LAiV Harmony DAC 2 And LAiV Crescendo BEAT PSU
LAIV HARMONY DAC 2 AND LAIV CRESCENDO BEAT POWER SUPPLY INTRODUCED
LAiV has announced two new products: the New LAiV Harmony DAC 2, a flagship R2R DAC, and the LAiV Crescendo BEAT, a dual-output linear power supply designed for digital front-end components.
Singapore-based HiFi brand LAiV describes the two products as developments of its existing Harmony and Crescendo ranges, with the DAC focusing on digital conversion and the power supply providing power for compatible source components.
LAiV HARMONY DAC 2
The LAiV Harmony DAC 2 retains a fully balanced, discrete R2R architecture and adds a discrete Class A output buffer. XLR and RCA outputs can operate concurrently, with low output impedance. The DAC offers three conversion options: Pure NOS, LAiV’s in-house operating system and a dedicated hardware SRC stage, while DSD remains native NOS.
The Harmony DAC 2 also features a direct 10MHz master clock input, allowing connection to a reference clock without a DDC. Other changes include full digital isolation, 12V trigger integration, a colour LCD display and USB-C firmware updates. LAiV says an upgrade kit is also planned for existing Harmony DAC owners, bringing selected DAC 2 improvements to the earlier model.
LAiV CRESCENDO BEAT
The Crescendo BEAT is a dual-output linear power supply intended to power two compatible components simultaneously. It provides a 15V/2A rail and a 5V/3A rail, allowing it to replace two separate power adapters. The unit uses a 70VA toroidal transformer and two-stage linear regulation, with the company specifying noise as low as 10uVrms.
The 15V output is intended for products including the Crescendo VERSE and Harmony µDAC, while the 5V output can be used with streamers and the Harmony µDDC. LAiV also states that the power supply can be used with other compatible 5V or 15V equipment. Two DC cables are included, and the fanless aluminium chassis is available in black or silver. Protection circuitry and a mains selector are also included.
LAiV HARMONY DAC 2 AND CRESCENDO BEAT PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The LAiV Harmony DAC 2 is priced at US$3,994, with first units scheduled to ship in September and the initial production run described as very limited. The Crescendo BEAT is priced at US$494 and is available from August, with availability in the USA from September. LAiV states that both products will be available in the USA from September.
HiFi PiG says: We have been impressed with the sound, styling and price of LAiV products when we have encountered them at recent HiFi Shows.
