Stellavox Introduces a New State of the Art Amplifier IDEM Monoblocks

[Mike Lavigne]

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.

thank you Pat, for the kind words.

 

[microstrip]

(...) 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 for correcting me - my net sources had pointed me to 265k for the NH 468 and around 135 for the IDEM. I must say I deeply dislike the practice of “by request only” pricing and the omission of prices when reviewing or commenting gear - for most of us choice is also an affair of value for money. IMO the RRP should be public and easily accessible.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Thanks for correcting me - my net sources had pointed me to 265k for the NH 468 and around 135 for the IDEM. I must say I deeply dislike the practice of “by request only” pricing and the omission of prices when reviewing or commenting gear - for most of us choice is also an affair of value for money. IMO the RRP should be public and easily accessible.

totally agree. i do see that in Europe or the UK posting prices including VAT is more common, than the USA.

in 2022 Absolute Sound on a recognition award page listed the 468's at $235,000. on this thread Gideon was clear about the USA price for the IDEM's at $149,995. and darTZeel's low profile lately leads to less clarity too.

on this topic of price, thinking further about my earlier mention of the Berning 211/845 mono blocks as a reference for the sound of the IDEM's, and that i viewed that OTL as similar to the darts other than in power, i realized that i had the earlier 458's back then. which was a less expensive amplifier than the 468's. that would be an interesting compare, the IDEM's to the very awesome sounding 458's. the 468's are a different beast.

 

[exupgh12]

Thank you for the thorough and honest review, @Mike Lavigne. It's valuable feedback highlighting the IDEM's qualities versus the DarTZeel amplifiers you currently own.
Indeed, it might be, as you write, that if you had other speakers, your preference might have been different.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Dear Mike,

Thank you for taking us on this comparative audition journey with you! It was very fun!

Anyone who knows you well would know that under no circumstances would you ever put into your system a new component that was not at least on the same indifference curve as the incumbent component.

 

[microstrip]

(...) on the same indifference curve as the incumbent component.

What are the two variables you are considering in such reasoning?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Dear Mike,

Thank you for taking us on this comparative audition journey with you! It was very fun!

Anyone who knows you well would know that under no circumstances would you ever put into your system a new component that was not at least on the same indifference curve as the incumbent component.

this ain't economics. it's levels of art and not broken down so cold heartedly.

but generally i do get your drift.