DK Design VS.1 Reference mkII - Optimization

Jon,

I was coressponding with Daniel some time ago, and in one of his emails he wrote the following:

The line-stage has variable gain. There are small potentiometers on the pre-amp board next to each tube. The potentiometer is adjustable with a screw driver and you can set the optimal gain for your system if needed.

I've tried this yesterday without any luck, the volume is still at 9-10 for notmal listening level. So, I guess I'll have to contact DK Design and see what they will advise....I let you know.

If you are not in a big hurry, apparently exemplaraudio.com will modify (commissioned project) these to add their "active" tube control circuit design as seen in some other tube preamps as well as other design issues (capacitor / power supply mismatching) and upgrades to parts. They are known for mods to the Denon 2900 & others to kick them up into a higher performance category. They also offer build services on the Bottlehead Valve Kits. Also rumored to be the design source for some of the DK signature version improvements....

This is incorrect information.
John Tucker is Vice President of Operations of LSA Group.
This is not a mod, but a collaboration between John and myself for the improvement of the original design.
I don't know how rumors like this become so convoluted, John has worked for us for about a year now, and brings a remarkable technology with him.
These are stock units, that being the Reference, all QC'd by our Seattle facility, John's facility, then an upgrade to the preamp section only, the Signature Edition, with the final upgrade being to STATEMENT Version, which is a full exchange of parts in all areas, replacing inexpensive op amps, utilizing Active Tube Loads, stabilizing the tubes into the 4/6 MHZ region, generally unheard of.
This is definitely NOT a mod, but a factory recognized, and internal event.
Just so everyone understands the relationship, John IS a part of the LSA Group Team, brining his full expertise to the company. We are fortunate indeed to have him aboard.

Best,
Larry R. Staples
LSA Group
President/Designer

I found a matched pair of RCA 7308 tubes and am thoroughly enjoying them. I would like to explore getting the Four Camille Cascode Constant Current Sources (C4S) to replace the stock plate load resistors ala Bottlehead topography and possibly replacing some of the stock caps with VH audio V-caps or better. Too bad DK does not presently offer past product upgrade support from Exemplar....

Jomoinc,
Please read the correspondence preceeding yours.

Larry R Staples
President/Designer
LSA Group