Don Sachs Owners Thread
A place to discuss amps, preamps, and phono stages from Don Sachs.
I just purchased a like new D2 linestage. It has 2 gain controls, 64 step volume control, and digital volume readout. It is set up for the new rectifier. This is my first 6sn7 based linestage. It came with Ken-Rad Vt 231and gray RCA tubes. There are 3 rectifier tubes. A huge Philco 6BY5G, a Tung-Sol 6BY5G, and a Bendix 5852. There is also an Ice Age Audio power cord. With 2 different sounding outputs there are a lot of options. I need to find out what value the output caps are. I have the D2 connected at the moment to a VTL ST150. Input impedance is 125K and 2v in for maximum gain.
I placed the RCA tubes in left front and rear and Ken-Rad in the right. Used Philco rectifier. Plugged VTL amp into output 1. The brightest sounding preamp I've ever heard. It was comical, bass drums sounded more like cymbals. Output 2 sounds like normal music. This surprises me. With 125K input, I thought there would be no problem getting bass response.
Some questions.
1. Are the 6Sn7's in the right locations? I guessed by looking at the sellers photograph.
2. Is the Ice Age Audio the AC cord the brand Don offers as an option?
3. I'll audition all 3 but which rectifier would be considered tops?
The linestage sounds amazing.
Thanks,
aldnorab
Don't know anything about the Dennis Had amps, but what you describe sounds like a bad pot, with a damaged area on the carbon track. Sometimes this can be resolved with plenty of contact cleaner, but if the track is damaged, the contact cleaner will make no difference. If contact cleaner plus lots of rotation solves the problem, congratulations! You just saved yourself some money. If you replace one pot, you should replace the other channel as well, so they continue to match. |
I was so lucky to have purchased the DS2 preamp back in February, but it won't be in use to drive my First Watt F4 amp until my speakers are finished. https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650073006-don-sachs-ds2-tube-preamp/images/4929521/ Meanwhile, can anyone verify the value of those large silver caps are obviously V-Cap Odam caps? Can they be only 1.5uf? And are those large red caps definitely V-Caps too? And the value? But which pair of caps connected to which pair of outputs? Looks like the red caps might be connected to those pair of RCAs which the owner had stuck end caps over. Yes?
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There is an upgraded Valhalla amp on sale at the link for a discounted price by Cloud Sessions, the tech that Don Sachs has taught and turned over the job of making Valhallas: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650125205-don-sachs-integrated-valhalla/ |
