Yeah as my ex used to say when something is on "loan," welcome to your new piece of equipment
Hopefully sometime will get out your way!
Myles,
all of us out here in the upper left coast would enjoy a visit from you.
soon i hope.
NHB-458 monoblock power amplifier
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Myles,
all of us out here in the upper left coast would enjoy a visit from you.
soon i hope.
Congratulations, Mike.
I am considerring either darTZeel NHB-458 or Constellation Audio Hercules myself to drive the recently ordered Magico Q7 biamped with Dynaudio Arbiter. I would be very interested in your experience with the NHB-458s.
All the best,
Roysen
I am considerring either darTZeel NHB-458 or Constellation Audio Hercules myself to drive the recently ordered Magico Q7 biamped with Dynaudio Arbiter. I would be very interested in your experience with the NHB-458s.
All the best,
Roysen
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Roysen - congrats!!! Did not know you had ordered the mighty Q7s! Please post your impressions when you can! Enjoy!
Hi,
Yes, the Magico Q7 was ordered about a month ago. However the delivery will not be until next summer. The reason it was ordered now was an opportunity to lock both the current price and USD vs EUR exchange rate in the deal.
Most likely both the Rockport Technologies Arrakis 2 and the Tidal Audio T2 will be here before that.
Thanks,
Roysen
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Yes it does!!! I am most interested in hearing your views on comparing Arrakis 2 to Tidal to Q7! Beyond my X1/Grand Slamms...i have thought about Arrakis. I have heard the Tidal Sunrays with the pair of tower subs, and i have heard Q5 (not Q7), and i have heard the X2 series 2 and XLF. I have not heard Arrakis...so most interested!!!
Yes it does!!! I am most interested in hearing your views on comparing Arrakis 2 to Tidal to Q7! Beyond my X1/Grand Slamms...i have thought about Arrakis. I have heard the Tidal Sunrays with the pair of tower subs, and i have heard Q5 (not Q7), and i have heard the X2 series 2 and XLF. I have not heard Arrakis...so most interested!!!
thanks Roysen.
i'll be posting about my expereince once i have the 458's.
sounds like you have a few sets of 'very serious', 'very large', speakers coming. what prompted you to purchase multiple sets? are you setting up showrooms?
Yes, pictures will be posted with experiences and impressions when the components are arriving. As for the question if I am building showrooms, the answer is mostly "no" but also partly "yes".
I am a dealer, but I am choosing components for my setups without regard for the brands we have. I have had components and speakers for three setups here for a few years already, but only possibility to play in the livingroom. There have been components stored all over the house where I have moved them in and out of the system when I wanted to do a change. This has not been an optimal solution but possible since the speakers have been of a size where I could easily move them around on my own.
The plan has been to make it three different systems in three different rooms of the house for quite a while. However to be able to move the systems into their seperate rooms we needed to make some structural changes to the house. This has not been possible because we have rented the house up until now. It has been decided a long time ago that we will buy the house but due to some personal details, the previous owners have delayed the selling process.
While time has passed during the rentalperiod my plans for the three systems have evolved and upgrades have been made in such a way that there is no way we can find space and structural support on the upper floor to accomodate how I now want the systems. Because of this we have thrown away the plan to find space for all three systems inside the house. Instead we have knocked down a wall in the main living room to be able to accomodate one system there. Additionally we will build a seperate building/studio on our property with just one room (8 x 10 meters and 4 meter height). This studio will have one system on each long wall with a seating group between. The studio will be built and planned by the Swedish acoustics company Svanå Miljøteknik which are the original company behind the US company Performance Acoustic Labs. The building process will start in March/April next year.
The reason for wanting three systems started several years ago. I wanted two systems. One based on tube electronics and one based on solid state electronics. I wanted the best of both worlds with as few compromises as possible. The third system became a reality when my girlfriend didn't want what she considered ugly or monster sized speakers in the living room while still wanting to have a system there where she could listen to her music and where we could play music for social purposes while entertaining non-audiophile guests. I would of course also be listening to this third system quite a lot in this scenario, so I wanted this third system to be as equally short of compromises as the two others. Something else would just be a source of irritation.
