Listening – Main system
For the second comparison, I moved both DACs to the main system and used two identical Belden 19364 power cables with Bals Schukos and Oyaide C-004 IEC connectors, connected to the PS Audio P20 Power Plant. Instead of USB, I now used the coax inputs from the Aqua La Diva M2 CD transport. Since this transport has multiple outputs, I could connect both DACs simultaneously using identical Silent Angel Bastei coax cables. At the same time, I also connected my reference DAC, the CH Precision C1.2, via AES/EBU. I then connected both DACs to the CH Precision L1 preamp using identical Driade Flow Link Reference 808 XLR interlinks, so I could comfortably switch between the two DACs from the listening position.
The Harmony DAC 2 lets you use both RCA and XLR outputs at the same time. With the original Harmony DAC, you could also do this, but the downstream components’ input impedances would add up, leading to a noticeable reduction in expression. Connecting multiple cables to an audio component always has an audible effect through shared grounds and other interactions, no matter the design, but the individual buffers significantly reduce the aforementioned negative aspects.
Another major change is its crisp, informative screen. How I wish more manufacturers would offer the possibility to choose between an information-dense or simplified interface! On a desktop, or if you have 20/20 vision, the former is ideal because it shows all the relevant information at once. The latter shows less information but with larger fonts, and it works better when you’re listening at a distance or when your eyesight isn’t perfect.
When comparing the two DACs in the main system, I again noted how close they are. The new Harmony DAC 2 has the edge in the exact same areas, and to the same extent. Here, too, the new DAC sounds crisper, more controlled, and more immediate, while the original Harmony DAC sounds a little more relaxed. On closer listening, I confirmed that the two DACs sound otherwise identical. For instance, I cannot hear any difference in soundstage width, depth, focus, or resolution. At this point, I should note that the DAC may develop further over the months beyond the two weeks I gave it, which might bring them even closer.
But before you rush to the Conclusion, note that the Harmony DAC 2 has a few more tricks up its sleeve, and one of them makes a large difference!
Digital inputs: TOSLink Optical, USB, I2S, and Coax. The USB-C connector is for applying updates via a USB flash drive. Additionally, the Harmony DAC 2 now offers an external Clock input and Trigger input and output.
External Clock Input
Perhaps its most significant new feature is an external 10 MHz clock input. Throughout my reviewing career, I’ve rarely been able to test this because I never had an external clock. However, the few times I’ve been able to run experiments with this have always underscored the importance of good clocking. This time, I do have an external clock to power the Silent Angel Bonn NX Switch. Although the Silent Angel Genesis GX clock outputs a 25 mHz clock signal for the matching Switch, it also offers a 10 mHz output that is compatible with the Harmony DAC 2.
The difference with the external clock source is immediately audible, and not subtle at all! The DAC now sounds more robust, concrete, and even more resolute. By comparison, it’s a little drier, but also more precise; those qualities often go hand in hand. As mentioned, my experience with external clocks is very limited, but I strongly suspect that the balance between fluidity and dryness also depends on the clock. For example, the Genesis GX clock also makes the Bonn NX switch sound a bit dry, which I happily accept because it has a hugely beneficial impact in other areas. I’m sure the Harmony DAC 2 relays that sonic signature as well. Thus, a different clock might therefore produce a slightly different sound. In any case, the key takeaway is that an external clock can indeed give the DAC a substantial boost.
Oversampling, Upsampling, and Filter Selection
In addition to NOS (Non-Oversampling) and OS (Oversampling), the Harmony DAC 2 also offers selectable 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x upsampling, meaning it can convert a CD to a maximum of 705.6kHz when set to 16x. Because I value bass solidity, incisiveness, and overall robustness more than airiness and spaciousness, I generally prefer listening to music at native resolution, and I particularly like the concrete coherence and precision of NOS. However, musical tastes and systems differ, so it is always good to have options.
When you select In-house Oversampling instead of NOS, the DAC becomes smoother, more liquid, and a little sweeter, offering a useful alternative to NOS’s comparatively stricter, drier sound and benefiting unforgiving setups. When selecting Sample Rate Conversion (SRC), the DAC sounds leaner, airier, and more lightfooted as the chosen rate increases. In this mode, you can also choose between a sharp and a slow filter. Interestingly, and unusually, the slow filter has a very audible treble rolloff. A rolled-off treble response is a defining characteristic of slow filters in general, but with the DACs I used with similar selectable fast/slow filters so far, the treble only started rolling off at the very top of the frequency range. Here, the roll-off begins in the upper midrange and is so pronounced that I can’t see a use for it. Fortunately, it’s an optional setting.
A comparison with the CH C1.2 DAC confirms that the big Swiss DAC does not need to fear for its reference status. Although the Harmony DAC 2 improves on the original and I like it even more, it still offers a different sonic perspective. For instance, the C1.2 has a more powerful, richer, more organic sound with a grander soundstage whilst still offering reference-grade resolution, focus, and precision. Of course, the price differential is enormous, but that’s how it is with high-end audio. The last bit of performance costs the most. For smaller budgets, the Harmony DAC 2 offers all the functionality you could want (except AES/EBU due to space constraints, but you can add this using the LExt IN2), along with a level if sound quality I would not have thought possible at this price point even a few years ago.
Conclusion
I already loved the original Harmony DAC, but I now find the H2 even more impressive than its predecessor. Used on its own (with its internal clock), I consider the Harmony DAC 2 the reference at its price point, and quite a bit beyond. Paired with an external clock, its performance rises to a level where it can compete with DACs at twice its cost.
Highly recommended, and a HFA Favorite!
External Links
Manufacturer: LAiV Audio
