darTZeel NHB-108 model two power amplifier Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

I measured the darTZeel NHB-108 model two with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system—see the January 2008 As We See It. I performed the measurements using the balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) inputs and left the internal jumpers as they had been set. To avoid triggering the amplifier's protection circuitry, I turned it off before changing the inputs during the measurements. (The amplifier took a relatively long time to stop passing signal when turned off, which implies that the power supply has a lot of capacitance.) Before starting the testing, I followed the CEA's recommendation by preconditioning the amplifier for 30 minutes at one-eighth the maximum power into 8 ohms. At the end of that time, the side-mounted heatsinks were hot, at 113.3°F (45.2°C). After an additional 10 minutes at one-third power into 8 ohms, the heatsink temperature had risen to 121.6°F (49.8°C). The NHB-108 model two needs to be well-ventilated.

The darTZeel's voltage gain into 8 ohms was a low 20.15dB from the balanced inputs, but as with the NHB-468 monoblock that Michael Fremer reviewed in November 2019, the unbalanced gain was 6dB higher. The amplifier preserved absolute polarity (ie, was noninverting) for both XLR and RCA inputs. The balanced and unbalanced input impedances are specified as >30k ohms; I measured 20k ohms from 20Hz to 20kHz for the balanced inputs, which is still usefully high, and 24k ohms for the unbalanced inputs at 20Hz and 1kHz, 16k ohms at 20kHz.

Although the NHB-108 model two's output impedance is specified as <0.33 ohms, my estimate, including the series impedance of 6' of spaced-pair cable, was slightly higher, at 0.435 ohms at 20Hz, 0.455 ohms at 1kHz, and 0.465 ohms at 20kHz. Consequently, the frequency response with our standard simulated loudspeaker varied by ±0.26dB (fig.1, gray trace). The audioband response into impedances of 2 ohms and above was flat up to 20kHz, and the output into 8 ohms (fig.1, blue and red traces) was down by just 0.5dB at 200kHz. As with the other darTZeel amplifiers that have been reviewed in Stereophile, the NHB-108 model two has a wide small-signal bandwidth; its reproduction of a 10kHz squarewave into 8 ohms (fig.2) featured very short risetimes and no overshoot or ringing.

222Dar1082fig01

Fig.1 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, frequency response at 2.83V into: simulated loudspeaker (gray), 8 ohms (left channel blue, right red), 4 ohms (left cyan, right magenta), 2 ohms (green) (0.5dB/vertical div.).

222Dar1082fig02

Fig.2 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, small-signal, 10kHz squarewave into 8 ohms.

The darTZeel's wideband, unweighted S/N ratio, ref. 2.83V into 8 ohms and measured with the unbalanced input shorted to ground, was an excellent 86.7dB in the left channel and 81.4dB in the right. These ratios improved to a superb 99.4dB and 95.5dB, respectively, when the measurement bandwidth was restricted to the audioband, and to 101.8dB and 99.1dB when A-weighted. Spectral analysis of the darTZeel's noisefloor (fig.3) revealed that the spuriae related to the power-line frequency were all very low in level. The levels of these spuriae didn't change when I experimented with the grounding between the amplifier and analyzer.

222dar1082fig03

Fig.3 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, spectrum of 1kHz sinewave, DC–1kHz, at 1Wpc into 8 ohms (linear frequency scale).

The NHB-108 model two's maximum power is specified as 150W into 8 ohms (21.8dBW) and 225W into 4 ohms (20.5dBW). With "clipping" defined as when the THD+noise reaches 1%, the darTZeel with both channels driven slightly exceeded its specified powers into both impedances. It clipped at 155Wpc into 8 ohms (21.9dBW, fig.4) and at 230Wpc into 4 ohms (20.6dBW, fig.5). The NHB-108 model two's maximum power is not specified into 2 ohms; I didn't test the amplifier's maximum power into that load, as I broke the original version when I attempted to do so.

222Dar1082fig04

Fig.4 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, distortion (%) vs 1kHz continuous output power into 8 ohms.

222Dar1082fig05

Fig.5 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, distortion (%) vs 1kHz continuous output power into 4 ohms.

I measured how the darTZeel amplifier's THD+N percentage varied with frequency at a fairly high level, 20V, which is equivalent to 50W into 8 ohms and 100W into 4 ohms. Though the distortion is relatively high in level into both impedances, fig.6 reveals that the NHB-108's distortion doesn't increase with frequency, which is commendable considering that the NHB-108 model two has no global negative feedback.

222Dar1082fig06

Fig.6 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, THD+N (%) vs frequency at 20V into 8 ohms (left channel blue, right red), 4 ohms (left cyan, right magenta).