The idea of using this purposebuilt studio as a showroom is something we have thought about. My property is 45 kilometers from Oslo centre where our shop is located. This might not be far by US standards but by our standards it means no customers from the city would normally find its way out here. So my studio will be used for special invitation events and special demonstrations for customers who want to listen in more optimal sutrroundings than we can provide in our store. The daily systems would then be moved out of the way on such occations.
The systems I am planning are like this:
LIVING ROOM SYSTEM
CD-Source: MBL 1621A & MBL 1611F - ByBee Stealth
SACD-Source: Soulution Audio 745 - Nordost Thor + Nordost Quantum Q4
DVD-Audio-Source: Metronome Technologie Kalista Ultimate SE & APL HiFi NWO-Master & GTE Audio Trinity DAC Mk.II - Absolare ByBee Purifier
Music Server: Burmester 111 & Burmester 069 - Burmester 948
Turntable: Clearaudio Statement Turntable & Clearaudio Statement TT-1 Tonearm & Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement - Synergistic Research PowerCell 10 SE Mk.III
Phono Preamplifier: Qualia Indigo Reference Phono Preamplifier - McIntosh MPC-1500
Preamplifier: Lyra Connoisseur 3.0 - Trafomatic Audio Experience 3000
Poweramplifier (bass): darTZeel NHB-458
Poweramplifier (midrange/tweeter): Dynaudio Arbiter
Ground conditioner: 3x Granite Audio Ground Zero Model 502
Loudspeakers: Magico Q7
Subwoofers: 2x Burmester S8
TUBE-BASED SYSTEM:
CD-Source: Zanden Audio Model 2000P & Zanden Audio Model 5000S - 2x Isoclean 3030G IV & Isoclean 80A3
SACD-Source: CH Precision D1 & CH Precision C1 - Combak Harmonix Reimyo ALS-777
DVD-Audio-Source: Constellation Audio Sirius - Accuphase PS-1220
Music Server: AudioNec SDV4-Ory & MSB Technology Universal Media Transport w/MSB Technology Platinum Power Base & MSB Technology Diamond DAC IV w/FemtoSecond Galaxy Clock, w/Diamond Platinum Power Base - Gigawatt PC-4
Turntable: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn & Continuum Audio Labs Castellon & Continuum Audio Labs Cobra & Koetsu Coralstone Platinum w/Diamond cantilever - Angstrom Research Reference 4HC
Phono Preamplifier: Constellation Audio Orion - Isotek Super Titan
Preamplifier: Tube Research Labs Platinum GTR Preamplifier SE - Wavac Audio AC-1
Active Three-Way Crossover: Tidal Audio T2-LPX - Walker Audio Velocitor
Poweramplifier (bass): Krell Master Reference Amplifiers
Poweramplifier (midbass): Tube Research Labs Platinum GTR 800 40th Anniversary Edition
Poweramplifier (upper midrange/tweeter): Tidal Audios Upcoming Reference Mono Amplifiers
Ground conditioner: SMc Audio Interocitor One - Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One 5.0 SE
Loudspeakers: Tidal Audio T2 (Upcoming new topmodel loudspeaker from Tidal Audio)
SOLID STATE-BASED SYSTEM:
CD-Source: Wadia 971 & Wadia & 931 2x Wadia 922 (GNSC Statement modified) - Shunyata Research Hydra Triton
SACD-Source: Esoteric P-01VU & Esoteric G-01 & 2x Esoteric D-01VU - HMS Elektronik Energia Definitiva
DVD-Audio-Source: Goldmund Eidos Reference & Goldmund Mimesis 20H - Audience aR12-TS
Music Server: Audeeva Conbrio & 4-box dCS Vivaldi combination - PS Audio P10 Powerplant
Turntable: Rockport Technologies System III Sirius & Lyra Olympos - Running Springs Audio Dmitri
Phono Preamplifier: FM Acoustics Resolution Series 223 - Audio Magic Oracle Liquid Air
Preamplifier: FM Acoustics Resolution Series 268 - Tripoint Audio Spartan
Active Crossovers: Rockport Technologies Arrakis 2 Crossover & 2x Wilson Audio The Controller - Jena Labs Sequoia
Poweramplifier (subwoofers): Sovereign Audio THE SOVEREIGN
Poweramplifier (bass): Goldmund Telos 3500
Poweramplifier (midbass/midrange/tweeter): FM Acoustics Resolution Series 118
Ground conditioner: Tripoint Audio Troy - True Life Audio High Power AC Conditioner
Loudspeaker: Rockport Technologies Arrakis 2
Subwoofers: 2x Wilson Audio Thor's Hammer
PS! I strongly believe there are no universal digital solutions which are best or equally good on all source material. Because of this I want dedicated playback sources for each digital disc based format (Redbook PCM (CD), DSD (SACD) and hi-res PCM (DVD-Audio)).
