A damn good little system - Dared 2000A preamp, etc.

[RichPA]

Right now, I'm listening to a new setup for me that is sounding really, really good. It consists of the following:

Redgum CD5 CD player (which I won in a raffle at the Fest last year :banana:)
Dared SL-2000A tube line stage
Dynakit ST-35 tube amp
Audio Concepts (ACI) Sapphire IIILe speakers
Kimber PBJ interconnects and 8TC speaker cable

I've posted threads elsewhere on the Redgum and Dynakit, but the Dared preamp really brings this system together. It is detailed, relaxed, smooth-sounding, and just magical in the way it does voices (Dianne Reeves right now).

The new piece to me is the Dared preamp. This cute little linestage is just amazing - quiet, detailed, with great soundstaging. I replaced the stock tubes with Penta 12AT7's, which made a substantial improvement in dynamics and detail for not very much money. The overall sound is just a little "forward" but with great imaging and soundstage depth. What impresses me the most is the rich, detailed texture on voices and voice-range instruments (sax, cello, etc.) The Dared has remote control of volume, which is nice - who knows what the right volume is when they're not in the listening seat? I guess this is synergy - the ACI speakers seem to really like the Dynakit, and the Dared preamp takes things to a new level compared to the passive preamp or Rotel pre I've used with this setup before.

I was going to take some pics today, but when I went to assemble the stand I bought I found I was missing some parts. Will get some pics up later this week.

I realize this is not a very analytic review, just initial enthusiasm. But this setup costs about 1/4 of what my main system cost, and it's just very cool to hear how good it sounds - as a solid-state guy, I've gotta say this combination makes me understand why so many people are tube lovers.

[thedelihaus]

Nice write-up, Rich.

Any chance of pictures?

[luvvinvinyl]

If that is the Dared of which I am thinking, pm Kegger about tube suggestions, including the rectifier.

[Kegger]

Yah try not to spread the word around to much, but the E80CC will transform
that little guy into another league up the chain quite a bit, with the help of a
5V4G rectifier (perferably the 5V4G with the plates aligned so it looks single) I
use this thing pretty much exclusively these days. Does wonders in my system.

Funny thing Is I was/am building a pre based on the E80CC when I realized, HEY
they should work in the DARED without a problem seeing as how many other tubes
I rolled through there. Worked like a charm and by far the best tubes I used in it. :music:

Great little piece, can't beat it for the Price/Performance. :banana:

[roadie1]

I love that little preamp. It brought together my Sansui BA2000/Maggie MMG system like nothing else would. Fanstastically smooth sound. Using a RCA rectifier with Siemen ECC801's really helped bring out the potential of this guy.

My only gripe is with the dinky remote. Mine is the earlier blue key fob type. It broke early on and I had a heck of a time finding another one but eventually did. Personally I think they're somewhat of a well kept secret in our world. Maybe until now:D. Gotta love the Dared!.........R1

[jcmjrt]

I realize this is not a very analytic review, just initial enthusiasm. But this setup costs about 1/4 of what my main system cost, and it's just very cool to hear how good it sounds - as a solid-state guy, I've gotta say this combination makes me understand why so many people are tube lovers.

Yeah, really what good is just enjoying the sound? Please come back when you have measurements, graphs, specs and multi-syllabic words so you can justify enjoying it.




:p: :D

Sounds like a cool system to me. The dynaco st-35 is good - el84s and nice iron!

[Celt]

Very cool Rich! I need to experiment a bit more with my ST-35 and system. At the moment it's put away in a box. :(

[cableguy]

Very nice Rich...
I had a pair of Dared Mono 6L6 integrated's a couple of years ago that I really enjoyed. Very detailed and lush sounding amps...
I am of course not an expert, but I have found that NOS tubes are like magic for these new production amps and preamps...
I love reading success stories that contain newer Tube equipment:thmbsp:




Bill

[luvvinvinyl]

Yah try not to spread the word around to much, but the E80CC will transform
that little guy into another league up the chain quite a bit, with the help of a
5V4G rectifier (perferably the 5V4G with the plates aligned so it looks single) I
use this thing pretty much exclusively these days. Does wonders in my system.

