Here are some more interesting comments from Hervé about the NHB-108 and the new NHB-458's when I asked him one time about the secret for the better sound with DC set to OFF on the NHB-108 and what kind of sound difference could be expected?:

Well, there is no "secret" here, only some audio electronic basics most engineers seem not to take - for some reason I don't know - into account...

In order to obtain best possible audio reproduction, the audio signal must have the widest possible bandwidth, so phase shift will be very low and completely out of the audio band.

Adding any compensation of any kind will alter the propagation time coherence (more phase shift), and this is audible.
When the DC comp is to ON, we add a small pole in the bass region (a bit more phase shift), and the sound is slightly less transparent and coherent in the bass region.
Removing the DC comp restores the full unaltered signal path, and the sound is just better...

Our competitors do not use this kind of topology, and the NHB-108 has then the small inconvenience of exhibiting DC drift over temperature when DC comp is off. But the gain in sound transparency is much better than the inconvenient brought by DC drift....

Right after the NHB-108 made its first cry in my lab, ten years ago, we nevertheless continued our research and development, trying to offer both very low phase shift and no DC drift over temperature. We succeeded in designing the new circuits for the soon to come NHB-458 monoblocks, in which there is no more DC drift, while keeping extremely wide bandwidth, still without using any kind of compensation.
As the new circuits are quite different in the layout, it is not possible to implement them in the NHB-108.
Anyway, under normal condition, we can always adjust DC drift for proper operation. So I think your machine maybe has a small problem in the left channel, and we will fix it - if confirmed - as I told you...

The soon to come NHB-458 will exhibit very same darTZeel sound signature people liked so much. The NHB-108 is still the best amplifier we can do right now, the only main difference is that the NHB-458 will be more powerful. Putting much more power in a monoblock without altering the sound was our main concern, so the reason we had to design another circuit for the NHB-458, which is of course very similar to NHB-108's, but with some changes to cope with the increased output power.

Hope I answered your question....

And this is what he answered in one of his e-mails prior to T.H.E. show when I asked him about the output power of the new monoblocks:

Well, the NHB-458 was intended to deliver 450 watts into 8 ohms, and about 650 watts into 4 ohms.

But I think we will be a bit higher than these figures for the commercial series...
The prototypes we will have for CES (only the electronics installed on a wooden plate) gave more than 500 watts under 8 ohms, and 800 watts under 4 ohms!
And the power supply is not the final one, I think we will be still 10% higher than that... With same sound quality found in the NHB-108.
Just do not ask for the price, since I do not know at all.... :-)

Enjoy,

Luigi

luigipenagos March 07, 2009 02:33

Hi Bigamp,

I asked Hervé about the price of the new monos and this is what the man himself answered:

The price...
At this moment we still don't know, but the pair will be between CHF k80 and k100.
Not very cheap in absolute, but worthing every cent...
They will sell only under special pre-deposit order.
Launching time for this summer.

Which means that the new amps are projected to retail for around US$75,000 to $80,000.

Mike, BTW considering myself an all analog guy, I never thought I'd ever say this of a digital front end, but the new MPS-5 is the best digital I have ever heard and as close to vinyl as it gets and with the new software update it got even better. I have almost stoped listening to my record collection because I can't stop spinning the red book CD's that to me sound on the MPS-5 like SACD's. All I'm buying now is red book CD's which has put a few bucks in my pocket considering the cost of good vinyl today. I'd say that the MPS-5 is a true new reference in digital playback.

Happy listening,

Luigi

luigipenagos March 07, 2009 02:15

i did have the dual stereo NHB-108's on the VR9's and no doubt they had a certain magic and immediacy compared to the single stereo NHB-108 on the VR9's.

will that be better than a single set of dart mono's? that's a question only answered by listening or maybe an e-mail to Herve.

Hi Mike,

I e-mailed Hervé and asked him about running 2 NHB-108's instead of 1 and this is what he answered:

Using 2 NHB-108 is possible in "vertical" bi-amp: one amplifier for the bass section, one for the mid/high section. This was possible with the VR9s, but not with the Evolution Acoustics.