I am a dealer, but I am choosing components for my setups without regard for the brands we have. I have had components and speakers for three setups here for a few years already, but only possibility to play in the livingroom. There have been components stored all over the house where I have moved them in and out of the system when I wanted to do a change. This has not been an optimal solution but possible since the speakers have been of a size where I could easily move them around on my own.
The plan has been to make it three different systems in three different rooms of the house for quite a while. However to be able to move the systems into their seperate rooms we needed to make some structural changes to the house. This has not been possible because we have rented the house up until now. It has been decided a long time ago that we will buy the house but due to some personal details, the previous owners have delayed the selling process.
While time has passed during the rentalperiod my plans for the three systems have evolved and upgrades have been made in such a way that there is no way we can find space and structural support on the upper floor to accomodate how I now want the systems. Because of this we have thrown away the plan to find space for all three systems inside the house. Instead we have knocked down a wall in the main living room to be able to accomodate one system there. Additionally we will build a seperate building/studio on our property with just one room (8 x 10 meters and 4 meter height). This studio will have one system on each long wall with a seating group between. The studio will be built and planned by the Swedish acoustics company Svanå Miljøteknik which are the original company behind the US company Performance Acoustic Labs. The building process will start in March/April next year.
The reason for wanting three systems started several years ago. I wanted two systems. One based on tube electronics and one based on solid state electronics. I wanted the best of both worlds with as few compromises as possible. The third system became a reality when my girlfriend didn't want what she considered ugly or monster sized speakers in the living room while still wanting to have a system there where she could listen to her music and where we could play music for social purposes while entertaining non-audiophile guests. I would of course also be listening to this third system quite a lot in this scenario, so I wanted this third system to be as equally short of compromises as the two others. Something else would just be a source of irritation.
The idea of using this purposebuilt studio as a showroom is something we have thought about. My property is 45 kilometers from Oslo centre where our shop is located. This might not be far by US standards but by our standards it means no customers from the city would normally find its way out here. So my studio will be used for special invitation events and special demonstrations for customers who want to listen in more optimal sutrroundings than we can provide in our store. The daily systems would then be moved out of the way on such occations.
