You'll be amazed if you're DS2 doesn't have the ODAM caps already. That's where I am now. It's so good that improvements surprise me, it escapes reason because it sounds so close to live as it is! Don is using Spatial Audio now, so I suppose that I could find an improvement there, but that's more than I am willing to pay, and they don't appear to be making them, or anything as Clayton is apparently in the hospital. The tubes I told you about will give fuller sound without sacrificing detail. It's as if the tubes you have run out of steam before the instruments should, but until you hear them, you won't believe it because the Chinese tubes are very good. If I had not heard the other tubed I would have been quite content with them.
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
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I sent an email to Don asking about upgrades and my remote. My remote stopped working and thought it was dead batteries. Replaced them and still don’t work. In my music listening excitement, I got startled how good the vocals and emotions that was coming through from Josh Groban’ Noel album that my remote feel between the cusions. When I took it out, that’s when it stopped working. is there a button sequence to pair the remote or is my remote just busted? |
@rbautista congratulations on the DS preamp. It is quite an ear opener. I think the remote is set to the preamp and doesn't have to be "paired" . Don't believe there is any way to change this. Bummer. Since you changed the batteries, the only other thing I can think of is try cleaning the remote's IR window. A long shot, but easy to do. Good luck, aldnorab
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I tried the unplug suggestion in hopes something would reset. Left it unplugged over night and no dice. I sent an email to Roy if he has any suggestions while I wait for Don to reply to my remote and upgrade questions. Fingers crossed this could be resolved by getting a new remote and not send in to Don. |
- 144 posts total