New NHB 18NS

[bonzo75]

It gives quite a warm sound so might be more suited towards the A90 which I believe is fairly neutral?, although I must admit, I am not familiar with either of these cartridges.
Have you looked at Yepsilons from the EU purchased with euros?

Well yes, I prefer to find lower value products with high quality, part of the fun of the search in hifi. A90 is neutral, and fast.

Might have to go for FMA 122 then

 

[dctom]

bargin basement now!

 

[bonzo75]

bargin basement now!

Meaning? You think FMA is good value for money, at the used price?

 

[dctom]

I thought you were being ironic, I don't know how much the FM is only that their gear, although highly regarded, is generally very expensive and you didn't mention buying used.
I guess if you can get it at a good price it would be worth going for.

 

[BruceD]

Could you please expand on the key differences you have observed between the K15 (now K15 EX) and the other 2 preamps? Were they in same system? K15EX is also on my list. Many thanks. Ypsilon is also available in silver version which is even better.

Well horses for courses as you may know--the personal subjectiveness rears it's head in these debates--no I did not AB the Kodas same day--but able to hear the 10 and 15 within shortish period in the same venue-- a dealer which promotes the line--the K15 was more open and dynamic I felt

The Darts and Ypsilons I've heard on many occasions --good and bad setups --while as I stated SOA contenders --the Koda take their level to another sonic plain--it just opens up more wider soundstage dynamics unconstricted --the other two always tended to sound slightly "constipated" sonically

If I personally had to choose between the three contenders--as excellent as all three are!

The Kodas would be my choice period--with the caveat YVMV

BruceD

 

[dctom]

I am sure the Koda 15 is an excellent product and I would have an expectation of it producing results which could improve on the Dart or Ypsillon. To put it in perspective though it is priced at 59500 euro (not ex version) - almost 4 times the new price of my passive Yepsilon pre!! - way outside my budget.

http://www.villa-amadeusaudio.com/products/new/takumi-k15/

 

[spiritofmusic]

Bruce D, concur 200% w/you. Koda ahead of the Yps, itself ahead of the Dart. Yps gets the nod on transparency/delicacy, Koda on timing/color/texture.
For me, it's a small miracle I'm even entering Koda SQ territory w/my Nats. However it's taken a WHOLE Nat chain (linestage AND monos, not just the pre as w/the K10 demo), all new cables, a balanced trasformer, Entreq gounding, Lundahl transformers and Duelund caps in my Zus, ALL of this, for Nats to start to enter the territory of the lone K10 at demo a few years back.
THAT is an amzing testament to the true genius that is the Koda preamp.
A whole Koda chain, K15EX/K70's? Can music be TOO beautiful?

K10/K70's £70k, K15/K70's £90k. I hate to say vfm at these prices, but I'd bet they'd make AG Trios/Basshorns and Cessaro Liszts really sing.

Dave, very happy to host you. Now is a bad time, I have to fix one Nat mono after I tried to kill it, and I'm about to move to Norfolk. I'm likely to get my amp back, but maybe in mothballs as we commence restoring our new house. Let me PM you when I know what's happening.

 

[dctom]

SofM
Thanks, in your own time. My other half has family in Suffolk.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Dave, you have a standing invite. The Nats are very much under the radar. They don't have the last 1% of sophistication, but that's part of their charm. They punch well above their weight, and w/a lot of managing, start to more than hold their head up w/Koda levels of performance. So, the Nats are not as delicate and transparent as the Yps, not as colorful and textured as the Koda, but are the only amps that straddle both sets of attributes, a real world Koda-Yps alternative. And IMHO, a step above the Dart. At a price 2/3 cheaper at least.

 

[dctom]

Thanks, hope to get over later this year.

 

[spiritofmusic]

We'll keep in contact. Hope you hear a little of yr Ypsilon transparency in my Nat sound. More similarities in terms of purity than diffs, even if the Nat is fundamentally a more full blooded presentation. Will PM you in time.

 

[alistairm]

My new Dart should be here in Australia soon. I currently have the latest version of the old pre.

I'm particularly hoping the new batteries are much improved. On my old pre I had to change them every 12 months, even following all Herve's advice on maintenance. Not too tricky, but an annoyance. Herve thinks I was an extreme use case!

I'm also looking forward to the new phono stage. My other (main) gear is an NHB-108, Avantgarde Trios, Air Force 2, Acoustical Systems Axiom tonearm and Lyra Atlas (in a fully treated room with fancy cables and power management).

I live my current setup and the pre has bee perhaps my favourite but of equipment, so I feel a bit like a kid at Christmas with the new one on the horizon.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

My new Dart should be here in Australia soon. I currently have the latest version of the old pre.

I'm particularly hoping the new batteries are much improved. On my old pre I had to change them every 12 months, even following all Herve's advice on maintenance. Not too tricky, but an annoyance. Herve thinks I was an extreme use case!

I'm also looking forward to the new phono stage. My other (main) gear is an NHB-108, Avantgarde Trios, Air Force 2, Acoustical Systems Axiom tonearm and Lyra Atlas (in a fully treated room with fancy cables and power management).

I live my current setup and the pre has bee perhaps my favourite but of equipment, so I feel a bit like a kid at Christmas with the new one on the horizon.

congrats alistairm! ......and Merry Christmas in September!

I've had my new NHB-18NS for almost a year now and it is outstanding. a significant step up from the old one. it's will be a wonderful addition to your outstanding system. your Trio's will appreciate the lowered noise floor and increased dynamics.

and the new batteries work perfectly......you don't have to think about it. after a year no apparent change in the charged period.

I'm sure we all here would love to see pictures of your room and system when the new baby arrives.

enjoy!

 

[asiufy]

Oh my, darTZeel on Avantgarde! Just for the fun, the other day I hooked up our little LHC-208 to our Duos, and they were *incredible*. You would never imagine the extra watts of a solid state amp would make a difference on a 106dB+ efficient speaker, but they do!

The 108 on the Trios? I can only imagine how good that must be sounding!

If I had to guess, I'd say you'll be pleasantly surprised by the new 18NS. The batteries are indeed much more reliable, and the phono quite an upgrade as well.

Enjoy! And if you don't report back, we'll understand, as it will be kinda hard to get away from your system!

 

[alistairm]

Well, it's here... initial impressions are very positive.

A few dodgy point and shoot camera pics (including a dirty record)!

Will post more once I get some serious listening on it. A lovely bonus is that I can't wait to hear the office setup with the old Dartzeel pre in it.

 

[bonzo75]

Hi Alistair, this is great. What's the width and length of your room? Do you have bass horns in there?

 

[alistairm]

Hi Alistair, this is great. What's the width and length of your room? Do you have bass horns in there?

G'day bonzo

The room is 9m x 6m.

No bass horns unfortunately, just the matching subs.

Alistair

 

[bonzo75]

Whoa that's big. Trios will sound awesome in there.

Regarding those guitars, one of the veterans on the Martin Logan forums has a few guitars in his room, all tuned differently, because he says the resonance of the tuned guitars adds to the music

 

[alistairm]

Whoa that's big. Trios will sound awesome in there.

Regarding those guitars, one of the veterans on the Martin Logan forums has a few guitars in his room, all tuned differently, because he says the resonance of the tuned guitars adds to the music

Jeez... that could get dangerous. I have over 20 guitars tucked away in custom cabinets in this room. The room is fully acoustically treated as well. Currently VERY happy with the new pre. Hard to tell what it is, but I suspect the phono stage is making the biggest difference.

 

[PeterA]

Now that is a system I would love to hear. Congratulations.