Stellavox Introduces a New State of the Art Amplifier IDEM Monoblocks
- Thread starter Steve Williams
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today on Facebook: TO THOSE WHO MIGHT STILL BE WONDERING
darTZeel Audio has never stopped its activities.
The people who spread false rumors simply do not deserve to be acknowledged. I have simply chosen to ignore them.
Yes, we have changed our way of looking at the high-end market, and we have implemented our new business model, which I am sure will inspire others.
Cape124 Ltd was created to allow the darTZeel brand to grow in this direction. The legacy darTZeel instruments are still available on request.
Customer service has never stopped operating, and it will soon be improved by offering tailor-made solutions for every darTZeel instrument owner.
The list of darTZeel agents will be available again on our website very soon.
In the meantime, any request can be sent to [moreinfo@dartzeel.com](mailto:moreinfo@dartzeel.com)
We will be happy to respond.
what do you expect about rumors when you ignore folks, instruments, sounds like an ass but to each there own, nice gear
I was confused by this also and I did not fully understand Gideon’s posting. Since my preamp is the Soulution 727, I contacted Gideon and explicitly asked "since 727 has a circuit to block DC without caps, can I switch my Stellavox to the DC setting?"
Gideon contacted Stellavox, they are of course aware of the 727 - their answer was a firm no. I interpret this as one of two possibilities:
- That considering the disastrous consequences of failure, that they were not going to approve an untested piece.
- And/or their coupling system is different and propriety.
Interesting and good to know. DC is no joke when its floating or whatever the correct terminology is. I am told that, improperly handled, DC to the speakers has the potential to instantly fuse inner parts of the driver. Yikes.
The Robert Koda K160s Ref Monos do float DC (so does Vitus?)...and so there are definitely some things you cannot do with the Robert Kodas that one can easily do with most other amps. (Many people use Tripoint/Entreq to ground the negative terminal of their amp to great positive effect.) An absolute NO for Robert Koda K160 Monos.)
I am not sure what the Stellavox does with its DC/AC switch, but if they say NO, I imagine that is quite a hard NO.
Well, after reading your post you can add me to the list of confused members ... I would add that It looks the amplifier needs some kind of very low frequency filter, that can be assured by either the capacitor of their preamplifier.
The technical discussion Is past my pay grade; however I believe that the AC mode contains blocking caps to prevent any DC from entering the amplifier and damaging the speakers. In the AC mode I would believe that the StellaVox amps are compatible with any source equipment. I don’t think it “needs” any additional filtering, I believe it’s just built into the AC mode. If I were betting, I would guess that the DC mode is their proprietary coupling for their components - for the maximum purity.
Other amplifiers had such feature since decades - e.g. Krell amplifiers. DC entering a DC coupled amplifier is not a 2025 problem. The question only shows to me because it seems Stellavox is not allowing the DC mode for a peamplfier that seems certified to have zero DC at the output. BTW, IMO technical questions deserve technical answers ...
Yeah...it's the bypass line...Other amplifiers had such feature since decades - e.g. Krell amplifiers. DC entering a DC coupled amplifier is not a 2025 problem. The question only shows to me because it seems Stellavox is not allowing the DC mode for a peamplfier that seems certified to have zero DC at the output. BTW, IMO technical questions deserve technical answers ...
first off, thank you to Gideon for the opportunity to spend time listening to the Stellavox IDEM amplifiers. he sent these beauties to me to get my thoughts and feedback, not necessarily as a shootout. I cannot help myself as my own way is to consider gear for keeping. the idea of new amps is exciting. so i seriously did that. the dart 468's being 50% more costly, ought to be a great barometer for these new amps.
With that said, and after an incredible 11 day demo and 250 hours. in my system to my ears with my music i prefer my darTZeel 468 mono blocks. a longer time period might have changed things incrementally but IMHO not the result. i have spent lots of time on this and (somewhat reluctantly) time to move on.
all the positives represented by Gideon, Mike Malinowski and Myles Astor about the IDEM amplifiers are objectively true as far as i could determine. it certainly has a special purity and unprocessed character unique in solid state amplifiers (i have heard) outside my darts and does have an SET like feel. it's liquid, agile and with beauty of tone (NEVER sterile!) while likely the bass is not all the way in at 250+ hours, the bass was very good (and true to life) while adjustable based on the gain setting which adds a great deal of flexibility for system matching. it's dynamic, fast and soundstages wonderfully, incredibly organic and nuanced. and as it breaks in all those attributes likely will continue to incrementally improve. build quality is superb and it's logistically an easy amp to like. i love the look.