Funny thing Is I was/am building a pre based on the E80CC when I realized, HEY
they should work in the DARED without a problem seeing as how many other tubes
I rolled through there. Worked like a charm and by far the best tubes I used in it. :music:

Great little piece, can't beat it for the Price/Performance. :banana:

Nice work, Paul. I was trying to keep that secret for you!:D

[RichPA]

Yeah, really what good is just enjoying the sound? Please come back when you have measurements, graphs, specs and multi-syllabic words so you can justify enjoying it.


Coming right up, Joyce ... or not! LOL

Appreciating this more as I listen more - a more intimate sound, for lack of a better word, than the big system upstairs. Better suited to vocals, rock, and jazz than to big orchestral stuff, not that it doesn't do well with Beethoven or Mahler. Lori loves it, and I trust her ears :)

A couple of pics:

[grumpy]

Sometimes its just hard to beat simplicity :)

[RichPA]

Yah try not to spread the word around to much, but the E80CC will transform
that little guy into another league up the chain quite a bit, with the help of a
5V4G rectifier (perferably the 5V4G with the plates aligned so it looks single) I
use this thing pretty much exclusively these days. Does wonders in my system.

Funny thing Is I was/am building a pre based on the E80CC when I realized, HEY
they should work in the DARED without a problem seeing as how many other tubes
I rolled through there. Worked like a charm and by far the best tubes I used in it. :music:

Great little piece, can't beat it for the Price/Performance. :banana:

Got a source for those tubes, especially the rectifier?

[grumpy]

Got a source for those tubes, especially the rectifier?

Yeah he made me buy the last three set on fleabay in the US :)

Nah theres gotta be more out there and YES you WANT these tubes in yours Rich :yes:

[cableguy]

Sometimes its just hard to beat simplicity :)
amen to that......
Rich, I really like the looks of the system and it sounds like you've got great synergy going on with that line up....excellent





Bill

[Urizen]

Very nice looking rig, Rich.:music:

[Billfort]

Nice system Rich, a straight-up mix like this really appeals to me.

The more I mess with audio the more I find simplicity works best for my tastes.

[Gohan]

Very nice system Rich :music:

Gohan

[hpsenicka]

Hey Rich... don't look now, but your house seems to be leaning about 30 degrees....

[RichPA]

Hey Rich... don't look now, but your house seems to be leaning about 30 degrees....

I'd have sworn that mailbox post was plumb when I put it in ...

[thedelihaus]

Thanks for the pics, rich!

[Kegger]

Yah Rich do some Bay searching, If you can't find the Rectifier let me know and
I'll scurry one up for yu, there usually fairly plentiful and relatively inexpensive to.

It's the other tube you need to keep on them to get a decent price/availability for.
(I don't have many myself, YET!!)

[RichPA]

Yah try not to spread the word around to much, but the E80CC will transform
that little guy into another league up the chain quite a bit, with the help of a
5V4G rectifier (perferably the 5V4G with the plates aligned so it looks single) I
use this thing pretty much exclusively these days. Does wonders in my system.

Thanks to Kegger, I've now got this rectifier tube in my Dared - amazing degree of improvement - greater clarity, better bass, just better all around. Next I guess I'll have to follow up on the E80CC suggestion ...

[grumpy]

I told you so :)

[dnewma04]

I just looked up the 5V4G and was shocked to find it's an ST bottle. I woulda never guessed. :)

[jmathers]

Thanks to Kegger, I've now got this rectifier tube in my Dared - amazing degree of improvement - greater clarity, better bass, just better all around. Next I guess I'll have to follow up on the E80CC suggestion ...

Wait until you pop the E80CCs in:thmbsp:

Jeff

[roadie1]

Thanks to Kegger, I've now got this rectifier tube in my Dared - amazing degree of improvement - greater clarity, better bass, just better all around. Next I guess I'll have to follow up on the E80CC suggestion ...

:thmbsp::yes:.........Thanks guys! I was already using the E80CC's and had switched the rectifier to a 5Y3GT but the 5V4G is even better. All the improvement's Rich mentioned and a little more quiet/smoother in my set-up.

Definitely the biggest bang for the buck I've ever made. Got one off of ebay for $17.00+ shipping. Too cool.

............R1

[twc5964]

I wish I could hear the system.I bet it is very nice and i've been interested in the preamp for awhile.Glad your enjoying it.