LAiV Harmony DAC Review - Could this be the New Benchmark under $5K?
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- Опубликовано: 14 июн 2024
- My written review can be found here: soundnews.net/reviews/sources...
Get the LAiV Harmony DAC: www.laiv.audio/store
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
02:16 - Design & Build
04:05 - Controls & I/O
05:01 - Under Its Hood
07:38 - Sound Impressions
11:29 - Dynamics & Transients
13:29 - Soundstage & Imaging
15:06 - Resolution & Transparency
17:11 - The Only Con
18:25 - Wrapping Up
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Hi everyone! Weng Fai Hoh of LAiV Audio just informed me that European VAT is Not included in the $2700 price, it will be shown at the last stage of the ordering process and it will be added to the price. However, we still get free world-wide shipping and a 30-day return policy.
Hi, I have a Denafrips Pontus II 12th-1 and Denafrips Iris 12th (DDC) via I2S.
QUESTION: Would you do a comparison of the Laiv to my Denafrips combo (for jazz/vocalists music)?
I use Apple Music lossless.
My Gustard X26Pro will hold me down until maybe 2 more years. Cant wait to see Dacs then.
Fabulous review, thanks for the detail and great internal shots.
My pleasure, mate!
Thank you for this review, this DAC is interesting indeed.
Great review and channel.
Can i ask which speakers you use and is there a review for them?
Can you compere Laiv to Ferrum Wandla? Which could be better for instrumental, classical music?
Interested in this as well @soundnews!
Thanks for spotlighting Laiv! I'm upgrading from the Gustard R26 and was considering the Laiv Harmony, Cen. Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe and Audio-GD R7HEMK3. Any insights or recommendations would be most welcome, Sandu
An inexpensive upgrade would be to simply add a Gustard U18 to the existing R26 and use the IIS connection. This takes the R26 to a higher level for around $550 including the HDMI cable.
Adding an external clock should only be done after the U18. I have both the LHY OCK-1 and the OCK-2 clocks and it takes the OCK-2 to significantly better the high quality clock in the U18.
Nice looking bit of kit.
Ill be interested in their Ganfet mono blocks due at end of the year, early next.
Ditto and the upcoming HP2A Pre/Headamp is also quite appealing to me.
Thank you for another great review! What would be a price appropriate matichng source for the Harmony? Thanks!
Thank you, Sandu, for this review! Would you prefer the sound quality of this over the Taurus?
I did prefer the "whole package" of the Harmony versus the Taurus. Sound wise, Taurus offered a wider and a deeper sound, plus a slightly stronger dynamics. The Harmony was by a hair clearer/more detailed and had a better flow of the music, while retaining the same organic and textured presentation. You won't go wrong with either, but at this point, the Harmony is more appealing to me.
epic review, thanks for bringing this to my attention! also featuring one of the best metaphors: yoga ball sound stage^^
😅
That Chord gear looks insane
Wow super nice looking
I agree, I2s input is better also on my Holo Spring 3 KTE no doubt, which I2s Cable do you used for this test?
I have PS audio airlens streamer with I2S digital out. I want to know if the I2S is compatible with Harmony DAC. I know Harmony DAC has PIN options configurable, but not sure the PS audio PIN configuration is available.
VS Terminator + ??? Was about to upgrade from Pontus II but this has me tickled. (great review as usual)
How would you rate the Harmony vs Wandla? They are very simillar in price in Germany (I already own a Wandla) and I wonder if I should keep upgrading my Wandla with a decent PSU + GSE Firmware or go for the Harmony.
The flavour of the month!
You compared this to the Musician Aquarious, but how about the Taurus? You seemed to really love the Musician Taurus.
Looks insane
Like a gem
Thanks for the nice review!
Compared to a Astell SE300 or the RS8, focusing specifically on the DAC section, would you say the Laiv is significantly better than either these options?
