Dartzeel NHB 108 or Pass XA Amplifiers: Which offers more "Expressive Flow?" - DkB - Amp/Preamp Asylum

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Dartzeel NHB 108 or Pass XA Amplifiers: Which offers more "Expressive Flow?"

DkB

I've been looking for the best amplification to unlock the music from my EMM Labs CDSD/DCC2 SACD source. I love the way SACD (like analogue) allows musical expression to "flow" with subtlety and realism, more so than the way low-rez PCM chokes and hardens the musical flow.
To compliment this quality of SACD, the best amplification candidates I have come across so far are the Pass XA amps. Their Single-ended Class A design allows for a a natural fluidity that seems to suit SACD playback. I like the XA100 better than the XA160. While the XA160 sounds a bit more powerful when played very loud, the XA-100 sounds cleaner, purer and more direct due to the use of less MOSFET devices.
A local dealer has recently become a Dartzeel dealer and is expecting the first demo unit to arrive soon. We have all read the Dartzeel reviews and the qualities described by the reviewers are exactly compliment SACD's strengths. However, the Pass XA and the Dartzeel are designed according to totally different philosophies. The Dartzeel uses Bi-polar devices instead of MOSFETs used in the XA series. Whereas the Pass is fully biased in Class A, the Dartzeel is run just a tiny bit into Class A (which is preferable in lowering electricity costs.) The Pass is also a single-ended design, so it excels in producing a continuously fluid musical sensation, but I am not sure if the Dartzeel a single-ended design too.
My main question is: Will the Dartzeel offer me the expressive realism of the Pass XA amplifiers and more? I would appreciate advice from those who have encountered both types of amplifiers.
Many thanks! DkB

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Topic - Dartzeel NHB 108 or Pass XA Amplifiers: Which offers more "Expressive Flow?" - DkB 17:35:00 12/23/05 (12)

I just listened to the Dartzeel NHB 108 today! - WBWB 07:08:13 12/28/05 (1)

Very detailed and relevant observations, WBWB. Many Thanks! nt - DkB 09:44:10 12/28/05 (0)

Re: Dartzeel NHB 108 or Pass XA Amplifiers: Which offers more "Expressive Flow?" - mikel 17:19:29 12/26/05 (2)

Thanks for the useful information, Mikel! - DkB 22:16:17 12/26/05 (1)

Re: Thanks for the useful information, Mikel! - mikel 05:51:29 12/27/05 (0)

Somebody's got to say it - Jon L 22:16:09 12/24/05 (4)

Even push-pull tube amps? - DkB 00:42:08 12/28/05 (2)

but of course - Jon L 21:48:04 12/28/05 (1)

Re: but of course - LarryI 05:54:31 12/30/05 (0)

The truth be told. (nt) - SalD 21:21:23 12/27/05 (0)

While I've heard DarTzeel and loved it you are asking... - Hi-Fi Nut 19:35:00 12/23/05 (1)

Thank God someone said it. Thanks, Gill. - Jack Seaton 10:11:32 12/26/05 (0)

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