"I don't think for a moment that darTZeel is price-gouging. All of the metalwork and custom componentry, not to mention that hand-hewn Swiss precision, undoubtedly does cost a lot, but the question of value rests not on whether a price is fair, but whether it's right. Much as I admired, even loved the CTH-8550, my inability to forget its price indicates that it isn't the right price for me. But love it I did. Using it made me feel good, which is what that "pride of ownership" thing is all about. It was about as transparent a window onto recordings as I have ever heard. And because darTZeel products are a little quirky—a Control for dialing in Less or More Pleasure, ho-ho—they reflect the personality of their creator, Hervé Delétraz, which made me feel a personal connection to the manufacturer. All of those elements do create added values—albeit values that are completely subjective and personal. I was floored by the CTH-8550's quality, performance, and convenience. It is a dream component. Unfortunately, dreaming is about as close as this humble scribe can come to owning one." @Stereophile Wes Philips 
http://stereophile.com/integratedamps/dartzeel_cth-8550_integrated_amplifier/
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