Compared to the HiBy RS8, the Harmony wins in two departments: Resolution and layering/depth. It's better, but it's also considerably bigger (having enough space to accommodate nicer electronics).
@@Soundnews Thanks a lot for your answer Sandu! Laiv is quickly becoming one of the brands I have my eyes on, especially given the fact they are going to release the headphone amp and streamer this year and next year respectively.
How does this sound comparing to the musician Taurus reviewed a couple of months ago? Thanks.
Hi sandu,
Thanks for this review.
I'd like to have your opinion.
I currently own a Merason Frerot and a Holo Audio Cyan 2.
Do you think moving to a Laiv Harmony is worth it?
My Pre is a Holo Audio Serene KTE.
My power amp is a Keces S300.
My Streamer is an Eversolo A8.
Thank you.
Another great review! Thanks! What brand of interconnects your using. I noticed the silver wiring and black male/female connecters?
Maybe you mentioned this, but was wondering about speed, does it seem fast for an RTR. My Denafrips Pontus II is lush and sweet, but definitely not a Chrord in terms of speed.
It’s a fine piece of kit.😊
I was reading the written reviews, and i wonder how the Harmony compares with the Taurus in terms of soundstage capabilities (ping point imaging and 3D holography)
Somebody asked the same question. I did prefer the "whole package" of the Harmony versus the Taurus. Sound wise, Taurus offered a wider and a deeper sound, plus slightly stronger dynamics. The Harmony was by a hair clearer/more detailed and had a better flow of the music, while retaining the same organic and textured presentation. You won't go wrong with either, but at this point, the Harmony is more appealing to me.
@Soundnews Can I ask did you try the USB input as well and which did you prefer I2s or USB?
I did try the USB and I2S (out from two distinct streamers). The I2S input sounded clearer, tighter and a tad more effortless/refined.
I have a LAiV Harmony on order to possibly replace a Denafrips Iris/Pontus II combo. Would I gain anything by using the Iris DDC with the Harmony?
I wish more reviewers would take a look at the Aune M1p dap. It has phenomenal sound at an inexpensive price. It has some quirks and is just a basic player but it's still pretty great. I can't understand why it gets so little attention paid to it.
Is it basically combining the best attributes of the Gustard R26 and A26 together?
I’m a subscriber so I saw this video when it was out but I didn’t click to watch until now. Reason, have heard some whispers about this and was scared to watch it because of… Sandu! Because of you, I bought the XA-10, Gustard R26, Susvara, Ferrum….😂😂😂 Thank you for another excellent review, may be it’s time to sell the R26 for this!
Hi
Do you think the Laiv Harmony will well match with:
- Pre Amp: Holo Audio Serene KTE
- Power Amp: Keces S300
- Streamer: Eversolo A8
I'm hesitating between Laiv Harmony and the Merason Dac1
I don’t want to use a PC...
Thanks for your advice
Would this make a difference if I am running Spotify Premium, which is only 320kbps?
please compare this to the new DAC from Linear Tube Audio -- the Aero
How is this compared to the Gustard R26 sonically? I don’t think you compared it with the LAiV in the video directly but it might be the upgrade path for R26 users?
Ok there is something about this in your written review if others haven’t come across it yet: “Remember those passionate discussions surrounding the Gustard R26? It shook up the market, offering a glimpse of true high-fidelity at an accessible price. LAiV has one-upped that one in almost every department, except for dynamics, delivering a product that’s not just a step ahead, but several leaps ahead.”
The Gustard provides a stronger kick down low and overall is a bit punchier sounding. Apart from this, the Harmony is more resolving, there is simply more information coming forward, it's wider and deeper sounding as well, getting a bit closer to my reference DACs.
@@Soundnews Thanks for that bit of info - my R26 sounds quite a bit resolving now with all the tweaks I have done to it - A GAIA w/AQ Vodka I2S, an IeGO 8095 w/puritan power cable, a PSM156 power conditioner, an Audio Magic M1 fuse. A significantly larger sound stage and micro details. I suspect the differences may be smaller in my system than with default R26. If anything, the differences might be more tonal in nature with R26 a bit edgy and bright like the Holo May, while the Laiv being more smooth and laid back. Laiv definitely sounds like a bargain if you account for all the tweaks.
