DAC LAiV Harmony Review
LAiV Audio is an emerging Hi-Fi electronics brand based in Singapore. Its first device is a DAC, recently joined by a headphone amplifier, and will be followed in 2025 by a streamer as well as power amplifier blocks. This high-end approach converter uses R2R modules with a technology currently highly prized by audiophiles.
It is sold at $3,300, a steep price, but one that may seem very reasonable for a device of this kind. Let’s see if it lives up to its promises both in terms of build quality and in delivering outstanding performance and exquisite musicality.
by Pierre Stemmelin
The LAiV Harmony DAC is a compact electronic device with a luxurious design. Housed in an “unibody” chassis—literally carved out of a block of aluminum—it features a large monochrome OLED display. All its buttons are made of gold-colored metal, milled from solid material. The attention to detail extends all the way to its three small cone-shaped feet and their matching cups, each bearing the brand’s name.
A compact, very upscale unit that’s less minimalist than it appears
The front controls of the LAiV Harmony DAC are limited to a power button in the left-hand corner with a double bevel, an “enter/return” menu button, and a pressure knob on the right-hand rounded side. This knob’s rotation feels a bit loose. This is the only small imperfection one might notice in the exterior finish. A remote control, also made entirely of metal and quite upscale, is provided as well.
Despite its apparent simplicity, this converter’s equipment and features are by no means minimalistic. The rear panel includes four digital inputs. There is no AES/EBU port, but there is an HDMI I2S input, as well as dual analog outputs: unbalanced on RCA and balanced on XLR. You’ll also notice a rather unusual component: two screw terminals and a jumper allow you to couple the chassis ground to the mains earth—or decouple them.
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The LAiV Harmony DAC accepts digital signals up to 768 kHz PCM (effective resolution not specified) and DSD256. It offers two operating modes: OS (with oversampling up to 768 kHz) or NOS (no oversampling). You can also choose whether the audio phase is positive or negative.
An aluminum safe with shielded R2R conversion modules
The LAiV Harmony DAC is a very dense device, surprisingly heavy for its size. Under its hood, the construction is just as clean and impeccable as in the images provided by the manufacturer. The chassis is carved out of a block of aluminum, with just the bottom and rear panel added—both also made of aluminum—and featuring walls 6 mm thick. It provides several compartments for the different stages.
The toroidal power transformer is separate and isolated by a sheet of Mu-metal. Rated at 115 VA, it would be worthy of a small integrated stereo amplifier. It is followed by two independent filtering stages, also isolated from the rest of the circuits—one for the digital section and the other for the analog section.
The conversion section operates in balanced mode using two proprietary shielded R2R modules. Unlike typical off-the-shelf DAC chips from major foundries like ESS, AKM, or Texas Instruments, R2R modules are discrete component circuits. They use an array of resistors, here calibrated at 0.05%, each corresponding to a bit level. This is the architecture used by the very first conversion circuits in history, before they were integrated into chips. In the Harmony DAC, all operations are driven by an Intel Altera Cyclone FPGA and two Crystek CCHD-957 clocks of FEMTO precision grade.
Finally, the output stage is somewhat more traditional. Although balanced, it uses op amps rather than discrete components.
A sound reproduction with plenty of punch and superb definition in the bass
DACs equipped with R2R-type modules are very popular right now in the international esoteric audiophile scene. For some, they represent the holy grail of digital-to-analog conversion. The approach of using circuits made up of a multitude of discrete components with the tightest tolerances possible is naturally more high-end and therefore more expensive than relying on an all-in-one conversion chip. But does it really make a difference? In purely technical terms, to be sure, we turned to forumer Vintage Flanker, who measured the LAiV Harmony DAC on his test bench.
The results are unequivocal: the signal-to-noise ratio and distortion levels fall short of the standards of today’s best conversion chips. However, they remain completely acceptable—nothing prohibitive and right at the threshold of what the human ear can perceive. Furthermore, while these results point to a slight lack of precision and some coloration, they do not imply poor subjective sound or musical performance.
Indeed, though imperfect on the test bench, the LAiV Harmony DAC immediately won us over in listening. It delivers a sound reproduction that can be described as organic, bringing us closer to a more “analog-like” sound rather than a “digital” one. We felt its tonal balance was both slightly downward and physiologically pleasing. The stereo image is very expansive, with a strong sense of depth and grand scale. The acoustics of the recording venue are highlighted, becoming apparent when the recording quality allows.
The LAiV Harmony DAC provides a very dynamic, punchy sound, with an impressive sense of fullness and ease. The difference between its NOS and OS modes was not striking to our ears—maybe the OS mode added a hint more definition and fluidity. By comparison with the built-in DAC of our Primare i25 amp (which we usually use as a reference), there was no contest. The bass register of the LAiV converter struck us in particular for its solidity, impact, and clearly superior articulation. It completely transformed our system in that area. With its richly embodied timbres and energetic delivery, the LAiV Harmony DAC is the antithesis of a cold, overly analytical, and ethereal presentation.
Specifications
- Type: Stereo converter with R2R modules
- Display: 3.83-inch OLED, 302 x 132 pixels
- Digital inputs: 1x USB-B, Optical Toslink, Coaxial RCA, HDMI I2S
- Analog outputs: RCA and XLR
- Accepted digital signals: up to 768 kHz PCM and DSD256
- Output level: 4.15 Vrms on XLR and 2.07 Vrms on RCA
- Output impedance: 600 ohms on RCA and 1200 ohms on XLR
- Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz at ±0.25 dB
- Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): 0.0035%, Crosstalk: >110 dB, Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): >123 dBA, Dynamic range: >110 dBA
- Weight: 4.3 kg
In summary
The LAiV Harmony DAC is a high-end stereo converter featuring R2R modules and outstanding build quality. It proves that listening pleasure cannot be summed up solely by measurements on a test bench. The vitality of its presentation, the sense of substance and density it imparts to timbres, and the sturdiness and impact of its bass make it a highly addictive audiophile product.
Good features! Better design! Best sound? LAiV Harmony DAC review
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