The waveform of the residual distortion and noise with a 1kHz signal at 50W into 8 ohms (fig.7) is smooth, which English audio engineer Ben Duncan has suggested correlates with good sound quality. This graph suggests that the subjectively benign second harmonic is dominant, which was confirmed by spectral analysis with a 50Hz tone (fig.8), though higher-order harmonics are present at lower levels. Other than a proportional increase in the levels of the harmonics when I repeated this analysis at the same voltage into 4 ohms, the spectrum was identical (fig.9).

222Dar1082fig07

Fig.7 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, 1kHz waveform at 50W into 8 ohms, 0.118% THD+N (top); distortion and noise waveform with fundamental notched out (bottom, not to scale).

222Dar1082fig08

Fig.8 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, spectrum of 50Hz sinewave, DC–1kHz, at 50Wpc into 8 ohms (linear frequency scale).

222Dar1082fig09

Fig.9 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, spectrum of 50Hz sinewave, DC–1kHz, at 100Wpc into 4 ohms (linear frequency scale).

I then looked at the amplifier's output spectrum as I reduced the level in stages down to 1Wpc into 8 ohms. As you can see from fig.10, though the higher-order harmonics progressively disappear as the power is reduced, the level of the second harmonic remains constant at around –60dB (0.1%). Repeating this series of spectral analyses at different signal frequencies gave the same result. The NHB-108 model two's distortion signature is independent of input frequency and output voltage; while the level of the distortion products increases as the output current increase, this distortion signature doesn't change.

222Dar1082fig10

Fig.10 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, spectrum of 50Hz sinewave, DC–1kHz, at 1Wpc into 8 ohms (linear frequency scale).

It was only when I performed my usual high-frequency intermodulation test with an equal mix of 19kHz and 20kHz tones that the NHB-108 model two stumbled a little. With a peak signal level of 50W into 8 ohms, the second-order difference product lay at –60dB (fig.11). Although many higher-order products can be seen, almost all of these lie at or below –80dB (0.01%).

222Dar1082fig11

Fig.11 darTZeel NHB-108 model two, HF intermodulation spectrum, DC–30kHz, 19+20kHz at 50Wpc peak into 8 ohms (linear frequency scale).

The darTZeel NHB-108 model two's measured performance is very similar to that of the original version of the amplifier, which John Marks and Wes Phillips favorably reviewed in September 2003 and April 2005, respectively. Yes, the distortion is relatively high in level, which will be due to the designer's decision not to use any global negative feedback. But I keep coming back to the independence of the amplifier's transfer function from the input signal. I have long felt that this behavior is related to good sound quality. I will be interested to read what JVS thought of the darTZeel's sound.—John Atkinson

COMPANY INFO
darTZeel Audio SA
US distributor: Jonathan Tinn, Blue Light Audio
4160 SW Greenleaf Dr.
Portland, OR 97221
(503) 868-0500
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
CG's picture

Patents are funny things...

A lot has to do with how the invention is presented.

So, for example, the patented darTZeel circuit bears a very strong resemblance to one designed and patented by Richard Baker back in 1967. (You can look it up.) Harris used a version of it in a product they sold in the early 70's, and National sold it by the zillions in the late 70's in one of their products.

Surge's picture

You are literally referring to how every invention is made - on the backs of previous inventors.

CG's picture

Yeah and no.

There's using the teachings of previous inventions - part of the reason for the patent system in the first place - to build something new. Then there's something a little closer to flattery, perhaps.

If you've ever dealt much with the patent system, you probably have lots of stories of what examiners thought might have been obvious and therefore not patentable and what the examiners thought to be clever extensions of previous ideas. Very often they are right, too. But, not always.

tonykaz's picture

I well recall the early Krell Amps and all the gushing praise people heaped on them ( myself included ), even our own JA in England owned one. Phew, Krell created it's own world that it still dominates.

We've heard polite praise about tarDzeel which I suspect originated from the moneyed 33.3 Museum Curator Class. I wondered if the Brand could keep up with our Domestic guys, hmmm.

Anodising is still rather low-end as a Product Finnish, ( it is tough to get right, fades under UV and easily scratches ).

Should we take from all this that the Wilsons probably need big Mono Amps, even PS Audio if money is an issue?

I was expecting an expansive adjitivorial extravaganza from you on this device , was it missing from the Amp or from your hesitating vocabulary ?

Tony in Florida

Surge's picture

Fremer preferred the PS Audio P20 regenerator to the AudioQuest Niagara 7000 power conditioner, if you read his recent AC power improvement project, he makes that quite clear.

Glotz's picture

Because of JVS' observations on the subjective performance of the amp in relation to his references. Despite the amp having high-ish levels of THD and IMD, he found it to be one his favorite amps under review.

I think zero-feedback designs will be my preferred equipment methodology moving forward, as their ability to release maximum depth of field perspective and tonal saturation (as well as most other audible parameters).

Definitely more than one way to skin a cat.

direstraitsfan98's picture

The original nhb blew up during testing because you replaced the fuse with the wrong type

X