Great information. Your fellow Polish reviewer at Virtual Hifi has great sound demo comparison of the Laiv vs. Holo May. To my ears Gustard R26 is almost equal to Laiv at $1k less.
I think the differences in sound that you can perceive from RUclips videos are not the same as the differences you'd perceive by being in the room.
@@arthurkillen396 Or actually you can't even hear a difference more than %5!
To my ears, R26 wasn't in the same ballpark, but it's still amazing thought.
@@Soundnews you are just a plain dishonest lying bs propagator, “not in the same ballpark“, you cannot tell a $10 dongle from a $10,000 DAC, you just fool yourself and others.
The flavour of the month. I’ll wait for 12 months before considering it, and then see whether it still gets the same attention!
No DAC can survive hype for 12 months. Either get it or don't, nobody cares what you do.
I have a Gustard R26 and I pretty much like it. if I upgrade to LAiV Harmony how much of a difference I would hear you think?
The Gustard provides a stronger kick down low and overall is a bit punchier sounding. Apart from this, the Harmony is more resolving, there is simply more information coming forward, it's wider and deeper sounding as well, getting a bit closer to my reference DACs.
Thank you
This looks a lot like the Cen.Grand's equally stunning DS-DAC. But I wonder how it compares specifically sound wise with the Holo Audio Cyan 2...which is about half the cost.
I own the Cyan 2 and pre-ordered the Laiv.
I'd like to have this comparison between the 2 DAC...
Hi, If only using DSD Hqplayer which Dac would you recommend the Laiv Harmony or Holo Cyan 2 Dac?
I didn't try the Cyan 2, but there's another video on RUclips that compared the Harmony DAC with the May KTE. He prefered the Harmony.
Great Review!!!!
Hi, Currently looking at a Denafrips Pontus 2 12th Ann DAC until I came across your review on this new LAiV Harmony DAC. Is this DAC better than Pontus 2 12th Ann and or Terminator 2 and Terminator plus? Thanks in advance.
Stupid question .. all reviews say this is the best 🪙 (would´t buy another brand anymore because they all will soon be out of business) 😉 Seriously, I think no reviewer here would compare it to the Pontus II, seems to be in much higher category 🤷
@@justasimplefox The Denafrips Pontus II 12th-1 is $1800, that's $900 cheaper so of course the Pontus wouldn't be compared to the $2700 Laiv. The $3k Denafrips Venus II 12th would be a better comparison to the $2700 Laiv.
that copper control knob looks a bit wobbly
There is some thoughts that a wobbly knob is a good thing! (ffnar).
Something to do with that if you have a stiff knob (stop it now), then if at some point there is some play in the knob, this can effect the accuracy/sensitivity, so it jumps around the changes a little bit. However for whatever reason, a knob that is designed with some movement reduces the risk of this happening espically if it's a regulary used and "push to enter" one.
Now, I'm 100% you can engineer the mechanism without this play and it's accuracy stays perfect, or that is the reason for this knob being a little slack. But I think to save money this is a "something" that companies do.
Can someone with a bit more Knowledge tell me as this DAC has no separate 1-bit converter if using HQPlayer Upsampling PCM to DSD will there be any issues or is the 1-bit converter only needed when playing DSD files direct? Any input appreciated.
The DSD signal is converted to PCM and then it's converted from digital to analog, the Harmony (like many other R2R ladder DACs) can't natively decode DSD material.
@@SoundnewsDon't all Holoaudio DACs have the capability to natively decode DSD material?
The Taurus should have a didicated DSD decoder too
I have a Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE and I waiting for someone to compare them. I have seen the comparison (incl. audio demo) between the Holo Audio MAY and the LAiV Harmony.....and I slightly preferred the LAiV listening to the demo recordings. But like more comparisons form other reviewers. There is no 30 day trail period for EU buyers, so I am holding off for now.....
