Here or there? 'twas the question between my final contestants. But first, to clock local or external? The local clock was keener, that of the Singxer's I²S feed softer. I voted local. To OS or NOS? OS was more gripping. Check. Toggling between DACs—XLR cable swap, volume trim to offset the Cen.Grand's higher 6V output—now made for a very distinct climate change. DSD was softer, bloomier, more distant and humid, like its display subtly golden and 'over there'. R2R PCM was sharper, more focused and popping, drier, like its display subtly blueish and 'here'. Digital is just 1s and 0s. Bit perfect is the final arbiter of correctness. Time for a tantric tantrum. Such beliefs would be at a complete loss over how to properly respond to such equally valid but clearly dissimilar reads; which leads straight to my conclusion.
The external clock logo is the fifth icon in the top row.
As judged by their maiden effort which presumably forecasts the path for future models, team Laiv Audio chose wisely with their creative spelling of 'live'. If you prefer being close to stage because here musical thunder and lightning are at their most potent well before distance and reflections extract their mellowing toll on intrinsic bite and charge, the Harmony DAC's tuning has your number. It mimics the more energetic milieu of up-close costly seats. Where productions are raw, don't expect targeted prettification to tame a wailing soprano sax's piercing power or a close-mic'd flamenco guitar's steely bluster. Now Weng Fai takes over the broadcast with a corporate message from Singapore: "As promised, I'm excited to introduce you to the talented key individuals behind our innovative team. First there's me with over a decade of industrial engineering experience and passion for user-oriented audio design. Next meet Romeo, a seasoned manufacturing manager with nearly 30 years of experience across various audio firms like CAV, Philips, Sony, JVC, Aiwa, Onkyo, Sansui and Creative. We also have Michael Cen, a true audio circuit expert with over 20 combined years at Harman/Kardon, Yamaha, Philips, Sony, Panasonic, Tascam/Teac and more. Bill Wu is our high-fidelity enthusiast dedicated since 2009 to crafting top-notch audio experiences with Emotiva and Harman/Kardon. Dean Zhong, a top designer for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games' torch and cooperating with global brands like German WMF, German Zwilling, Nike, Air France and five-star hotel chains Hilton and Sheraton lends his aesthetic prowess to our product designs. Peter Ou specializes in software design and contributes his rich experience from working at Sherwood, Siemens, Philips, Brookstone, iHome, Makita and Panasonic. Last but not least, XL Zhang's over 20 years of experience in audio circuit development comes to us after having worked at Philips, Sony, Panasonic, Tascam/Teac, iHome and Makita." I count in excess of a century of work experience across this team's members. Whilst the brand is new, its brain trust is well stocked and curated.
One man's take. In my compact circle of digital dates, Laiv's Harmony DAC competes squarely against flagships from Cen.Grand, Denafrips and Sonnet then adds clearly distinctive sonics and styling. For sheer low-level resolution and linearity, Pasithea remains atop my personal molehill. For a rich Italian lunch, the Terminator Plus is still an ideal destination. The DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe splits the Pasithea and T+ difference by combining a gentler bloomier mien with higher resolution. Harmony's resolution is second only to Pasithea then injects some nearfield spice. Its build quality, display and industrial design arguably top my bunch whilst on price it sits at the very bottom. I'm fabulously poor at math. Yet this type of crass evidence I can still add up. Personally important is subtext. This isn't just another Far Eastern high-value DAC like so many before it. It actually introduces a unique sonic signature. It's no stand-in but a legitimate aural alternative in search of copasetic customers. Those won't be bathrobe dudes lounging to the laid-back lush life. Harmony dares to bare recorded rawness, edge and vitality. It simply manages without getting lean or threadbare. It doesn't skimp on substance but dials up colour temps then digs deeper into musical angularity without rounding it off. It's a tonal tonic for those tired of a more pasteurized sound which foremost caters to inoffensive sweetness. It's a separation specialist so not for those insistent on blur-derived connective tissue. It's definitely not for warmth worshippers or comfort cats. It's for when you crave crunch, drive and jive. It's a converter pretending to be a hardwired widebander.
With I²S over HDMi growing more prevalent, Laiv's menu-driven 8-setting implementation is laudable. I thought the same of industrial design and execution. How to differ whilst avoiding a flavour-of-the-month fashion flash? Favour more understated longevity. That's not easy. Yet this team might have just done it. Time will tell. Likewise for following up such brilliant first impressions with the type customer service whereby Vinshine Audio's then Beatechnik's trusted hifi portals have made Singapore into a popular web-shop destination.
Give people what they didn't know they wanted. If not verbatim, it's the spirit of a famous Steve Jobs quote. And it applies today. I really didn't know that I'd want Laiv's Harmony. I've been well content and happily settled with our domestic DAC stack. I didn't even know that Laiv's flavour was haveable. Sampling it then meant wanting it. I guess team Singapore pulled a Steve on me. I've been jobbed. But I can't imagine that there won't be others too who'll fancy its brisker fresher yet thoroughly robust 'being here not there' style. It's a younger sound within our high-end's aging populace. One must simply know that it's out there now. If nothing else, this review and award should have accomplished that. And since you'll be seeing it in future review photos of our main system, I might as well confess right now that I bought the review sample. The Cen.Grand has moved upstairs, the Sonnet Pasithea downstairs as an alternate headfi source.
Here's a brief 6-deep playlist that celebrates this machine's special virtues for on-string tone modulations; transient speed; and general PRaT.
1/ Hector Zazou & Swara's In the house of mirrors – Wanna Mako
2/ Blend Mishkin's Lost Continent – Theme from The Crossing
3/ The World Quintet – The Rod
4/ Vicente Amigo's Un Momento en el Sonido – Campo de la Verdad
5/ Renaud Garcia-Fons' Le Souffle des Cordes – Jinete viento
6/ Jamshied Sharifi's One – Di'vaneh
During the April Singapore show, Laiv contributed a Harmony DAC to the Asian premiere of new brand Raal 1995 and its two true-ribbon headphones Magna & Immanis.
Laiv respond: "I wanted to express my gratitude for your review and am truly honoured that the Harmony DAC received the Blue Moon Award. I've shared the review on our website and it means a great deal to us. Unfortunately amidst the excitement of the design and manufacturing process, I forgot to take a photo with the team. However, I'll be visiting the factory next week and I'll be sure to have a nice photo with the team and share that with you afterwards. Thank you once again for your support and recognition. Looking forward to sharing with you more." Weng Fai Hoh
From right to left we have Dean Zhong, Bill Wu, myself, Romeo, Michael Cen, Ming Liu, CK Zhang and Shuqi Liu. Unfortunately, Peter Ou was absent that day.