in my first compare a week ago the IDEM's were not anywhere near where they were yesterday when my local friend @jazdoc arrived for our 2nd head to head. yesterday morning first with the IDEM's we did an hour of digital, then another hour of vinyl; switched the amps to the darts, then 30 minutes of digital and 30 minutes of vinyl. Break in for the IDEM yielded night/day differences.
the previous week i was using the 22db gain setting, and it had 75 hours on it, and it was not ready. @2fastdriving's comments last week were on point. while it showed signs of nice things to come, it was not the amp we heard yesterday at the 18db gain setting fully singing. i already described the results of the gain setting process here and here and won't repeat it.
i think @jazdoc might add more comments, so i am just speaking for myself as far as how the darTZeel 468's were preferred; the darts were more present and real, it was not mainly to do with tonality, more a matter of organic rightness and completeness. more information. the bass was more controlled and defined. both amps were natural and balanced.
keep in mind things we do not know. how is the match with my speakers verses Zellatons? do my MM7 ceramic drivers favor the darts? i have powered bass towers below 40hz; might the Stellavox distinguished itself more with full range speakers? what effect would the new coming Stellavox preamp have with it's DC adjustment synergy and ability to use the ideal 14db gain setting? more break-in? maybe even the 20 amp IEC to 15 amp IEC adapter? cases can be made.
i think we have lots of feedback on how many great amps have been documented in compares to the big dart 468's by Fremer and Heilbrunn. and those guys continue to use their 468's. it's as much of a gold standard as can be in such a subjective arena as high end audio. i view the Stellavox as a stone cold bargain of a high level solid state amplifier especially if you value the purity and unprocessed side of things. it has zero niggles. i could live with this amp forever if i did not already own my 50% higher cost darts.
Gideon has been a joy to interact with and he allowed me to enjoy them in my own way with my own journey. I really look forward to exploring further Stellavox products as they become available (especially the pre and dac!), and even with the hope to hear them in the future with Zellaton.
My audio journey continues.....
With that said, and after an incredible 11 day demo and 250 hours. in my system to my ears with my music i prefer my darTZeel 468 mono blocks. a longer time period might have changed things incrementally but IMHO not the result. i have spent lots of time on this and (somewhat reluctantly) time to move on.
all the positives represented by Gideon, Mike Malinowski and Myles Astor about the IDEM amplifiers are objectively true as far as i could determine. it certainly has a special purity and unprocessed character unique in solid state amplifiers (i have heard) outside my darts and does have an SET like feel. it's liquid, agile and with beauty of tone (NEVER sterile!) while likely the bass is not all the way in at 250+ hours, the bass was very good (and true to life) while adjustable based on the gain setting which adds a great deal of flexibility for system matching. it's dynamic, fast and soundstages wonderfully, incredibly organic and nuanced. and as it breaks in all those attributes likely will continue to incrementally improve. build quality is superb and it's logistically an easy amp to like. i love the look.
in my first compare a week ago the IDEM's were not anywhere near where they were yesterday when my local friend @jazdoc arrived for our 2nd head to head. yesterday morning first with the IDEM's we did an hour of digital, then another hour of vinyl; switched the amps to the darts, then 30 minutes of digital and 30 minutes of vinyl. Break in for the IDEM yielded night/day differences.
the previous week i was using the 22db gain setting, and it had 75 hours on it, and it was not ready. @2fastdriving's comments last week were on point. while it showed signs of nice things to come, it was not the amp we heard yesterday at the 18db gain setting fully singing. i already described the results of the gain setting process here and here and won't repeat it.
i think @jazdoc might add more comments, so i am just speaking for myself as far as how the darTZeel 468's were preferred; the darts were more present and real, it was not mainly to do with tonality, more a matter of organic rightness and completeness. more information. the bass was more controlled and defined. both amps were natural and balanced.
keep in mind things we do not know. how is the match with my speakers verses Zellatons? do my MM7 ceramic drivers favor the darts? i have powered bass towers below 40hz; might the Stellavox distinguished itself more with full range speakers? what effect would the new coming Stellavox preamp have with it's DC adjustment synergy and ability to use the ideal 14db gain setting? more break-in? maybe even the 20 amp IEC to 15 amp IEC adapter? cases can be made.
i think we have lots of feedback on how many great amps have been documented in compares to the big dart 468's by Fremer and Heilbrunn. and those guys continue to use their 468's. it's as much of a gold standard as can be in such a subjective arena as high end audio. i view the Stellavox as a stone cold bargain of a high level solid state amplifier especially if you value the purity and unprocessed side of things. it has zero niggles. i could live with this amp forever if i did not already own my 50% higher cost darts.