Would this be an upgrade compared to RME ADI-2 dac?
Depends on how you define upgrade. If you crave for a higher dose of "musicality", for a better flow, for more meat on the bone and for a more 3D sound, then Yes! It's un upgrade.
is he better then the wandla?
Straight to the point for me an iem user... Is it noisey?... Peace!
It doesn't have a headphone out, but connected to a world-class HP amp like the Enleum AMP-23R, there is zero noise coming forward.
R u sure?... Even usin an iem?.. Peace!
Should give the Border Control Dac a whirl to see where it sits among the pack.
Have you tried the audial s5 Dac ??
Nope
Also very interested in this one 🤗
@@justasimplefoxjust waiting for the new version to arrive at the dealer for a demo 🥳
Great, keep me informed please 🙏 I almost pulled the trigger 10 times on this one 😅
I don't know why, but sino-dacs these days appear to have the cleanest nicest interior design available. Powerful, transparent, musical, that's the definition of a good Dac, an essential nucleus for any hi-fi system. Like the screen, love the remote control, hate the spikes. Looks like a device with a distinct personality, something I would be interested in. Always a pleasure to watch you analysing interior architecture of DACs!👍👍
Hey buddy, I'm always grateful to see you around.
Hopefully someone will measure this DAC to see if it has some DSP going on to expand the soundstage. The Denafrips DACs have DSP going on and it’s verified from Stereophiles measurements and Goldensound.
Soundstage can’t expand like that without some DSP going on. Not that it’s bad. People might like that. But it should be mentioned if done.
There shouldn’t be any misconceptions that the DAC is so good it’s recreating the original soundstage.
Cheers
My Tradutto, with over five hundred hours, sings to the LAIV Harmony to make it happy.
Here's to another 500 hours for your Tradutto 🍷😉
A Chord Dave killer!
Laiv Harmony DAC vs Cen Grand ? Any idea?
Read the 6 moon review
My English is not very good. To summarize : What did 6moon say? Which dac is better ?
@@metinfps the reviewer said he replaced the cen grand with the harmony in his reference system. Said it bested the cen grand and terminator plus.
@@Pete.across.the.street Thank you so much. I am very impressed
5:14 an R2R with an AKM chip?
It´s a AK4118 digital input receiver 👍🏻
@@justasimplefox Bingo!
Is that your favourite DAC at the moment? :))
Easy! Rockna Wavedream Signature XLR by a good margin. It's flawless when used in tandem with the Wavedream NET.
Conclusion: this DAC comes Sound wise very close to Rockna Wavedream… then either it’s something wrong with asking price for Rockna or for Harmony. Sorry, but I hardly can imagine this DAC sound wise somewhere near to Rockna.
wait wait wait, taxes/customs duties baked into the price...not quite. Yes they cover collecting tax and manage customs clearance, which is genuinely positive, but those extra costs are added on top of the base price of $2700. For me, in Germany, that tacks on an extra $513 :D
I have been offered a Terminator 2 dac from denafrips for 2500 usd, i want a r2r but unsure what get, my max price is around 4k usd. Everyone give me some input plz :)
6 moons says this is better than the terminator plus
Would give it a try but 560€ import taxes to Europe is simply to much money wasted
I read they are working on finding EU distributors to avoid the import tax
@@Pete.across.the.street correct, I read this also. Hope they implement this soon 🤞🏻
@@Pete.across.the.street Great, cause then we have a 30 day trail period and zero risk if one doesn't like it. (I currently have the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE, so am very interested in comparing the 2)
@@larsv6144 there will be no audible difference, every competent DAC is already as good as it gets concerning sound quality.
