LAiV Harmony DAC

[Ervikingo]

I bought a Harmony DAC and received it earlier this week. US$2700 delivered.

Some thoughts:

- packaging and attention to detail is second to none
- It is a solid, heavy unit with a full metal remote
- It is dead quiet and the menus are very easy to use
- I compared it to my D90SE and my Theta Gen V Pro using CD fed from my Moded Sony ES
- Using Non Oversampling mode, it provides ample lows and clear mids. It is not fatiguing as I find other DACs
- I then compared it to the Topping being fed DSD from SACD through I2S; same findings and there is no sibilance on vocals and wind instruments as I found on my Topping (maybe because of the filter I use #7).
- Then, fed it coax digital from my streamer, similar findings as with the other sources
- I am now listening to Oversampling mode to see if I notice any difference

I thought if I was under placebo effect but I found myself reducing the bass gain on my Servo Controller (XOver). Bass is very clear and mids are spacious!

All in all, I really like it. I have the Theta to run CD from my Theta transport; the Topping is connected to another of my CD transports and optically to my streamer but have used all the better interconnections to the LAiV. The LAiV is now on Input 1 on my PreAmp.

It sounds really good!

 

[Isotonic]

Thanks for the report. I'm excited to hear about new DACs coming out. This one looks promising.

 

[StandardMode]

I have one as well. I second your findings, they are accurate. I thought it was a disadvantage that the LAiV Harmony does not connect to the internet so there is no possibility for an OTA update. They say that this was done intentionally to keep the noise floor of the DAC low. However, it does have an ASIC which will allow for software configuration updating in the future but this will be done through the included USB input.

 

[armyslowrdr]

As I understand it this is the product causing Denafrips falling out with Vinshine....