?  Wider or narrower soundstage? Ugh.  I guess I will know what I like when I hear it.

Let us know if yours sounds any different from your friends when it arrives, and what the current lead time is.  Thanks.

@nymarty Thanks for heads-up on twittering machines.  I was unaware.

And another positive review, how about that.  I enjoyed Michael's perspectives on OS vs NOS modes.

@wengfai Thank you for introducing yourself.  Congratulations on the start-up of your new company and the success of the Harmony.  We appreciate the status update.  I see you have other products in development.  I'm looking forward to the introduction of your Streamer next year as well.

@sim_audio_nerd ,

"25 hours in and I prefer it over the Holo May KTE by a tad bit."  That is indeed high praise sir.  Please keep us posted on what you are hearing vs the Holo on your journey to 100 hours and beyond.  Thanks

@kclone Headfi eluded my Google search.  27 pages, yikes.  Lots of volume but not much content.  One interesting blurb though on comparison to Holo Spring 3.

@smweber2 Great you were able to demo a friends unit in your system.  Now you know what to expect.  Yes, appreciate your future impressions after first 100 hours.

Sounds like many are waiting on their units at this point.  I'm hoping that within the next month or so more feedback will be available.

@kclone I wish I would have known that yesterday morning before reading the first 20 pages - aargh.

@pynkfloydd Thanks for the input.  I agree with you and am impressed by Laiv's professionalism. I wrote them on a Saturday night, and had a response the next morning. Impressive considering the experience I just had with a major U.S. audio manufacturer.  After receiving a second defective unit of the company's most expensive version of their most (famous and) expensive product, Technical Service quit communicating with me. I had to contact Sales for return authorization.  She asked me if I wanted my money back or if I wanted to try again.  I was and still am very disappointed with that whole experience.  I had planned that purchase for over a year.  That company not only lost my purchase, they lost me as a customer for life.

@solarjam Interesting that they are sending him a new board with instructions as opposed to having him return under warranty.  Advantage of modular design.  I guess I am ok with that, and definitely ok with their prompt response.  Please keep us posted on your impressions of it in your system compared to your Directstream Jr.

@koestner Thanks for sharing your success story.  A 4 day delivery on the replacement board is indeed impressive.  I agree, I would much rather perform the repair myself than wait months for the unit to be repaired and returned.

@ervikingo Appreciate your input as you have owned quite the array of DACs in the past.  The "non-fatigue" factor is why I'm leaning R2R as well.

Keep us posted on your impressions as you put hours on your DACs.  Thanks!

@danager  Understand that no volume control is a no-go for your current set-up, but for those of us with more "traditional" audio systems, adding volume control to a DAC adds cost and another potential failure point in the unit.

@kclone Dig your best disk spinner out of the basement and enjoy!

@smweber2,

Does the blinking occur when playing the same CD/ tracks on both disc spinners, or do different CDs blink randomly on each player?  When intermittent, does the blinking reoccur at the same location on the track when replayed?

@smweber2

Are these HDCDs by chance?  Just thinking out loud.  Thanks for sharing this issue.  Let us know if/when Weng replies with solution.

I realize that you and I are probably the last two people listening to CDs on earth, but this issue matters.  I will probably give in and subscribe to Qobuz later this year, knowing that when I do so, my CD tower will become a monument.  Oh well.

@sim_audio_nerd,

"...at par with the Holo May"  Again, high praise!  Awesome.

I too am intrigued by their plans for a Streamer as I just can't justify the cost of the current offerings that I am considering.  Hopefully, LAIV will overachieve with their future products as well.  Thanks for the update.

Hans proclaims that he does not like Spikes because they can damage your furniture.  Really?, that is his Audiophile explanation as to why Spikes are bad?

He makes no mention as to how may hours are on the unit he tests.  It's been extensively discussed here that hours matter on this unit.

The sound is on the "Bright-side"?  Hmm, ok.  I have read many, many reviews now both here and elsewhere, and nobody else has made that insinuation.

I appreciate him discussing the build of the unit but won't be relying heavily on his audio review.  Yes I know, he did get me to "Click" on it.

@stuartk 

I absolutely find value in discussing a reviewer’s comments.  I have neither the time nor resources to procure multiple samples of a component and audition them in my systems.  I rely heavily on input posted here as well as online reviews.  If input from a source is not consistent with others, I think it makes sense to discuss it here so that we can make sound purchasing decisions.

I don’t believe anyone here suggested that only LAIV has a trial policy.

@kereru  I am new to UIP USB Regenerators.  Can you clarify what you are referring to when you say "the LAiV scales a lot..."?  Thanks.

@kereru Thanks for clarifying "scales".  Also, good to know about UIP USB as I have only been targeting Streamers with I2S capabilities for future purchase.

@standardmodel  Have you received your new Input Board yet?  How did the installation go?

@standardmodel This is how it should be done.  I hope American manufacturers are taking notice.  I’m still miffed about the lack of communication from a certain California/ Texas based company.  I had to return not one, but two of their flagship products for the same defect.  Technical Service had no response, and days later, Customer Service asked if I wanted a refund or if I wanted to try again (?!)

I'm really hoping LAIV knocks it out of the park with their new Streamer coming Q1 2025.  Opportunity to realized benefits of i2s as well.

With all the accolades I’m reading about the Harmony with i2s, I am trying to understand why companies like Aurender and Innuos do not offer i2s output.  Are they assuming that if you are spending $6-12k on a Streamer that you will also purchase a DDC?

@sim_audio_nerd , Agree that not only does LAIV reply, but they reply promptly and honestly.

It has been awhile, but based on the online reviews I read and watched last year, the majority preferred i2s to USB, so I am kind of surprised by Weng's reply as well.

Noticed that they have pushed back Streamer release to Q3.  I'm really hoping that they get this right and it is as good as the Harmony.  I think at the $2.7k range, they can be really successful, especially if it features i2s and a good controller.

@kereru, Assume you have received your LAIV uDDC by now?  What are your impressions, and how does it compare to the other uDDCs you own or have tried?