Right from their website: "If you're from any of the countries listed below, we simplify your shopping experience by handling customs clearance, including all import duties, taxes, and VAT, ensuring hassle-free delivery. We incorporate all import duties, taxes, and VAT into the total price displayed at checkout, designated as 'Tax'. This means that your order will be delivered right to your doorstep in these countries without any additional costs.
I'd still take May KTE or WANDLA with Hypsos over this. I don't like the design.
Looking at the comments your viewers have a problem with the price.
I think most feel a price point is not the path to buying now days.
But thanks for the review, And burn in is important.
Price sounds great. High value dac
@@Pete.across.the.streetCompanies pick prices thats business, don't buy price value I can 30 DACs that sound better @ 2500.00
@@thinkIndependent2024 have you heard this dac in person? What are the 30?
@@Pete.across.the.street No need I've built multiple DACs taught myself everything about them during the pandemic there are probably 50 different types in my house right this moment.
I look at the inside and photos of my current inventory there are at least 5 R2R.
All the unit I built or modified produce deep detailed beyond the walls image and soundstage.
Pay whatever you like my price was paid learning.
Again read the thread majority are not thrilled with the price, maybe some are VAT & Import
@@thinkIndependent2024 what are the 30? Dude you're so full of yourself. You can't tell how it sounds by just looking at it. Total BS
i'm surprised that none of the youtubers i watch, You, Goldensound, ConvincemeAudio etc are talking about high end hifi, you'r reference is the Rokna that costs 17000 euros others like the Holaudio May, that costs 6000 or so, and when you talk about them, you sound like those are the most expensive and best DAC's, but, there are dacs that cost far over 100 000 dollars, and speakers that cost over 700 000, or even a couple of million dollars, amps that cost 100 000 dollars etc, i wonder how much better those are.
I think you will be addressing 1% of the population in the price range you mention, personally I don´t like to watch reviews of gear that I will never able to buy 🙈 sometimes it´s better not to know so you can enjoy your gear more 😅 for me there´s limit anyway (even if I could afford it), let us assume this dac costs 500€ to produce and you pay 2700€, imagine how much money you pay for ´air´ with a 100000€ dac
@@justasimplefox much less than 1%, but a 17000dollar dac is also for the very few
I looks like this DAC does not more than DSD256, in other words: No DSD 512 or more.
I can just imagine the ARS Comments on this Harmony DAC.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending $2700 on a DAC. The error is thinking it sounds better." 😆
Most of those people are clowns and hypocrites.
There is a limit of soundstage width, once reached the differences are minor at best, same goes to depth.
Sound punch, authority and slam is much more important in my opinion.
Differences in resolution and micro details is minimal between dacs costing 250 dollars and more
It looks like you don't have much exprience with DACs. There is a huge sound diffrence with soundstage, clarity and micro deétail between 250, 1K, 3K and above 5K$ dacs. I know, I owned and tested them each category. Everyehink matters in 2ch system, speakers, amp,pre amp, cables and DAC.
@@danieldion1662
I have 5 different dacs, they all sound exactly the same regarding soundstage width and depth. The only differences are heard in impact, slam and punch and that probably comes out because of different voltage outputs.
Timbre wise they are pretty indentical.
Well, you should upgrade ypur speakers before the DAC.
@@danieldion1662 if kef r7 meta aren't good enough for a dac, I think I'll be keeping my speakers and not hte dac
Very promising product, but I guess a lot of europeans don't like that golden design elements.
Couldn´t agree more 😊
Quote:
Q10: Importing fees AND shipping baked into the price? Are you trying to give audiophiles a collective heart attack from sheer joy?
Weng Fai Hoh: Our goal is to provide users with a transparent purchasing experience without hidden costs. We’re actively working to make importing fees and taxes for EU countries possible.
- This is really confusing. Norway has 25% import tax. Are you saying that this DAC delivered to Norway will cost $2.700 and not $2.700 plus 25% VAT?
If you add this to the cart and checkout it then adds the extra costs. A little confusing as I thought the advertised price included everything.
