Tuboo, It's not just the power, but it's increased musicality and palpability, the greater sense of ease that was just overwhelming. It reminded me of when I changed from my 33H mono's to the NHB-108, it was so abundantly obvious...

Mike, are you busy listening to music? Or selling cars? Hibernating over winter?

mtkhl567 February 05, 2009 07:14

Very inspiring to hear that the DZ mono's sounded superb even at this very preliminary stage.
keep saying to myself that with 95dB sensitivity i dont need 458 monos... it is a somewhat calming thought indeed. still saving up.

tuboo February 03, 2009 16:48

The mono's were not connected when I was in the room. But I was very impressed with the integrated. After my TT and treatments, the long saving process will begin :).

mikeduke January 26, 2009 14:00

Mike, those DZ mono's were amazing, even when I didn't hear them at their best. ie not broken in, not with the NHB 18NS pre-amp, not with the MM3's, not in a super room. Just awesome!

Herve promised to ensure an eye-catching finish just like the NHB-108's see-through top was. Can't wait to get a pair...

mtkhl567 January 25, 2009 14:39

I spoke at length with Andy and looked at CAD drawings of the Sirius 5. His current plan is to build the prototype by the end of this year and at that point determine the price. The date could well slip or the turntable never become a real product but Andy is generally good at follow up.

fcrowder January 14, 2009 22:36

Interesting, I saw Andy Payor in his room at CES ... not a Rockport turntable in sight...

mtkhl567 January 14, 2009 20:23

Dear Mike,

I just wanted to give you a heads up on this - in case you didn't already know.

http://www.hifisentralen.no/forum/index.php?topic=30327.0

Happy New Year,
Roy

rhagen January 11, 2009 21:59

Have you ever tried any of the products from Ypsilon Electronics? I have just started to hear more about them and are thinking about purchasing their mono blocks.

gabisiauk December 26, 2008 18:52

Mike, Rob from Montreal. Bought those Marten from you. Hope sincerely youre OK since it's been 2 months without hearing from you on the Goner. Still, Happy Holidays in those trying times

eggo December 24, 2008 03:49

Mike, I really need to take you up on that invitation some time :-)

Recently on a show I heard a Studer playing on some small active speakers, albeit in the CD/LP sales room (so lots of rumor), but it caught the attention of quite a few people. Zero tape his, and a very very nice rendering of the recording.

But as a novice audiophile, for me I'll eventually go the digital direction ... maybe I'll start with the RR 24/192 downloads onto my recently purchased 1TB hdd ... now when 32/352.8 resolution levels become available, that's when digital really will start to get interesting IMHO ...

mtkhl567 October 26, 2008 07:21

Darn it Mike, I'd put RTR out of my head and now it's back...

Dave

dcstep October 25, 2008 15:53

some specifics on the 15ips tape/45 rpm comparison.

the most significant thing is the level of clarity. you compare the 45 to the 33 or the SACD and the 45 has clearly better clarity, texture and nuance. the 45 has this wonderful fullness and naturalness. it seems very vivid and alive. then you play the 15ips tape and your jaw drops. suddenly the dirty window has openned and reality appears before you.

and the open window has more than just more detail. it also contains better dynamic contrasts, a much better sense of venue and action in space. the air pressure of the room changes as the whole room becomes energized.

all the rich ambient clinking of the glasses and little noises become much more real, each individual clap in the claping after each cut becomes real and distinct. this is a whole new ball game of 'you are there'.

the 45 and the tape share the spot-on tonality. but you are drawn much more into the intimacy of the music with the tape by the degree shading of that tonality.

this recording is so relaxed and easy to listen to in any format.....which is a good part of it's charm. on the tape it becomes a place you have gone and the world falls away.

mikelavigne October 25, 2008 14:22

TP-008, "Waltz for Debbie", The Bill Evans Trio.....a 15ips 1/4" master tape dub just released by 'The Tape Project' is an unqualified home run!!! i'm guessing no one is surprised about that. a first class 15ips master dub of argueably the most popular live Jazz trio album of all time should be outstanding; and it is.

15ips master dub of 'Waltz for Debbie' playing on the Studer A-820

what struck me first was the level of realism from a 47 year old recording. from the very start i was there seated in a stage center table; with Evans piano just to my right up on the stage and LaFaro's bass to my left.....and Motian a bit back and left of center. every tiny nuance was there and the subtlety of everything was spooky. i had the feeling that this was the complete picture of how it was to be there. i have many Bill Evans recordings. i've never heard the nuance and subtlety of his playing like this. the fingering of the keys was magical. really; the same with LaFaro. it was so intimate feeling i was out of my listening comfort zone and i was trying to get my bearings. it seemed to cross over into really real territory. made the hair stand up and all that. looked over my shoulder a few times.

there was nothing between me and them. no mics or recording chain was evident.

the brush work from Motian had this delicate 3-dimentionality to it and such micro-dynamic life. the whole recording has such an alive level of dynamic realism.....unveiled and natural.

everything had such a natural place in space front to back, side to side, and top to bottom. nothing cookie cutter, just real life in real space. i'm assuming that as close to the original event as this is everything is in perfect phase. just music.

and oh, what music. perfect sound meets inspired playing; with historically great synergy and talent. three guys at their individual musical peaks.

