Dodd preamp vs. McCormack RLD-1 preamp

Pubul,

I think there are only a handful of us using Dodd & Merlins, and don't really think there is any magic here. Both pieces tend to be very transparent and when any good transparent gear is used together, it tends to be synergistic. The trouble in many systems is that by constantly trying to offset flaws in one piece with opposite flaws in another, many get away from a long term truer solution; a transparent system. IMO the closer you get to SOTA, the more transparent the gear is, and that's part of why diminishing returns set in at the very top $$$ end of the spectrum. Cheers,
Spencer
PS: If new fees continue, see you on Audioasylum.

Spencer, I totally agree on the importance on neutrality/transparency to the source as the guiding principle for building a system - otherwise you end up with mix and match synergies that is more like a bandaid approach to getting good sound and you end up having to take a new system approach when you change pieces and what "helped" in one system may too much or too little woth a new component. I think the Dodd and Merlin (and the CAT gear) follow the principle of basic neutrality without too much flavor, in either case if you need mathcing colorations neither may seem to work just right, but in combination they make for a very good pairing indeed. I notice there are now at least 4 Dodd/Merlin pairings (including us) which seems like a lot given there can't be that many Dodd sold yet. Neutrality also seems to be one of the secrets to the Atma/Merlin, CAT/Merlin, and Berning/Merlin combos - none are overtly colored and all highly resolving while musical. Paul.

I thought I had "graduated" from separates with my Plinius 9100 (in one setup) and a 8200 MKII (in another). Also tried Audio Analogue Puccini 70...all with the Merlins.

But I still couldn't quite get the sound promised by Merlin TSM-MMe's. Merlins are so revealing and transparent...and I wasn't getting that. So back to separates. First my modded BC 21.1 (I always liked that pre), my Audible Illusions L2, and then the Dodd (after reading Mariusz rave about it). With amps, it was a McCormack DNA 125, Rotel 1062, a B&K, and then finally the Pass Aleph J.

The Dodd, Aleph J, and the Merlins seemed to jump out with all the soundstage, musicality, warmth, etc. I was looking for. So I have my (as I said before) my "poor-man's-refernece" system.

Can one achieve this with an integrated amp? Maybe with a Pass, Edge or Accuphase integrated for $8-12,000. But I'm not sure.

My final "tweak"...I have an Edge G6 amp which I sent to Tom for his mods and I will them compare that amp with the Pass Aleph J. Looking forward to that.

My final remark...I assumed one got synergy with int. amps...but I did not find that. Even with fairly good gear (Plinius).

Gsherwood53

I am very happy that your search for "Holly Grail" has come to the point where you can enjoy the music ones again.

"Poor Man's Reference".....I am not sure.
Money do help to make dreams come true but it is not the answer for everything.

While auditioning gear costing gazillions and those raved about brands by audiophile magazine writers (reviewers) , I came to conclusion that well advertised products with gift wrap reviews (in most cases) sound like crap.
No, no, no.......I did not say bad, no. Simply speaking the value performance ratio was of.....wayyyyy of.
Milking the naive or stupid.
Finding the real gem is all about the sound and luck.
Luck, becouse gems are not easy to find and those who found them are silent.
Dodd among few others are the few that would qualify as such and it is a shame that it does not get the exposure it deserves.
But what do you expect........

As to your amp choices.
Well Aleph J might be your best bet.
Edge is a fine amp but it just might not give you what you are looking for. Modding Edge ???? Maybe but make sure that the person in charge is You. Be clear as to what do you expect from his mods.

Good luck

Mariusz

What I love about the J is NPs decision to give it that very high input impedance (242kohm) specifically for the purpose of making it an easy load for tube preamps - a smart idea as the combination of a good tube preamp with the J is as Glenn now knows is a killer "low cost" combination; it would also proabably be very receptive to a passive preamp like a Bent Tap X. The one caveat with the J is you need "tube friendly" speakers for it to work best (highish and smooth impedance) - like the Merlins. With more "difficult" speakers I would make the move to the Pass XA30.5 with the Dodd - while the XA30.5 is not as easy a load for tube preamps, the Dodd has a very low (200ohm) output impedance for a tube preamp making it very capable of driving most SS amps - even the 15kohm XA30.5.