I did this already (Norway selected in basket) and price still says $2700 - I am not convinced though. I definitely need some more proof because clarification is a deal breaker!
@@DistinctiveMusic What I did was use Paypal so it does not take patyment straight away but shows you the additional costs which it was in my case the final price went up.
AFAIK you'll be paying import duties. What they are trying to do is getting a dealer in the EU that can stock and ship from there. At least that's what Srajan said over at 6moons.
Right from their website when ordering: "If you're from any of the countries listed below, we simplify your shopping experience by handling customs clearance, including all import duties, taxes, and VAT, ensuring hassle-free delivery. We incorporate all import duties, taxes, and VAT into the total price displayed at checkout, designated as 'Tax'. This means that your order will be delivered right to your doorstep in these countries without any additional costs." Norway is mentioned in that list and 34 more countries.
Defied?
On the secondary market, these overpriced DAСs have been hanging unsold for years as trash that no one needs.
And on the TERTIARY market. 😁
@@TheWorldTeacher 😄
What's your suggestion for a DAC that's not overpriced?
@@suwatt6019 DacMaster
@@suwatt6019 HIDIZS S9 Pro Plus MARTHA - $70
Nice looks but Nobody really needs this you can get better for less.
If you don't want to recommend overpriced DACs, recomment brands like Topping and SMSL, they sound already transparent to the source, which is the whole function of a DAC, starting from $100. End of story. DACs are a solved problem.
There are plenty of SMSL and DAC reviews on this channel. Sadly, there Is a difference between them and pricier units.
@@Soundnews not true. These supposed differences in sound are purely in your imagination. Do a double blind or ABX test to find out.
@@Soundnews not sound wise
Nope
Just another overpriced
MIC product…. Passed.
Every cliché possible is encountered here. Anybody believing just a single word from this "review" is totally lost.
Yes, something feels off in this specific review 🤔 sure he´s got this 2700$ dac for free 😇 the worst is still to come from Steve Huff 😅
What's wrong about liking a unit and then giving strong arguments (several times) on why I liked it? I don't provide cheap "sound impressions" how many others are doing. I explain how the unit looks, what materials have been used, how it works, the components used, how it sounds and then a final analysis is provided on why I believe it's bad, good or great. All of this info is given for free, If you can't appreciate this, then I'm not sure you'll ever appreciate a man's work.
@@Soundnews I like the work you put into it and the overall approach. I´m sure it´s a great dac but this one feels more like marketing then a review compared to your other reviews..maybe it´s just me 😊
@@Soundnews just haven’t encountered any “strong argument”, just arbitrary invented “listening impressions”. You are just using any audiophool BS jargon to fool your audience.
Your the one who is lost...no question about it.
This is not the dac people will buy
I bought one
@@Pete.across.the.street Can you post your experience and former dac?
This is not a constructive post people care to read...
@@larsv6144waiting on it to be delivered still
For $2,700:
1. There is no full-height OLED display on the front panel
2. There is no metal winding on the toroid wires.
3. The socket is not golden on i2S and LAN
4. R2R resistors in which parameters begin to flow after 5 years of daily use?
5. No R2R is capable of creating a 'laserscan' of a panorama.
There are no excuses for any DAC to cost more than $1,000 until the rapid development of DAC stops.
Ehh 😅
@@Shozimus In our country, products like this are called "luHuri" or "Gypsy gold". 😁
Good thing none of that matters. I personally only care about how it sounds. It is a dac after all.
Oh wise one - tell us what you would buy instead??
@@unewb sound is the priority. Looks quality and ergonomics are nice to. That said its a interesting dac with a reasonable price tag.
Very weak for that price 20Hz - 20kHz, within ± 0.25 dB
I assume you have better hearing than 20 Hz - 20 kHz rrrright? :)
@@Soundnews yes I am the lucky or not lucky guy who has this That's why I have a problem looking for a good headphone amplifier or amp dac, 21.5 even see ya