'Waltz for Debbie' 45rpm Lp playing on the Rockport

i had intended to write mostly about how this compared to the AP 45rpm Lp reissue.....which was my reference for 'Waltz for Debbie'. i have been eagarly anticipating doing the comparison to see how a 45rpm Lp played on a top level tt compared to 'The Tape Project' 15ips 1/4" version played on a top level RTR deck. but after doing the comparison, it's easy to hear how the tape is better in every way and the 45rpm Lp (as good as it is) is not really close to this level of realism. my focus did change more to just talking about what this tape provides the listener in terms of a game-changing personal musical journey.

TP008 begs to be played on the very best possible RTR player.

congrats to 'The Tape Project' impresarios Doc, Paul and Romo for the wonderful job they have done here. WOW and double WOW!

if anyone is even thinking about getting into RTR tapes this would be a great place to start. the best music meets the all time best consumer format.

mikelavigne October 25, 2008 06:13

Bravo!!! I like everything about your room and system. It looks fantastic!

tonywinsc October 24, 2008 21:53

I have tried several preamplifiers with the NHB108B - when I got it the NH18NS was still under development.
Even with ballanced preamplifiers, such as the Audio Research Ref3, I preferred the unbalanced connection for a fuller and more musical sound, although using high efficiency speakers the balanced connection was preferred to get rid of some common mode noise.
Both the conrad johnson ACT2 and ACT2 series 2 also sounded good, but only when I got the NHB108B with the Dartzeel 50 ohm cable I got the magic of the Darzeel system.
Since then I also tried the Dartzeel with VTL and Krell amplifiers. I got the best sound using the Dartzeel BNC coaxial (unbalanced )cable terminated with a T BNC adatper having a 50 ohm terminator and a female BNC - RCA converter. This mode is particularly well suited for driving a fill-in subwoofer - the NH18NS has two more pairs of independent 50 ohm BNC outputs and one of them can be used to drive the subwoofer.

microstrip October 16, 2008 14:00

Mtkhl567 :

OH will they be named 458 ?
i already made up my mind on the Dart preamp.
it will be first on my list and two phonostages will be welcome for sure it is such a great option.
from more then one reviewer i destillate that the Dart pre is the more *neutral* opposed to the Dart power.
maybe i interpret here, for now i can only read reviews.
so i put an asterix on neutral. it is a word which can be bend into anything especially in highend audio ;-)

i'm also very interested in experiences from any Dart owner on matching their Dart pre with other poweramps be it balanced or SE.
we see a lot of Dart combo users, and for reason i must conclude..
now Herve has strong opinions on the balanced topology, his white papers on this are clear enough.
the Dart concept is purely single ended with a less is better concept. and so the 'B' version has the little transformers on the inputs. a very clever solution but on absolute terms and in theory there are losses with any transformers. then again with a true balanced concept there are twice the parts and twice the amount of transistors (or tubes) my personal experience has shown me: more transistors and more parts equals less purity. now tonal purity is just one parameter but an important one though.
ymmv

with the Stereophile measurements by John Atkinson he found strange things when the XLR inputs were measured pls look up the Dart review issue.
to me it is not clear whether the review example was a 'B' version or not.
following his peculiar findings it is the more interesting what actual owners experience when partnering the Dart 'B' preamp to balanced poweramps.

maybe start a new topic on this.

thanx for sharing.

cheers

tuboo October 16, 2008 08:27

Tuboo, maybe you want to wait for the DartZeel NHB-458 monoblock's to come out next year ...

mtkhl567 October 15, 2008 19:13

Mike,
I am not sure if you have the following, but I was listening to John Mayall, "The Turning Point". It is a great live cd. It sort of has a jazzy feel to it. It sounds great IMHO on my setup :). I would love to hear it on yours. I am sure that it would be freakin fantastic. I really think you should try to find a good pressing of it or even try to get a RTR copy. I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on it.

mikeduke October 15, 2008 11:20

Thanks to all DART insight on this topic.
i had also the impression that words of Mikey Fremer on the Dart combo had more to do with his personal taste and way of wanting to listen to music than in absolute way.
i agree that the biggest Krell and biggest Gryphon poweramps will always 'beat' anything on sheer slam and power. that comes with a price to pay in other areas.. totally impressive as they might be, after some hours of listening i'm not touched moved and inspired.

cheers

tuboo October 14, 2008 10:40

Dave,

you are welcome.

