NHB-108 Model 1B

About the NHB-108 Model 1B

The darTZeel NHB-108 Model One (also referenced as Model 1B) is a stereo power amplifier designed with the principles of simplicity, purity, and reliability. It features an open-loop input and output stage with no global negative feedback, employing only six transistors per polarity side and a single pair of bipolar output transistors per channel. The amplifier delivers about 20 watts in pure class-A operation and a total power output of 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 160 watts into 4 ohms. It is a dual-mono design with separate power supplies and large filter capacitors for each channel, housed in a CNC-routed aluminum case with damped and decoupled compartments. The NHB-108 Model One is particular about speaker impedance, offering internal switches to optimize performance for speakers above or below 4 ohms. It uses high-quality components such as gold-plated WBT binding posts and BNC connectors for proprietary Zeel inputs. The amplifier is known for its very wide bandwidth (1 Hz to 1 MHz), extremely low temporal distortion, and a unique aesthetic with polished gold bus bars and a mineral glass top panel. It runs warm due to its class-A bias and weighs approximately 65 pounds. The design avoids relay switches or fuses in the signal path and includes crowbar protection circuitry to guard against excessive output current and voltage drift. The NHB-108 Model One has earned legendary status among audiophiles for its musicality and engineering excellence.