Line Stage Preamps that blew you away $2500 Edition

@gochurchgo 

I got my hours wrong, the DS2 has only 15 to 20 hours on it. Don't know where the 50 came from, although Don told me it would take that long to break in. 

It started out with a bit too much treble, but that went away pretty fast; and it is more detailed compared to the CJ 17LS2. Also, the DS2  soundstage is a bit taller and deeper. 

My goal was to try 6SN7 tubes in a preamp, which are supposed to sound different than the 6992 tubes in the CJ. So far I am not able to comment on that. Again, early times with the DS2.

By the way, the comments about Don Sachs being good to work with are true. He is knowledgeable and will take the time to share and does not sugar coat things. 

Thanks for listening,

Dsper

For an excellent holographic, low noise 6SN7 preamp look at used Cary SLP 98.

tones and timbre are spooky real.

bulletproof design, excellent customer service department.  

The Ear 834p is hard to beat at half that price....heck even my pro-ject tube box ds2 @ a grand is pretty sweet. If I was to spend that much, which I wouldn’t, it would be the Tavish Design Adagio @ $2200.

The EAR-Yoshino 834 is not a line stage amp, it is a phono stage. But speaking of EAR, the 868L IS a line stage pre-amp (a real good one), available used for around $3k. The 868PL is the same line stage with a phono stage, which go used for around a grand more.

Don Sachs Pre-2 wow, replaced my AR-5SE with Don's and pocked $4k.