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This tubed preamp sounds too good to be true. Build quality and features seem to be all there. My thought is that one's ears do not care where a piece of audio equipment is built, or how much it costs, if it sounds excellent to begin with. I've never heard this preamp, but do you think it's worth a shot for someone like me on a strict budget, who wants to get into tubes? I'll be driving Magnepan MG-12's with a McIntosh MC162 amp, with a sole CDP/HDCD/SACD source (no LP's or MP3's). Thank you.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Dared-SL-2000A-pure-tube-preamp-a-USB-DAC-module_W0QQitemZ250517492003QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a54019123
I paired one with an Audio Zone chip amp and realy liked the results. Do swap out tubes for NOS, it is a night and day difference. It seemed to me that this dared is more of a tube buffer/volume control than an active preamp,... in the sense that it effects the texture and bloom of the notes of music and not the dynamics and soundstage. Highly recommended in certain setups where budget is concerned.
I had one and it's good for the money, but it's not great unless you get good complement of tubes to replace the stock garbage they include. The rectifier tube is the first you should replace. When you factor in the cost of new tubes, and the limitations of 2 inputs, it's not as great of a buy as it may appear at first, but for the right situation definitely worth considering.
I have one in storage and wholeheartedly agree.
I'm in a very similar situation. I'm driving MG 12s(with modified crossover) with a McCormack DNA-1. I'm using a TAD-150 tubed pre.and a Raysonic CD 128. Recently on a whim I bought an Axiom passive pre($160.00 W/Caddock resistors)I just got it today and on first listen it's extremely clean, clear ,and accurate.I'll report back as I listen more,but for the money how can you go wrong!!! You have to supply some basic system info and they either have it in stock or build it for you.
If it's 1/10 as good as the huge page of hype the selling puts on the ebay listing, it must be absolutely &^%$#@! fantastic!
But I suspect it's just another piece of Chinese middle of the road, ripped off design, gear that looks tricky but performs adequately.
You get a trial period, so why not?
Regards, Allen
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