DK Design Review

It's good to see the amp get the kind of press it deserves. The company has been expanding it's offerings with a new Signature and a new Statement Integrated, as well as several speakers under the LSA Brand. I have the Statement Amp and LSA2 Statement Speakers in my system, and I can't wait for them to be reviewed.

The former owner hurt the company with his over the top marketing. The new owners have been quietly developing and building better products, upgrading their national and international dealer network, and giving great customer service. Water finds it's own level, and time will tell if this company is yesterday's news or a major player for the future. After listening to the new products, and Knowing Larry Staples commitment to excellence, I'm betting on DK/LSA being a major player.

jmcgrogan, Have you heard the new products? No apologies here! I think the amps and speakers are wonderful, and I have no doubt that reviewers and audiophiles will agree when they hear them.

Perhaps one reason that DK owners haven't responded to this thread is that they don't want to take the abuse that comes with a positive mention of DK. I've had a couple of friends e-mail me and say they weren't participating on the forums because it was getting too hostile. That's understandable, nobody likes ridicule, but we shouldn't allow ourselves to be intimidated by a few bullies on the playground. I don't make a dime either way, and I'm not in the audio business, but I enjoy sharing my passion with others and turning them on to something special. This is a great hobby and I've met some great people through Audiogon, and we should all keep contributing.

Again, I believe these to be outstanding products, and I would encourage you to try them in your system before dismissing them.

In the new Bound For Sound (www.boundforsound.com) Martin G. DeWulf writes "I have been working with the DK VS1 Signature (tube, solid state hybrid) for a while now, and I can say without fear of contradiction, that the VS1 Signature totally wipes out any distinctions one can make between integrateds of the past and the highest performing separates of today. Oh my, is it good! Honestly, I'm having trouble coming up with a separates combo - at any price - that is as revealing and harmonically complete as the DK Signature. And the DK is frightfully powerful, delivering brute strength and energy to the VMPS RM40s in ways that few amps ever have."

It's fascinating how the mention of DK evokes such strong anger from some who haven't heard the products. No amount of positive reviews or recommendations will change their minds. They have no interest in actually listening to the integrateds, but they will eagerly twist the meanings of reviewers or supporters, or do what ever they have to do to bash DK. Some people aren't happy unless they're miserable, and if they aren't happy, why should anybody else be? It's not about logic or evidence for them.

What's important is that there are a lot of very happy DK owners who are passionate about the product, and more reviews are coming on line that agree that the integrateds are a tremendous value. If you are looking to upgrade your system, as a DK owner who sold his higher priced separates, I would respectfully suggest that you give the DK Integrateds a listen.

Drubin, No doubt that Reina likes Creek, and that he said some nice things about DK. We might disagree about the review being "luke warm at best, but it certainly isn't as positive as Martin DeWulf's review of the DK Signature. I don't trash other people's systems, would never say the amp is for everybody, or that it destroys all other components, but I absolutely believe it's a great value for dollar product. While the Stereophile Review may not be all it could, it also comes to the conclusion that the DK is a great value, and other reviews concur. I'm very comfortable encouraging people to audition it against both integrateds and separates and let the chips fall.

It's too bad the company didn't send Bound For Sound a Statement Integrated instead of the Signature. While the Signature is very good, and a big improvement on the standard integrated, the Statement is in another league!

Nobody should take my word, they shouldn't take a review as gospel, and they should ignore sniping from people who have never heard the amp. I hope they will judge for themselves, put the DK on the short list of must listen components, and spend time listening to music in their own systems.

The good or bad news, depending on your perspective, is that the journey never ends. Things change in time, and today's great product may be tomorrow's above average gear. I've been seriously "updating" my system for the last 20 years, and have been enjoying both the music and the chase. Again, I believe LSA will be a player in the industry for some time to come, and that many experienced audiophiles will be happy with these products, but time and sales will tell the story. I'm not married to DK. Nothing stays the same, and LSA, like every other company, will have to keep improving to stay competitive.

I also agree that it is pointless to bash another person's equipment. My system's sound is not going to change no matter how much I ridicule somebody elses choices. Discovery is part of the fun, and listening to different gear is the best way to learn.

Dougmc, Actually they offer 3 integrateds. The Standard at $3200, the Signature at $6000 and the Statement (which is just being released) at $9000. I have heard all 3, and believe they are all good values at their respective price points. The Standards value is not diminished by the companies other offerings. Like many other manufacturers, LSA/DK offers the potential customer several choices