The systems I am planning are like this:
LIVING ROOM SYSTEM
CD-Source: MBL 1621A & MBL 1611F - ByBee Stealth
SACD-Source: Soulution Audio 745 - Nordost Thor + Nordost Quantum Q4
DVD-Audio-Source: Metronome Technologie Kalista Ultimate SE & APL HiFi NWO-Master & GTE Audio Trinity DAC Mk.II - Absolare ByBee Purifier
Music Server: Burmester 111 & Burmester 069 - Burmester 948
Turntable: Clearaudio Statement Turntable & Clearaudio Statement TT-1 Tonearm & Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement - Synergistic Research PowerCell 10 SE Mk.III
Phono Preamplifier: Qualia Indigo Reference Phono Preamplifier - McIntosh MPC-1500
Preamplifier: Lyra Connoisseur 3.0 - Trafomatic Audio Experience 3000
Poweramplifier (bass): darTZeel NHB-458
Poweramplifier (midrange/tweeter): Dynaudio Arbiter
Ground conditioner: 3x Granite Audio Ground Zero Model 502
Loudspeakers: Magico Q7
Subwoofers: 2x Burmester S8
TUBE-BASED SYSTEM:
CD-Source: Zanden Audio Model 2000P & Zanden Audio Model 5000S - 2x Isoclean 3030G IV & Isoclean 80A3
SACD-Source: CH Precision D1 & CH Precision C1 - Combak Harmonix Reimyo ALS-777
DVD-Audio-Source: Constellation Audio Sirius - Accuphase PS-1220
Music Server: AudioNec SDV4-Ory & MSB Technology Universal Media Transport w/MSB Technology Platinum Power Base & MSB Technology Diamond DAC IV w/FemtoSecond Galaxy Clock, w/Diamond Platinum Power Base - Gigawatt PC-4
Turntable: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn & Continuum Audio Labs Castellon & Continuum Audio Labs Cobra & Koetsu Coralstone Platinum w/Diamond cantilever - Angstrom Research Reference 4HC
Phono Preamplifier: Constellation Audio Orion - Isotek Super Titan
Preamplifier: Tube Research Labs Platinum GTR Preamplifier SE - Wavac Audio AC-1
Active Three-Way Crossover: Tidal Audio T2-LPX - Walker Audio Velocitor
Poweramplifier (bass): Krell Master Reference Amplifiers
Poweramplifier (midbass): Tube Research Labs Platinum GTR 800 40th Anniversary Edition
Poweramplifier (upper midrange/tweeter): Tidal Audios Upcoming Reference Mono Amplifiers
Ground conditioner: SMc Audio Interocitor One - Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One 5.0 SE
Loudspeakers: Tidal Audio T2 (Upcoming new topmodel loudspeaker from Tidal Audio)
SOLID STATE-BASED SYSTEM:
CD-Source: Wadia 971 & Wadia & 931 2x Wadia 922 (GNSC Statement modified) - Shunyata Research Hydra Triton
SACD-Source: Esoteric P-01VU & Esoteric G-01 & 2x Esoteric D-01VU - HMS Elektronik Energia Definitiva
DVD-Audio-Source: Goldmund Eidos Reference & Goldmund Mimesis 20H - Audience aR12-TS
Music Server: Audeeva Conbrio & 4-box dCS Vivaldi combination - PS Audio P10 Powerplant
Turntable: Rockport Technologies System III Sirius & Lyra Olympos - Running Springs Audio Dmitri
Phono Preamplifier: FM Acoustics Resolution Series 223 - Audio Magic Oracle Liquid Air
Preamplifier: FM Acoustics Resolution Series 268 - Tripoint Audio Spartan
Active Crossovers: Rockport Technologies Arrakis 2 Crossover & 2x Wilson Audio The Controller - Jena Labs Sequoia
Poweramplifier (subwoofers): Sovereign Audio THE SOVEREIGN
Poweramplifier (bass): Goldmund Telos 3500
Poweramplifier (midbass/midrange/tweeter): FM Acoustics Resolution Series 118
Ground conditioner: Tripoint Audio Troy - True Life Audio High Power AC Conditioner
Loudspeaker: Rockport Technologies Arrakis 2
Subwoofers: 2x Wilson Audio Thor's Hammer
PS! I strongly believe there are no universal digital solutions which are best or equally good on all source material. Because of this I want dedicated playback sources for each digital disc based format (Redbook PCM (CD), DSD (SACD) and hi-res PCM (DVD-Audio)).
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Way cool, Roysen! I am pleased personally to see the Zanden remains a reference CD source on your tube system! You've got a lot of experience clearly...and i have been torn between Stahl-Tek Opus and keeping my Zanden and [finally] getting the Zanden transport.
Well that is a lot of $$$ , and takes quite a bit of time to listen to all of them
NHB 458 only for the bass , i thought its strong point was its tube like midrange/high amplifying quality .
