New DartZeel Owner

BR549

Well-Known Member
Dec 3, 2019
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I am a new DartZeel owner, adding the 468s and matching pre (Mk II) just this afternoon to the system. I’ve read virtually every thread on this forum and had worked myself into a frenzy with questions, etc., but once I turned them on, all was well and the questions are no longer as pressing. Between that and the Horizon I added a couple of weeks ago, I am blown away. Color me a happy camper and thanks for all of the wisdom you all have shared on here over the last several years.
 

Macattack

VIP/Donor
Aug 21, 2014
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Congrats Jim!
 

Stef

Well-Known Member
Jan 10, 2021
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Paris / France
I am a new DartZeel owner, adding the 468s and matching pre (Mk II) just this afternoon to the system. I’ve read virtually every thread on this forum and had worked myself into a frenzy with questions, etc., but once I turned them on, all was well and the questions are no longer as pressing. Between that and the Horizon I added a couple of weeks ago, I am blown away. Color me a happy camper and thanks for all of the wisdom you all have shared on here over the last several years.
Congrats Jim for your DREAM system ! I'm sure it will bring you long hours of listening pleasure
 

BR549

Well-Known Member
Dec 3, 2019
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Beware the remote control … that thing will move the volume fast.
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
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Congrats! I was just speaking with someone in the industry (well regarded high end manufacturer) who heard the Dartzeel ref preamp and 468 monos, and was very very impressed.
 
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Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
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Congratulations, BR549! I wish you many years of musical bliss!
 

BR549

Well-Known Member
Dec 3, 2019
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Well, after letting them break in for a few months, I finally got the 50 ohm cable from Evolution Acoustics. If you are considering a pair of these, I highly recommend the “Zeel” connection to the Dartz pre - changed the entire presentation as compared to an XLR connection (although I had mid tier AudioQuest XLRs just due to the expense of the long run). I likely don’t have 500 hours on the amps (which is what I understand I should anticipate for break in) and I don’t have much time at all on the cable, but it sounds so good. The hits just keep coming.
 

KahunaCanuck

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Nov 5, 2022
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Congratulations and cheers to an amazing system!
 

BR549

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Dec 3, 2019
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Installing the Thixar Amp Stands under the 468s tomorrow. I will frankly be surprised if they make an audible difference, but they just look so good.
 

BR549

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Dec 3, 2019
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Well, that's why one has to try these things. The Thixars had a significant audible impact - while it's difficult to quantify these things, it was the last step to really really opening up the sound. I suspect it is a little bit of the Evolution Acoustics 50 ohm cables and the amps/preamp themselves getting finally broken in, but the activation energy for the equation was the Thixars. Of course, the monos weigh too much to just try an A/B at will, but I was quite pleased with the SQ uplift (and I bought them for looks only!). I'm not sure it was exactly a sound quality change, as much as a presentation change, but I like it ... a lot. Try it - YMMV.
 
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Bobvin

VIP/Donor
Jun 7, 2014
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No photo evidence — it never happened ;)
 

BR549

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Dec 3, 2019
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Here’s a crappy iphone photo! I have not posted photos on this site before, so I apologize if it’s huge, improperly oriented, etc. Even without the sound, the stands just look so good under the amps, they’re hard to resist.
 

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Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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Nice. I have a model 1 108 and could not be happier. Well, maybe a second model 1 since my speakers are biampable.
 
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Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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would you consider posting your system in the Members Gallery?
 

BR549

Well-Known Member
Dec 3, 2019
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@Zeotrope - not quite the topic of this thread, but thanks for that photo. Note that the NHB18NS (or mine anyway) allows a banana plug into the ground lug on both sides of the mono. I used that to chassis ground to material audible effect. Perhaps I did it wrong, but it worked for me and seemed to be designed for that purpose. Otherwise, I would have gone the same route you went.
 

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