Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Dartzeel NHB-108 Amplifier (SS) by Quint

Model:	NHB-108
Category:	Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	approx. $14,000 USD (with current exchange rate)
Description:	Solid state stereo amplifier
Manufacturer URL:	Dartzeel
Manufacturer URL:	Dartzeel

Review by Quint ( A ) on July 28, 2004 at 11:59:12
IP Address: 140.244.107.50

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for the NHB-108

Dartzeel is a relatively new entry to the high-end game. Despite being reviewed by John Marks in a recent issue of Stereophile, the company's only current product offering, the NHB-108 stereo amplifier, hasn't gotten a lot of press on these shores. Hopefully this "review" will do its part in rectifying that.
As many of you probably already know, Switzerland-based Dartzeel is the brainchild of one Herve Deletraz. Herve is a wonderful guy who's dedicated to the very best customer service. As essentially a one-man operation, I'm sure his time is limited, but he's always responded to my e-mails in an extremely courteous, timely manner.
On to the amp. I'm not one for technical details, so I'll leave them to those of you who want to visit Dartzeel's website. Basically, the 108 is a "purist" stereo amp rated at a relatively modest 100 wpc. Its smallish dimensions belie its weight, which measures around 65-70 pounds.
Internally, the amp is incredibly well laid out (if tightly packed), with an attention to detail that one should expect--but doesn't always receive--from components in this price range.
Outside, it's purely love-hate. To call it quirky-looking would be kind. (Refer to the website for pictures). Either you get it or you don't. Personally, I've grown used to its appearance over time, but it's taken a while to become acclimated. Think Bozo the Clown and you get the picture. If WAF factor is any sort of issue, practice up on your compliments, because you're gonna need every one of them to get this bird to fly.
Performance-wise it's a much more straightforward issue. In my experience the 108 is the most balanced, natural-sounding amp I've ever heard. It has a way with timbre that's downright spooky--up there with the very best tube units one cares to mention. The sound is just "right"--every note is reproduced with a tonal correctness and warmth that is as close to the real thing as I've heard in an amp. Because of it's sheer naturalness, it can take a while to overcome the initial impression that it is somehow soft or rolled off. That is most emphatically not the case! Dynamics are crisp and fast, and the frequency extremes are right where they need to be--not overstated or highlighted at all, just perfectly natural and realistic.
The only potential weakness of the 108 is its power rating. It flows a nice amount of juice for 100 watts, but one could theoretically run into problems with particuarly current-hungry or inefficient speakers. Part of the amp's midrange purity, I believe, is attributable to the use of the bare minimum of bipolars in the output stage. That, of course, comes at the price of power, but in this case the tradeoff is more than worth it. Just take some care in speaker matching--as you should, anyway--and you'll be rewarded with a sound that balances the very best of solid state with a midrange that will make some question whether they even need to fuss with tubes.
Despite its, ahem, novel physical appearance, the need for careful speaker matching, and the fact that the US dollar has been taking a Tyson-like beating lately, the Dartzeel is still a worthy contender in the super-amp category. Yes, there are amps out there that do this or that "better" than the 108--some quite a bit less expensive--but I've yet to hear one that strikes the balance between the various areas of performance as neatly. It's a stunning piece of engineering and a landmark amplifier.

Product Weakness: Appearance is strictly take-it-or-leave-it. Power rating requires some attention to speaker load. Cost.
Product Strengths: Naturalness, midrange magic of the highest order, speed, dynamics

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Dartzeel NHB-108
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	EMM Labs DCC2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	EMM Labs CDSD
Speakers:	Von Schweikert VR-4 Jr.
Cables/Interconnects:	Jena Labs Pathfinder
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, blues, country, some classical
Room Size (LxWxH):	24 x 20 x 7
Room Comments/Treatments:	Echo Buster, ASC
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Shunyata Hydra-8
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Appearance is strictly take-it-or-leave-it. Power rating requires some attention to speaker load. Cost.
Product Strengths:	Naturalness, midrange magic of the highest order, speed, dynamics