i posted the above post prior to reading your latest post.....WOW....i had no idea you were directly involved.....congrats. your guitar too......i love it's tone and action....it sounds alive.

now i'm listening to the Frisell-Wamble side A. again; very immediate and dynamic......but likely lacking the decay and body that the analog source will have. this is actually a very educational and interesting way to approach this.

mikelavigne October 14, 2008 04:15

Dave,

i'm listening to the Direct Grace Jon Pousette-Dart-Volume 1.....side 1 and 2....on the Rockport. very immediate and dynamic.....but lacking body and depth and a little 'hairy' sounding. the utter truth of 45rpm direct cut reveals the coarseness and lack of 'meat on the bones' of even hi-rez digital. still exciting and enjoyable. this will be an interesting way to demonstrate just what an analog sourced DTD has going for it compared to a digital source. it will also compare Peter's lathe work to whatever commercial lathe does the final pressing.

mikelavigne October 14, 2008 04:07

I appreciate your efforts on behalf of our wallets. ;-)

Those Asylum guys tend to go off the deep end about one format or another. I was very interested to hear yours and Albert's view about surround. I see many advocates over there, but only a couple have done it at a true high end level, which is what I'd want to do if I tried it. The experience of you two basically tells me what I need to know, answering the doubts I had about what I was reading there.

That's my guitar that Wamble is holding. Peter was using John Hart's LP in his demo and that was also on my guitar. As you might suspect, I'm a little prejudiced, so I'll be interested in your reviews. My pressing are incredible except I have one side with a little residual surface noise. I'll probably talk to Peter about it. Even that side is very good, but the other sides are extremely quiet. I've got ten sides and only one is less than incredible in pressing quality.

Dave

dcstep October 14, 2008 03:56

Dave,

i did purchase 2 of the Direct Grace 45rpm Lps from Peter at RMAF.....the Dart and the Frisell/Wamble. they are sitting here next to me. i've not yet played them. with your recommendation i'll make sure i pick up the other 2.

i was under the impression that these were DTD analog cut at 45rpm.....not digital sourced. but at this price that makes sense. in any case it will be interesting to compare these to the final pressings later.

i only had one day with my Studer from unloading it to when i left for RMAF. i'll try to spend some time directly comparing it, the other RTR's i have (particularly now that i know more about how to set them up properly), and my 3 turntables to try to see how they all compare. maybe that would help others to figure out what might be worth it for their particular needs. this may take some time.

on audioasylum people want to unconditionally proclaim RTR 15ips master dubs as clearly superior to vinyl without qualification. i'm not sure it's that simple. but maybe it is.

anyway i'm going to try and get to the bottom of that to some degree. i have no agenda.....i just want to know what is what.

mikelavigne October 14, 2008 03:27

Yeah, until the Studer I was thinking that I'd just stay with vinyl and maybe consider upgrading my TT next year. I've got tons of software and that would be a simple move. Now you say your latest RTR beats your vinyl rig and I'm tempted, even with the limited high cost software.

Speaking of vinyl, BTW, Direct Grace records is run by Peter Ledermann of Sound Smith. They've recently made several direct-to-disc recordings, mainly of guitar oriented music. They're in a cue to produce multi-disc 45rpm releases, but the top quality pressers are really backed up. In the meantime, Peter is using his Neumann lathe to cut dups from the 24/96 safety file. The profits go to efforts to save children in slave labor throughout the world. My point is, these dups have incredible dynamic range and clarity. Look at the catalog at www.directgrace.com My favorite is jazz guitarist John Hart.

Talk to Peter. I'm buying every release, first as a dup and finally as a DTD pressing.

Dave

dcstep October 14, 2008 02:50

Dave; it was great finally meeting you in person. and great choice on the restaurant and wine. i hope we can get together again next year...or sooner.

i am into my Studer A-820 in the middle teens ($k that is) all in.

buying a master level RTR is a bit of a crap shoot if the idea is to get it to be optimized. there are lots of marginal master recorders of various brands one can purchase. the problem becomes who can determine exactly the shape it is in and what it will take for it to become that RTR deck of your dreams (and not become the RTR deck of your nightmares).

for example; i was lucky in the A-820 i purchased. it had some issues since it had been unused for 10 years and before that lightly used. but it had not been hammered, abused, or stupidly modified....it was a virgin. so even though the repairs were still costly the end result was excellent. if i would have purchased the 'wrong' A-820....it may have cost $10k in parts and $10k in labor.

on my Ampex ATR-102; i purchased it directly from the Ampex expert that owned it and did all the reconditioning work. it had been his personal machine and so it was a known quantity.

my Technics RS-1700 was purchased directly from EAR (Tim DeParavincini) and he had done all the tweaks and upgrades.

none of these were cheap but i have not had to roll the dice.

call me for more info on this very complicated picture. i'm no expert but i do have some experience.

mikelavigne October 14, 2008 00:04