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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

aldnorab
aldnorab OP
181 posts
 

As good as the Model 2 sounds, I've been missing sweetness and delicacy in the high frequencies. Sound leans towards early CD digital sound, no give and little decay. Not quite effortless.

I've had other tube equipment, but used the new tubes they shipped with and always bought new replacements. With the Model 2 I'm using the 1950's and 60's tubes supplied by the original owner. I have 2 new Linlai 6sn7 on the way.

Read about using a Dremel to buff old tube pins. The buffing wheel looks to be made of soft cotton. The pins already looked clean and chromey. Except, the 2 Ken-Rad VT 231. They were almost black. Even after polishing they are no where near chrome finished. More dirty brass colored.

The sonic improvements are amazing. The high frequencies are more natural with  sweetness and decay. Just more pleasant all around. Amazing difference. Highly recommended.

Thanks,

aldnorab

aldnorab OP
181 posts
 

Just received the 2 Linlai E 6sn7 tubes ordered last month. I'll try them in both circuit locations. If they beat out my GE/Ken-Rad, I will order 2 more.

These are huge tubes. Newer D Sachs have wider spacing. They will not fit in my older wood top D Sachs directly. They require a socket saver to raise 1 tube higher than the other. I used the savers from AES. Even this BARELY fits. The tubes are so close together a credit card won't fit between the globes. It would be nice if someone made an adapter to space the tubes further apart. May have to diy a couple.

Thanks,

aldnorab

 

aldnorab OP
181 posts
 

I should have said RCA/Ken-Rad tubes above^. 

Sorry,

aldnorab

bugredmachine's avatar
bugredmachine
526 posts
 

Question for D2 owners; do you have tube rush at zero throttle? My Wilson's aren't overly sensitive at 91 db and the amp is a Cherry 2. I enjoy the sound but what keeps coming back to me is the Pass XP12 was almost dead quiet as a solid state unit. It wasn't nearly as musical as the tube set I have in the Sachs.

 

I'm going to try cleaning my tube pins and pulling out some tube dampers to try and see if they help. This is 15 inches from the tweeter, a small hisssss.

jackd
1,086 posts
 

Depending on the input sensitivity/gain of the Cherry amps with the 18db gain of the Sachs and the 91db efficiency of your speakers what you are hearing is normal. Especially if the input sensitivity of the amp is under 2 volts.  

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