Dartzeel NHB-18NS & NHB 108 Model 2 review

[ashandger]

In case of interest, excellent review of this combo by Martin Colloms in the new issue of HiFi Critic...link below via Absolute Sounds UK.

https://tinyurl.com/y25vdb8a

 

[Mike Lavigne]

In case of interest, excellent review of this combo by Martin Colloms in the new issue of HiFi Critic...link below via Absolute Sounds UK.

https://tinyurl.com/y25vdb8a

thank you.

for those like me who absolutely refuse to subscribe to Facebook, here is an alternate link;

https://absolutesounds.com/pdf/main/press/HFCr_07to09:20_59_NHB18NS.pdf

spoiler alert; the always "buttoned down" Mr. Colloms does his normal through job here, and it's a rave.

 

[dan31]

I thought I was the only one without a facebook account. I guess there are a few of us.

 

[KeithR]

Wonderful electronics!

 

[Holli82]

I thought I was the only one without a facebook account. I guess there are a few of us.

What's Facebook?

 

[antelion]

What's Facebook?

People still read?

 

[Klonk]

Great review, thank you for the link.

 

[dandylinpsst]

Quite pertinent review!!
It's a pity that the internal photos of the 108 two are still the first generation photos
Even the Dartzeel official website is the same.
The 108 two balanced input has replaced the transformer with INV137 ic(AUDIO DIFFERENTIAL LINE RECEIVERS).
So Martin Colloms review is transformer version or inv137 version??

 

[analyzer]

I thought I was the only one without a facebook account. I guess there are a few of us

Add also me to the list...

 

[antelion]

Interesting to learn that these use LDR technoloy. Did not know that about darTZeel.

 

[analogsa]

It's a pity that the internal photos of the 108 two are still the first generation photos

No, they are not. Perhaps an INA137 version exists as well, but the 108 pics are definitely of Model 2.

 

[redandgold]

Is here any owner of model 2 who can shoot a photo for clearing up?

 

[bazelio]

This, taken from the article, looked pretty convincing being labeled as a Model Two on the interior...

 

[microstrip]

(...) The 108 two balanced input has replaced the transformer with INV137 ic(AUDIO DIFFERENTIAL LINE RECEIVERS).
So Martin Colloms review is transformer version or inv137 version??

Well, that would be a very important point for many people and would make a lot of difference. Can you point us from where you got this information?

 

[dandylinpsst]

Well, that would be a very important point for many people and would make a lot of difference. Can you point us from where you got this information?

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-108-amp-model-two.25845/page-4

 

[Mikeeo]

I have my eyes on this set of pre and stereo power but I wonder if the power amp is up to the task to deal with the few sub 3 ohm swings and tricky phase behavior of my Stradivari? Any input appreciated!

Mike

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I have my eyes on this set of pre and stereo power but I wonder if the power amp is up to the task to deal with the few sub 3 ohm swings and tricky phase behavior of my Stradivari? Any input appreciated!

Mike

that answer to your question is likely yes. but maybe it might also depend on the size of your room, and the type of music you favor.

here is what Mr. Fremer wrote about your speaker in 2005;

Rated at 92dB efficiency, depending on the phase angle, this 4 ohm speaker shouldn't be difficult to drive. It sounded rich and lush with a brute of a solid-state amp in my room, and with a relatively low-powered tube amp in Italy. I'd stay away from soft-sounding cables and cartridges, but your tastes may vary.

the new 108 model two has a new circuit which does address tougher load speakers. and the output has been raised to 150 watts into 8 ohms, and 225 watts into 4 ohms.

my expectations is that it would be a superb match.

 

[asiufy]

my expectations is that it would be a superb match.

Mine too!
I did try the original 108/18NS combo on Sonus faber Amati Futuras, tougher loads than the Stradivari, and it was pretty good. I expect either the original combo or the mk2 ones to be an excellent match.

alex

 

[Mikeeo]

that answer to your question is likely yes. but maybe it might also depend on the size of your room, and the type of music you favor.

here is what Mr. Fremer wrote about your speaker in 2005;


the new 108 model two has a new circuit which does address tougher load speakers. and the output has been raised to 150 watts into 8 ohms, and 225 watts into 4 ohms.

my expectations is that it would be a superb match.

Thanks for the input Mike! Well we mostly play classical, jazz, 60-70 pop/rock more or less anything but mostly classical/jazz. We play classic preferable at concert level in an about 290 sq ft room. The amount watts may not be the most important due to the sensitive character of the Strads as l know some drive these with 22 W Airtight power amps. The issue is the lower freq up to lower mids which is directly heard if the amp can't handle load/phase requirements. Some can live with this, I can't! I used to have tube amplification on other speakers but decided to go solid state avoiding the hassle with tubes and to me only D'Agostino and DarTZeel so far managed to deliver to my interest. D'Agostino would for sure be able to deliver the 'power'. I toyed with the idea of driving the Strads with an integrated D'Agostino to keep units and cables down but I keep an open mind. I am fully focused on vinyl replay hence phono amp will be of biggest importance.
Problem is to get a proper demonstration and specially in my own system but I am working on it with HiFi dealer.

Mike

 

[redandgold]

Jason Victor Serinus will review the NHB-108 Model Two in the March 2022 issue of stereophile magazine. Therefore John Atkinson had the opportunity to test the actual preamp extensively. If anyone is interested in reading numbers, published february (now, that‘s in future ):

darTZeel NHB-18NS preamplifier Mk.2 Measurements

darTZeel NHB-18NS Mk.2 Measurements, from February 2022 (Vol.45 No.2): After Michael Fremer reviewed the darTZeel NHB-18NS full-function preamplifier in the June 2006 issue of Stereophile, he bought the review sample. He subsequently replaced it with the NHB-18NS Mk.2, which he wrote about in...

www.stereophile.com