Gideon has been a joy to interact with and he allowed me to enjoy them in my own way with my own journey. I really look forward to exploring further Stellavox products as they become available (especially the pre and dac!), and even with the hope to hear them in the future with Zellaton.
My audio journey continues.....
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Wonderful. Nicely done , great write up!
it’s amazing to learn from you all.
And yes I second checking out zellaton , (short of electrostatic panels) , zells have the best time/phase alignement and bass … that I have heard from a box speaker .
it’s amazing to learn from you all.
And yes I second checking out zellaton , (short of electrostatic panels) , zells have the best time/phase alignement and bass … that I have heard from a box speaker .
Amazing journey you have taken Mike L and thanks for taking the time to document it for all of us to enjoy reading. That was some serious fun! You don’t often get to be [almost] in the room on these kinds of auditions…and it was also very interesting that you hosted other members who can (and already have) add their own comments about this unique opportunity.
And congrats on rediscovering how great your Dartzeels are in the process.
And congrats on rediscovering how great your Dartzeels are in the process.
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Namaste! I tip my hat to you, sir.
I have felt that there is a concerted effort to promote certain brands on WBF. With that said, I also believe that most people who have posted on these products speak truthfully of their experience. That they did not work for you doesn't say to me that these amps aren't great. It reinforces (to me) that many of the outspoken audiophiles here speak genuinely of their experience (despite any promotional advantages that hang in the balance).
Thank you for your comments. In addition to being a leader in the community you are also a great educator.
Agree. I will add that Mike L’s work was also exemplary in a different way that sets a different bar as well:
His description was clear, detailed AND decisive…but it also avoided hyperbole or gotcha soundbites. For me, it adds a “ring of truth” to the overall writing which is so important in any setting.
I came away thinking both amps are world class designs, and short of a sale to Mike L, I would like to think Stellavox would feel like his description corroborates and underscores its calibre as a unique world class reference. The IDEM has been able to hold its own in a system that has been fine tuned like crazy over the years with an incumbent (and world renowned) reference amp that also costs 50% more. That is quite a feat and in Mike Ls system, I cannot imagine many reference amps would be able to hold up in that challenge as well as the IDEMs have.
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The person most happy by Mike's findings?
Mrs. Lavigne.
Mrs. Lavigne.
Thanks for the excellent post. However I am a little puzzled with your final conclusion - more completeness and more information are extremely strong points, an area where I would suppose top SS amplifiers to be almost equivalent.
Probably also due to system matching, but it looks the decision was clear once you figured the relative characteristics of both amplifiers in your system. BTW, as far as I remember the NHB 468 last price was more than the double of that of the IDEM.
I don't have doubts on it!
A much older friend of mine, who passed away and was a mentor in audio for me, was in Harry Pearson’s Sea Cliff circle back in the early TAS days. He relayed to me how audiophile friends of Harry’s would just bring over gear on a daily basis and they would compare, take notes, listen, laugh, kibitz around, drink and simply enjoy this process of digging into the gear along with the attendant musical exploration.
Judging from Mike’s journey on these pages and including us in his listening room, along with the refreshing positive energy of the subsequent comments…, perhaps brings us all back to those early innocent days of what made this audio endeavor so much fun and enduring…
Judging from Mike’s journey on these pages and including us in his listening room, along with the refreshing positive energy of the subsequent comments…, perhaps brings us all back to those early innocent days of what made this audio endeavor so much fun and enduring…
Sigh - this will be the reduction of US import tariffs from Switzerland - currently at 39% - BUT - going down to 15% I know this & I live in the land down under.
Should the Retail Price reduce by a corresponding amount - yes it should. If the landed cost reduces by 24% then so should the retail price.
at the risk of the thread going off on a wild tangent
, i think there is a difference between sonic details and sonic textures, and musical textures and musical information. the darts did more of the latter in degrees. small degrees of differences in this equal worthy differences. the music was more completely rendered. it carried more intent. more expressive and emotional. grabbed you more. more of a happening. more physical. there was more there, there. again...not huge but important in this rarefied air category.not sure i agree. would have to hear each one. maybe it's splitting hairs, and maybe not.
it would be unfair of me to refer to those other new big solid state amps i have not demo'd. my comments made it clear they were about amps i have heard. not sure if Fremer or Heilburnn have tried those new amps either.
current USA retail pricing of the 468's is not clear; so i use $225k in my mind. just as a reference number. and i've seen $240k too. could be currency fluctuations. the $225k number is where i get the 50% more than the $149k of the IDEM's. just trying to avoid hyperbole for effect. in any case 468's retail is not $300K USD.
thanks
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