Ever tried Boulder for bass , in my opinion boulder is the SS bassmaster ( for electronic music ).
NHB 458 only for the bass , i thought its strong point was its tube like midrange/high amplifying quality .
Ever tried Boulder for bass , in my opinion boulder is the SS bassmaster ( for electronic music ).
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The reasoning behind choosing the darTZeel for the bass is that I already have the Dynaudio Arbiters here. I think they have a better midrange and high frequency reproduction than any other amplifier I have heard. Its bass reproduction is slightly less fantastic. The Boulder 3050 would probably have been the ultimate choice but to keep peace I will not bring them into the living room. My girlfriend has had a vote in the choice of which amplifiers to choice from a shortlist I have assembled. The choice came down to Constellation Audio Hercules or darTZeel NHB-458. I really want to have a darTZeel component here, so most likely they will be the bass amplifier choice. At the same time Mikey Fremer seemed to really enjoy bass and especially drum reproduction from the NHB-458s.
The shortlist we chose from was this:
- darTZeel NHB-458
- Constellation Audio Hercules
- Boulder 3050
- Jeff Rowland 925
- Gryphon Colosseum Solo
- Analog Domain Apollo
- Burmester 909 (internally bridged to mono configuration)
- The upcoming Spectral Audio DMA-400
- Halcro dm88
- Krell Evolution One
- Mark Levinson No.53
- Edge NL Reference
- GamuT Audio RS-380M
- Souluiton Audio 700
- MBL 9010
- Technical Brain TBP-Zero v2
- BAlabo BP-1 Mk.II
- McIntosh Mc2KW
Thanks,
Roysen
The shortlist we chose from was this:
- darTZeel NHB-458
- Constellation Audio Hercules
- Boulder 3050
- Jeff Rowland 925
- Gryphon Colosseum Solo
- Analog Domain Apollo
- Burmester 909 (internally bridged to mono configuration)
- The upcoming Spectral Audio DMA-400
- Halcro dm88
- Krell Evolution One
- Mark Levinson No.53
- Edge NL Reference
- GamuT Audio RS-380M
- Souluiton Audio 700
- MBL 9010
- Technical Brain TBP-Zero v2
- BAlabo BP-1 Mk.II
- McIntosh Mc2KW
Thanks,
Roysen
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Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Well yes but if one looks at his speaker bass impendance plot , he definetively needs a currentdelivering amp in the bass to sound real snappy.
http://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audio-specialties-maxx-series-3-loudspeaker-measurements
http://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audio-specialties-maxx-series-3-loudspeaker-measurements
I am not sure I got your point in the last post AndremedaAudio. I haven't seen the impedance plot for the Q7 yet but I am quite sure it will be an easier load than the MAXX 3. Still Mikey really enjoyed what the NHB-458s managed with MAXX 3.
Your point might be that MAXX 3 isn't as good sounding with the NHB-458s as Mikey seem to think?
...or is my mind playing tricks on me and I don't understand what you mean?
Thanks,
Roysen
Your point might be that MAXX 3 isn't as good sounding with the NHB-458s as Mikey seem to think?
...or is my mind playing tricks on me and I don't understand what you mean?
Thanks,
Roysen
I was just saying that mikes(fremer) speakers will sound better with some powerfull monoblocs at the helm , but when the speaker has more efficiency and higher overall impedance , the less obvious the difference becomes
i dont know about the Q 7 and whether the 94 db is the correct number .
JA had this to say about the Q 5 ,this one definetively needs a powerfull amp , much more than the wilson
http://www.stereophile.com/content/magico-q5-loudspeaker-measurements
By the way i saw the 458 review is on the net , so i am gonna read it
i dont know about the Q 7 and whether the 94 db is the correct number .
JA had this to say about the Q 5 ,this one definetively needs a powerfull amp , much more than the wilson
http://www.stereophile.com/content/magico-q5-loudspeaker-measurements
By the way i saw the 458 review is on the net , so i am gonna read it
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