Dodd preamp vs. McCormack RLD-1 preamp

Well, what I ended up getting are a matched pair of Amperex 6dj8s from 1958 made in Holland with the "D" getter. All I can say is that any comments about the Dodd must be made with regard to the tubes being used. As good as the Dodd is with the JJs, the Amperexes really take it up a notch in an obvious manner. Smoother, more textured, and much more holographic - in other words fantastic. What is certain is that the Dodd is a SOTA preamp platform for letting whatever tubes you use in it shine. I'm sure there will be debates between the Dodd and RWA contingents, and though I'm a curious audiophile that likes to try equipment more than I should, I'm keeping the Dodd for a while, at least:) At $2,600 (the new lower direct price, was $3,300), this preamp is perfectly capable of taking on much more expensive competitors - many of which I have owned. Try some NOS tubes in this thing, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Pubul57, is this Amperex 6dj8 that you have also called "Bugle Boy"??

I did try a pair of "Bugle Boy" from Andy Bowman, but I found it a little too warm to my taste, probably because I already have a tube amplifier which is already warm enough. So I switch back to the JJ tubes on the Dodd. I'm waiting for Andy to send me a pair of Siemen 6922.

I'm not sure if it is called Bugle Boy. It is the first 6dj8 that Amperex made and it has D Getter, and is made in Holland. It is the very first tube listed on Andy's stock list, and not cheap. I'm using the Dodd with a Music Reference RM9 Special Edition which is quite nuetral tonally and Merlin VSMs so if the Amperex is generally warm it would be a good match for my system. If the Siemens are like other Siemens, it will certainly leaner (more linear?) than the Amperex. I wish I bought these tubes at the drugstore when the $1 :).

57,

VTS took over 5 weeks to send my Amperex tubes. I hope you fair better than I did.

To me five weeks is way to long to wait on two tubes. I sent them back.

Pubul57, How do they compare in the frequency extremes and dynamics to the JJ's?
I believe the bugle boys have the little cartoon on the tubes but not on the box.
Your right the Dodd is one of the best especially when you consider the price of $2600.