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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
rbautista
97 posts
 

@ptrck887 I tried the SVS footers which good results with the DS preamp.

 

I've unfortunately am moving from the DS preamp.  It's a great tube preamp which I enjoyed and gave me a good introdution what a tube pre could sound in my setup.  With my new NSMT 100 speakers, the sound just sounded to colored with the DS.  I did try a more neutral sounding tube like Sylvania but then things became a bit too analytical for me.  Couldn't find a middle ground with the tubes I had on hand so I decided to try my Placette passive again.  The neutrality of the Placette brought back the balance I was looking for when I had the DS preamp and my Maggie 1.6's.  

Things have been hectic for me lately and hope to put the DS up 4sale in the near future. Keeping holding on that I may switch back to the DS but at this point seem unlikely.  Even my wife agrees she really likes the current setup.

lynn_olson's avatar
lynn_olson
356 posts
 

The DS Valhalla and Kootenai are hidden gems. I didn’t design them, that’s all on Don, but Spatial is selling them at very fair prices, considering what’s inside ... point-to-point wiring, high-end caps, a classic circuit, and an all-octal tube lineup.

Yes, I've owned a DS preamp too. That's how I met Don, and things went from there.

whitestix
719 posts
 

Contemplating a move abroad, I have decided to part with my "shoe box" version of Don/Lynn's 300b monos, which were recently upgraded to the maximum extent possible.  My ad is on AM. 

aperez1958
8 posts
 

I recently purchased a DS PRE, and love it with a Dennis Had amp. The pre is an early model with the left and right gain dials. Sporadically the left channel goes silent until I fiddle with the left gain dial, then the sound comes back. Could this be a tube or the physical gain dial? 
 

 

lynn_olson's avatar
lynn_olson
356 posts
 

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.

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