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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 27, 2013 11:17:29 GMT -5
Got this in Thursday, set it up this Saturday morning & let it rip. As expected, there was a slight hum at power up, but after a minute or two it went away and the thing was dead quiet. Initial impressions with Vivaldi: Wow bass for a tube unit - good pitch definition and good extension Tube midrange without goop - Sweet sounding and clear NON-tube sounding treble - clear, airy, and extended Better soundstage than without the preamp in the system - deep & wide If this puppy "burns in" to sound as good as it does now, it's a keeper. It has all the features I need: 2 inputs, switchable 2 variable outputs (if I ever want a sub again) Remote volume Small form-factor Associated equipment: Audioquest Dragonfly digital source from laptop + Oppo disc player + Emotiva XPA-2 power amp + Definitive Technology Studio Monitor 65 speakers For $450, it seems to be a good deal. I'll keep it until Emotive comes out with theirs!  |
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Post by GreenKiwi on Apr 27, 2013 11:41:06 GMT -5
That is a very nice looking unit. I'm glad you are liking the sound it has. I really love tube preamps. Well I love good tube power amps, just don't have the space or funds for the ones I would want.  |
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Post by garbulky on Apr 27, 2013 11:44:12 GMT -5
VERY NICE
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Post by pedrocols on Apr 27, 2013 12:38:08 GMT -5
I was about to get one of those until I saw the one I have for a few hundreds more....I am sure you will want to keep it and besides it looks real nice! Just replace the light on the remote with a blue one... ;D
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 27, 2013 12:39:27 GMT -5
For a "few hundreds more," I'd have bought an Audio Research line stage...
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Post by ocezam on Apr 27, 2013 16:06:30 GMT -5
That is a very nice looking unit. I'm glad you are liking the sound it has. I really love tube preamps. Well I love good tube power amps, just don't have the space or funds for the ones I would want. Agreed. ... |
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Post by ocezam on Apr 27, 2013 16:10:13 GMT -5
I was about to get one of those until I saw the one I have for a few hundreds more....I am sure you will want to keep it and besides it looks real nice! Just replace the light on the remote with a blue one... ;D A few hundred more? Isn't your BaLaNcEd AuDiO TeChNoLoGy Vk-3i like $3K? ... |
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 28, 2013 8:30:31 GMT -5
One other thing I notice about this unit is its exceptional dynamics. The range from very soft to very loud is fully intact and when the music swells (or the soundtrack booms), the preamp makes the most of the change in volume!
I'm only on the second day with this unit (yesterday, I played a variety of music; last night I played a movie; this morning, I'm doing chamber music), but the more I listen, the better I like it.
So far, it looks like $450 well spent!
I have some NOS Mullards in the closet and may try some tube rolling eventually, but for now, I'm just enjoying the music!
Of course, now comes the successive questions -
Since I have VTL compact 100s laying around, should I plug them in instead of the XPA-2 and try a "full-tube" chain?
Since I have Klipsch Cornwalls & Heresys laying around, should I plug them in and try a "horn-loaded speaker" chain?
Since I have a Velodyne subwoofer laying around, should I use the second output of the Dared and try a subwoofer in the chain?
Choices, choices, choices...
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Post by pedrocols on Apr 28, 2013 10:05:07 GMT -5
I was about to get one of those until I saw the one I have for a few hundreds more....I am sure you will want to keep it and besides it looks real nice! Just replace the light on the remote with a blue one... ;D A few hundred more? Isn't your BaLaNcEd AuDiO TeChNoLoGy Vk-3i like $3K? ... YeS. It Is $3k WiTh ThE PhOnO StAgE AnD ThE ReMoTe AnD BrAnD NeW. MiNe Is NoT bRaNd NeW. HeNcE,"A fEw HuNdReDs MoRe"... BuT StIlL SoUnDs LiKe $3k... ;D |
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hemster
Global Moderator 
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,951
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Post by hemster on Apr 28, 2013 10:12:05 GMT -5
^What's with the mixed case words?  |
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Post by pedrocols on Apr 28, 2013 10:15:32 GMT -5
^What's with the mixed case words? I think is because is Sunday and have too much time in my hands...  |
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Post by ocezam on Apr 28, 2013 10:55:04 GMT -5
^What's with the mixed case words? I think is because is Sunday and have too much time in my hands... So it was a Sunday when you typed your signature? .. |
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Post by ocezam on Apr 28, 2013 10:58:46 GMT -5
So far, it looks like $450 well spent! Glad you're happy. Dared's have a good reputation among Chinese tube preamps. I thought long and hard about them when I bought mine. In the end, I went as cheap as possible knowing I will get a "keeper" tube preamp in time. Since I have VTL compact 100s laying around, should I plug them in instead of the XPA-2 and try a "full-tube" chain? Since I have Klipsch Cornwalls & Heresys laying around, should I plug them in and try a "horn-loaded speaker" chain? Since I have a Velodyne subwoofer laying around, should I use the second output of the Dared and try a subwoofer in the chain? Heck yes to all of them! Swapping gear is the fun part, yes? ... |
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Post by Boomzilla on May 5, 2013 11:56:13 GMT -5
Well the Dared certainly SOUNDS good with the XPA-2 despite the small hum. Swapping to the Mullard tubes didn't help.
I plugged in a $10 yard sale SAE-3000 preamp (solid state) and was startled at the loss of sound stage. Out with the SAE.
This week, I plan to plug in the VTL compact 100 tube monoblocks & see how that does. If I have time, I'll also run the Rouge Audio Tempest Magnum tube integrated through the system. I also plan to borrow neighbor's HK AV receiver to see how it does.
Also, this week, if I have time, I plan to build the risers for the speakers and get that project finished.
Yes, swapping gear is part of the fun.
Cheers - Boomzilla
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Post by pedrocols on May 5, 2013 14:24:12 GMT -5
I think is because is Sunday and have too much time in my hands... So it was a Sunday when you typed your signature? .. YeS It WaS JuSt LiKe ToDaY...!!  |
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Post by ramasubr on May 7, 2013 12:45:31 GMT -5
I have the Dared MP5, it also exhibited the hum. CMX2 cured most of the hum issue but its not completely gone. I also found that replacing the stock power cord with something a little bit fancier makes a small difference in the sound stage. Or it could be all in my head |
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Post by Boomzilla on May 7, 2013 15:32:35 GMT -5
Hi ramasubr -
What's a CMX2?
Thanks - Boomzilla
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Post by AudioHTIT on May 7, 2013 15:36:35 GMT -5
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Post by Boomzilla on May 7, 2013 17:40:31 GMT -5
Thank you KINDLY! I'll try a cheater plug first, but if that doesn't help, then the CMX2 certainly can't hurt... |
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