Anyway using 2 NHB-108 will "only" give you a marginal 2-3 dB more SPL. Sound can be slightly improved, but here again the gain is quite small. Much better thinking about the future NHB-458, which will allow for about 6-7 dB more SPL, with slightly enhanced transparency.

Anyway, the NHB-108 still remains a true reference, and will continue to be one, in that price/power range.

So, I guess we all better start saving up for those wonderfull NHB-458's ;)

Regards,

Luigi

luigipenagos March 06, 2009 02:52

Mike,

I'm sure that Steve's view on layered plinths being more neutral makes a lot of sence. This way the plinth can be tuned to absorb resonances making it very neutral. I'm sure that Steve is the man when it comes to plinths for vintage tables. If I decide to go down the path of vintage tables I'll definitively be contacting Steve to do this job for me. It's also great that Steve also tweeks the table to bring it to a new level of performance.

I wanted to ask you, where did you find your 301 on eBay? From what I understand eBay is the most common place to locate and buy vintage tables such as the 301. Also, did you buy your Schroeder Reference SQ used? I ask because from what I understand there is such a high demand for the Schroeder arms that Frank can't keep up with production and there is a long wait time of 22 to 24 months to get a new Schroeder arm. Also, how would you compare the sound of the Triplanar and the Schroeder? I know that this is a dificult question considering that both arms are on different tables and plinths.

Was curious to know why you got rid of your XGW Colibri (gold/wood) for the XPP Colibri(platinum/policarbonate)? Having had an XCP in my system I found the Colibri to be an incredibly fast cartridge, I loved the explosive dynamics and mine was a Copper. Wouldn't Platinum make the cartridge sound a bit on the bright side? Could you describe in a few words the difference in sound between the gold, copper and platinum Colibri? Which is your favorite of the 3?

luigipenagos October 05, 2008 06:31

Hi Mike,

I'm sure it would be alot of fun to live closer and like you said be able to visit each other. I know by talking to Jonathan that you live in Redmond, I'm in Miami. Maybe one day I'll be in your neck of the woods and we could arrange a meeting and vice versa. I have always been impressed by your system and room.

Thank you for answering my questions on the Dart preamp. I can see that it is very flexible. Also, thank you for sharing those photos on your new tables. By the way, your Garrard 301 looks stuning with the plinth Steve made for you and the triplanar arm. I'm sure your Colibri sounds incredible on that setup. I first saw one of Steve's plinths on David Lanselm Garrard 301 here in A'gon. he even calls the plinth a master piece. I did a little bit of resarch on the options for plinths for Garrard 301's and found one made by Jonathan Weiss from Oswaldsmillaudio in solid slate. I was very impressed by the finish considering that it is actualy carved out of a bedrock of slate. I would guess that the plinth alone is over 100 lbs. http://www.oswaldsmillaudio.com/products%20-%20slate%20plinths.html (That is the link to it). What made you go with the Triplanar arm with the Garrard? Also, since you are in the quest to put togetter some excellent vintage tables together, have you thought of maybe having a Thorens TD-124 as part of your collection?

I also was curious to ask you what you think of the Blue Angel "Mantis" cartridge? I know that you had one recently in your system from talking to Janathan. The Mantis is one of my very top favorite cartridges. I arrived at this conclusion after trying severan very well respected cartridges sych as the XV-1s, PC-1, UNIverse, Koetsu Urushi Vermillion, Jade Platinum, Tigereye Platinum diamond, Benz Micro Ruby 3, including the Van den Hul Colibri and others.

I must say that one day I ran across the "Mantis" almost by accident. I found out that it was backordered due to the painstaking labor of putting each one together by hand with great care and love by Andre Hanekom in South Africa. I was after the Black African hardwood body with the ruby cantilever and had to wait 4 months to get mine. When I got it I couldn't believe what I was hearing, a level of immediacy, low level detail and transient speed but still with a touch of fleshiness that I hadn't heard in any other cartridge I had tried in my life. Please share your views on the "Mantis".

luigipenagos October 04, 2008 06:11

Hi Mike,

Thank you for being so thorough in your answer. I think the only way to find out about the benefits of using the Dartzeel preamp using the zeel BNC to my Dartzeel amp would be to A-B it in my system against the Doshi. I know that until I do this I won't know what I'm missing.

