Am I courting derision and contempt?

[Feanor]

I just got my self one of the those cheap Chinese clones, that is, a "D5" Dartzeel NHB-108 clone ... see HERE. i got the cheaper "D5" version not the "D5Pro" version which has had greater celebrity.


The vendor says in part ...

1: The main amplifier circuit is derived from the Dartzeel-NHB-108, a famous machine with a price of around $50,000. The circuit matches the original 1:1. The selected components also correspond to the original at the key points in the sound and therefore no compromises have to be made in terms of sound compared to the original.

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2: The secret of the Dartzeel 108 power amplifier is the design of the power amplifier circuit, which operates almost entirely without a feedback loop. Effects on the sound caused by feedback are completely eliminated. The sound is natural, open and the connected speakers are well controlled thanks to a power-coupled output stage.

Picture might be the "D4Pro" version; I haven't opened the case yet. I chose Silver rather that Black and it looks great.

I paid a total of Cdn$800: $517 for the item, $283 for shipping. Ordered on July 18. shipped from Hong Kong on July 24, received by me in London ON on July 30. The amp seems solidly made and sounds quite decent. At this point it seems a ludicrous bargain.

What's your opinion on copying patent-expired designs of high end equipment?

 

[Mr Peabody]

I think if the patent has expired it's fair game. That's how we get generic meds.

Many amps use little to know Feedback. I doubt that's the secret sauce. Often times I find those amps lacking in bass detail if not dealt with in another way.

It would be cool to compare that amp to the original. A crazy price gap. I'd suspect even with cheaper parts if the patent was followed it should sound decent.

A friend had one of those copycat Accuphase preamps. I have no way of knowing if it was as good as the original but it definitely had the sound character or Accuphase house sound.

 

[crwilli]

If I remember correctly from a friends experience with the real Dartzeel 108nS, the manual was explicit in stating the unit should never be turned on without the speaker connected.

I am curious if the Chinese knock-off has the same warning.