lexx21
Head-Fier
Do you actually have one or are you just repeating reviewers? I wouldn't "all agree" based on something like that. I would buy one and listen to it before rendering any opinion.
LAiV Harmony R2R DAC Impression and Reviews
- Thread starter tassardar
- Start date
Do you actually have one or are you just repeating reviewers? I wouldn't "all agree" based on something like that. I would buy one and listen to it before rendering any opinion.
![]eep](https://cdn.head-fi.org/avatars/m/139/139747.jpg?1273084439){kind=avatar}
]eep
Headphoneus Supremus
For US customers, something important to consider if you want to buy one, do it soon.
I know international trade isn't very popular around here but there's something more to this I have to get off my chest. I've been buying chinese hifi for about 20 years now, and I've seen things develop over a long time. It's called globalism, a very eufemistic word for profiting off cheap labor by large corporations. Mr VP already stated this in one of his eloquent speeches how this doesn't work anymore to the benefit of the US ( 'for us' in your POV). Designed in the US and manufactured in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, India etc. and sold for 10x profit once imported back into the West. But what is happening, has been happening for over a decade now, the Chinese watched, copied, learned, train 8x more engineers in better universities than the US with their special agendas (woke, etc). Getting ahead not just in volume but also in quality.
So what is happening now? The Chinese are designing their own products, and better and cheaper products too! And now the US is saying:"Hey, that's not what we wanted". And now you don't have the engineering, nor the manufacturing prowess like you used to. And China is undercutting your prices because that is how capitalism works.
Now the Chinese are making their own products its high time to cut them off, impose tariffs because "were not profiting enough".
For us in Europe it's no feast either. We already pay 20% extra in VAT. Plus the fluctuation in exchange rates. And explosive price hike in energy prices (Thanks Joe!).
But a doubling of the price is quite something else and a total showstopper.
So if you want one, act quickly if you're in the US.
I know international trade isn't very popular around here but there's something more to this I have to get off my chest. I've been buying chinese hifi for about 20 years now, and I've seen things develop over a long time. It's called globalism, a very eufemistic word for profiting off cheap labor by large corporations. Mr VP already stated this in one of his eloquent speeches how this doesn't work anymore to the benefit of the US ( 'for us' in your POV). Designed in the US and manufactured in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, India etc. and sold for 10x profit once imported back into the West. But what is happening, has been happening for over a decade now, the Chinese watched, copied, learned, train 8x more engineers in better universities than the US with their special agendas (woke, etc). Getting ahead not just in volume but also in quality.
So what is happening now? The Chinese are designing their own products, and better and cheaper products too! And now the US is saying:"Hey, that's not what we wanted". And now you don't have the engineering, nor the manufacturing prowess like you used to. And China is undercutting your prices because that is how capitalism works.
Now the Chinese are making their own products its high time to cut them off, impose tariffs because "were not profiting enough".
For us in Europe it's no feast either. We already pay 20% extra in VAT. Plus the fluctuation in exchange rates. And explosive price hike in energy prices (Thanks Joe!).
But a doubling of the price is quite something else and a total showstopper.
So if you want one, act quickly if you're in the US.
I detect a little bit of stirring going on here by a proud Denafrips owner which one could interpret as an invite to reciprocate over on the Denafrips threads if one was so inclined (I’m not).
lexx21
Head-Fier
I do not, nor would I, own a denefrips. It is not a true nos dac. I do not make blanket statements based on someone else's say so. I buy what seems to suit my purposes and then decide to keep it or not based on how it sounds.
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Needless to say I was referring to the mischievous post you were responding to, not you.
Incidentally if you search upthread you’ll find Goldensound reached the same conclusion re the Harmony DAC’s NOS mode.
Incidentally if you search upthread you’ll find Goldensound reached the same conclusion re the Harmony DAC’s NOS mode.
LOL
I guess powers of observation isn't working? it's in my sig. Also, this.... posted a few times in various forums.... 
The above shows the Denafrips Artemis headphone amp, the Pontus 12th-1, my Teac VRDS 701 CD player. Left of it, the Denafrips Hermes DDC. Below shows both my Pontus 15th and 12th-1....
So, yeah.... I actually do have one. And why I'm "repeating reviewers". Thanks for the laugh
lexx21
Head-Fier
But do you have a laiv dac?
Actually for me, and this is exactly why I decided against a denefrips, is because it isn't a true nos mode dac. I'm sure it sounds fine, but it not for me.
Actually for me, and this is exactly why I decided against a denefrips, is because it isn't a true nos mode dac. I'm sure it sounds fine, but it not for me.
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Choose to parse it as you will. I'll move on as it was not my intention to denigrate LAiV.And for the record, had I not bought my Denafrips gear when I did (before LAiV came along) I'd most probably would be in LAiV today were I looking; I'm just a fan of their size, looks, build; also, that both user feedback and reviews say they're solid performers. So, nothing against LAiV; I'm just not a fan of small devices like the uDAC which requires an external power 12/15-volt supply. I just feel like those are weak links to providing superior sound in audio devices like DACs and amps. That's me.
Also, for the record, because I've had my Denafrips gear for a while I'm happy where I am, so I won't be moving to the Harmony.... just as I probably wouldn't move from the Harmony to Pontus had I bought it first. So again, nothing against LAiV. As are all things in life, it's just a matter of timing.
My two cents
Apologies.
I’m curious about your experience with the uDAC and Empyrean together. Any impressions you could share?
silversurfer616
1000+ Head-Fier
As mentioned I find the uDAC very dynamic which fits the more relaxed and lush Empyrean. Still the Empyrean is a bit too much on the dark side for me and I prefer the HEKse and HD800S, maybe the angled Alcantara pads would help…
I too have both the HEKse and HD800S as well. Curious which you prefer overall?
I prefer the HD800S overall for jazz, but for certain types of music, especially guitar and piano centric music, I like the HEKse because they accentuate the string plucks of guitars, and the keystrokes of piano keys. Also, if I'm playing EDM as the bass is heavier on the HEKse.
Just wanted to add, I think the mids are a little laid back on the HEKse compared to the HD800S, and why I prefer thenHD800 S for vocals.
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Friday.....I'm sure we'll have good feedback on the GaN amps. Maybe a teaser for the streamer too...
GaNM monoblocks details
https://www.laiv.audio/harmony-ganm
https://www.laiv.audio/harmony-ganm
that's a lot of money
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