Right now I have 1 MM input in my Alaap as well as 2 MC inputs each with custom loadings in the built-in phono stage. I also have 3 additional line inputs with one being balanced; I love the flexibility. I have read that the battery operated phono stage in the Dart preamp is world class. How many analog inputs and how many line inputs in the Dart preamp?

I also noticed that you started experimenting with vintage TT such as the Garrard 301. I've been a vinyl kind of guy for the longest time and I've been very impressed lately with the digital playback systems that are coming out these days, very close to the analog. However, I think that there is certain decay and immediacy as well as inner detail and nuance that can bring you so close to the live event that is so effortlessly reproduced through a SOTA analog front end. I know that you've had SOTA digital as well as analog front ends. You have come to the conclusion that your MPS-5 player comes very close to the sound of your Rockport Serious III, quoting you: - "the best thing i can say about the MPS-5 is that it has taken digital a large step toward the performance of my Rockport Sirius III turntable; closer by a good margin than any other digital i have heard. these comments refer to both CD and SACD performance." - Having said that, I would like to know how does your Garrard 301 compare in sound to your Rockport? Also, would like to know what plinth/arm/cartridge combination you are using with the Garrard? Was this put together by you as a DIY project? or did you buy yours fully assembled? I have read in a few places that a well setup vintage Garrard 301 with the right arm/plinth/cartridge can surpass the sound of many modern analog rigs costing over $20,000. Please share your thoughts on this. Is there any chance that maybe you could post some photos of your current TT projects?

luigipenagos October 04, 2008 00:38

Hi Mike,

I'm not sure if you remember me. I met you in March of '07 in the AVS Forum when I asked you a question on your Evolution Acoustics MM3 speakers, since at the time I was having a hard time trying to decide to either go with the MM2's or MM3's. I thank you because your answer helped me a great deal in making up my mind in getting the MM2's for my size room and also because it seemed like the logical way to go since one can always upgrade MM2's to MM3's simply by adding the top woofer module. Well, after a long wait of about 8 months I got my MM2's in November of '07. Right now I must have a good 500 to 600 hrs. on them and I must admit that they are making wonderful music, like I have never heard in my system or anywhere else for that matter. They are truly magnificent speakers. Jonathan also took me down the path of upgrading my BAT VK-150SE's to the Dartzeel amp. I was even able to A-B them in my room and I must say that after hearing the DartZeel my beloved BAT's sounded "distorted" (figure of speech) against the incredible transparency of the Dartzeel. Also, the synergy between the speakers and the amp, like you mentioned earlier, is nothing short of amazing. I'm not using the Dartzeel preamp, I'm using a Nick Doshi Alaap preamp. Therefore, I'm not able to use the BNC 50 ohm Zeel input in the amp. I have always wondered if the Dartzeel preamp can beat the incredible explosive dynamics and beautiful tonal balance of the Alaap. Have you tried using your Dartzeel amp with a preamp that is not the Dartzeel? What are the benefits of the Dart to Zeel connection?

I must say that I always enjoy reading your posts here. I find them very informative and interesting.

After reading some of the posts here about using a laser to properly locate/align speakers I went ahead and used a cheap laser level that I had laying around at home to do this against the flat surface of the tweeter, like you suggested, and was able to perfectly locate and specially toe in my speakers perfectly. Then I proceeded to center my chair using the same laser level and found out that my chair was off by about 2.5" to the right and that my right speaker was slightly less toed in, about 1.5" than my left speaker. I must say that after I finished doing this the soundstage and imaging improved considerably. Thank you and also Rhbb1b1, Mtkhl567 and Tuboo.

Luigi

luigipenagos September 24, 2008 01:51