2. amps-preamps
  3. 124701-34530

Douk Audio. Any experience with any of their products?

I've seen several products under this name on eBay in recent history, including a tube preamp board that looks pretty impressive. Especially for the money.   They reference a pretty exotic Audionote preamp in the title.  

Douk Kondo Audionote

I noticed the url on the board, and decided to find out more. Turns out the entire website is blank. Assuming this was an error, I messaged the seller.

"Hi,
I was interested in learning more about the Kondo board, and tried the website to see what info was there, and I get a blank page. Just fyi."

I thought they might appreciate the heads up about the error. Instead, I received this response:
 
"Hi dear customer
wish you have a nice day
the amp board designed by our designers
so you cant find it
best regards
Douk-Amy :)"


Not exactly a confidence builder. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has had direct experience with these folks.
128x128pixelriffic
pixelriffic's avatar
pixelriffic OP
26 posts
 
I do appreciate the info on ebay feedback.  What I'm really looking for is any experience with the sound of their products.
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
Last night set up my Dug Mei AV-21 I bought from Doukaudio. (Using as pre-amp on top of my Adcam 5002 amp driving Dynaudio DM2/6 spks.) In a word...superb sound. I bought on Ebay an inexpensive input swicher box (JVC) which I will use between my CDP, tuner, record player and CD recorder. Haven't received this yet. I wanted to get familiar the sound to see how much the sound gets affected. Since the pre/amp, tube buffer is passive I had to turn up the volume. No problem at all. In the first hr. the sound was so-so. I heard the potential...the second hr. the sound blossomed. Unit is larger than expected and build quality appears excellent. Using the stock 12AU7 tubes which came w/the unit and may exchange w/some vintage RCA tubes I have in the future. Overall, too new to comment on long term longevity. But for the little $, quite pleased so far. Doukaudio promptly sent the unit (pack very well) and arrived in perfect condition. Hope this helps....Bill.
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
Dun Mei Av-21. Sorry...
pixelriffic's avatar
pixelriffic OP
26 posts
 
Thanks Bill.  That's great to hear.  New components go through a break in period, so it's understandable the sound improved over time.  It's great to actually hear about the sonics of one of their products.   They seem almost too good to be true for the pricing.  I was a little skeptical when I could find no mention online from someone who had actually listened to one.  This hybrid looks very interesting.  

Thanks again.  
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
Well... Today I took out the Chinese 12AU7 tubes which came w/the unit and put in the 1958 RCA tubes that I bought recently just for this pre-amp/buffer. Night and day difference for the better. What a great way to experience such musical sound for so little $. (Maybe the stock Chinese tubes needed more break in? But I have not read on the internet any praise for Chinese tubes, so decided to change out. Glad I did.)
More to discover