They will be White Label 6922s with the D-Getter (late 50s?)from Andy Bowman at Vintage Tube Services. Should arrive shortly. |
Well, what I ended up getting are a matched pair of Amperex 6dj8s from 1958 made in Holland with the "D" getter. All I can say is that any comments about the Dodd must be made with regard to the tubes being used. As good as the Dodd is with the JJs, the Amperexes really take it up a notch in an obvious manner. Smoother, more textured, and much more holographic - in other words fantastic. What is certain is that the Dodd is a SOTA preamp platform for letting whatever tubes you use in it shine. I'm sure there will be debates between the Dodd and RWA contingents, and though I'm a curious audiophile that likes to try equipment more than I should, I'm keeping the Dodd for a while, at least:) At $2,600 (the new lower direct price, was $3,300), this preamp is perfectly capable of taking on much more expensive competitors - many of which I have owned. Try some NOS tubes in this thing, I don't think you will be disappointed. |
Pubul57, is this Amperex 6dj8 that you have also called "Bugle Boy"??
I did try a pair of "Bugle Boy" from Andy Bowman, but I found it a little too warm to my taste, probably because I already have a tube amplifier which is already warm enough. So I switch back to the JJ tubes on the Dodd. I'm waiting for Andy to send me a pair of Siemen 6922. |
I'm not sure if it is called Bugle Boy. It is the first 6dj8 that Amperex made and it has D Getter, and is made in Holland. It is the very first tube listed on Andy's stock list, and not cheap. I'm using the Dodd with a Music Reference RM9 Special Edition which is quite nuetral tonally and Merlin VSMs so if the Amperex is generally warm it would be a good match for my system. If the Siemens are like other Siemens, it will certainly leaner (more linear?) than the Amperex. I wish I bought these tubes at the drugstore when the $1 :). |
57,
VTS took over 5 weeks to send my Amperex tubes. I hope you fair better than I did.
To me five weeks is way to long to wait on two tubes. I sent them back. |
Pubul57, How do they compare in the frequency extremes and dynamics to the JJ's?
I believe the bugle boys have the little cartoon on the tubes but not on the box.
Your right the Dodd is one of the best especially when you consider the price of $2600. |
It took 8 days to get the tubes. He does take longer than some, but they actually seem to be matched and quiet. My only gripe is that the prices posted on the website seems to be a few years old; he should either keep it up to date or post no picing at all. Not sure how they compare in terms of dynamics or extremes; so far it is just my oberall impressi8on of a much more realistic and beleivable presentation. I ne4ed toto go back to analyze the differences a bit more. But my gut reaction was that I defintely preferred the Amperexs, and in my system not too warm. |
Guys, yes the Amperex BugleBoy has a cartooned bugle-playing character etched on the glass (orange colored). Try reading "Joe's tube lore" on audioasylum to get good info on the many 6922/6dj8s etc.
FWIW, I agree the BugleBoys are nice but a tad warm, but not as warm as Mullards. The Siemens, as well as Telefunkens are more on the transparent, cool, side.
Some preamps will highlight these differences more than others. For example, my CAT pre sounded dramatically difference w/each tube change. Cheers,
Spencer |
Then I'm ptetty sure mine are not "Bugle Boy" as I think these were made prior to the Bugle Boy marketing campaign. I think Andy said they were from 1958 they year Amperex introduced the 6dj8 to the market. |
I took them out and looked at them and they are the earliest version with just Amperex EC88 written on them with "Made in Holland" labeling. They predate the Bugle Boy production run from early 1958. I have no idea if they are the "best of the best", but they sure do sound very musical and three-dimensional. I've ordered some Ameperex Orange Globe 6dj8 "A-Frame" that others have also recommended. I think some warmth in my pre serves my amp and speakers well. I also have an Atma-pre and amp and I tend to prefer the RCA 12au7 Blackgates in the pre to Siemens 5814 - another case where I prefer a bit of warmth to absolute linear sound. |
I recently went to audition Isabella/Isabellina at a friend's home. I would agree that the Isabella/Isabellina is 'warmer' than Dodd battery preamp. The difference between the two are not subtle.
I think if you already own a Dodd and feel that your sound is too bright, then you may want to try Isabella. Vice versa, if you own Isabella and think that the sound is too 'thick' and 'slow', you may want to try a Dodd.
I will leave it at that. Neither is better, is all about the "elusive' system synergy. |
The rest of the system please as well as your friend's preferences & tubes used........we all have one and choice of tubes is also important to paint the whole picture.
As to your comparison between the two...in short - yes, RWA is a bit warmer. Slow......? I am not sure what do you mean by it though. (I might have missed your point)
I made my own comparison useing the same components, speakers, wires and tubes in side by side face-off.
Differences between the two are not in fact small and I do agree that it is a matter of taste and component synergy.
Did you had a chance to evaluate the buid-in DAC as well?
Also ,how do you voice your own system, so I can better understand where you stand - preference wise?
Thanks
Mariusz |
Wanted to add my experience with the Dodd pre.
Bought it after reading threads by Mrjstart and others. Compared the Dodd with my Aud. Illusions L2 and modded Blue Circle 21.1. The amp was the RWA 30.2. I agree that the RWA does much better with a pre. (BTW, I have Merlin TSM-MMe's). I thought the Dodd bettered the other pres in most every respect. I was very pleased with the Dodd...and it looks great.
Also tried these pres with my McCormack with same result...Dodd was better. And RWA bettered the MC.
Then I got a Pass Aleph J from another A'gon member, and that amp with the Dodd made my system. I now have my "poor-man's-reference" system. The RWA and Dodd were excellent...the Aleph J with Dodd even better. The Dodd and Aleph also bettered my Plinius 8200 MKII.
While the Dodd/Aleph combo is terrific...I have one problem with the Pass amp. It runs quite hot so that may be a problem for my small apartment in Florida. So I am getting my Edge G4 amp upgraded and I hope the Dodd/Edge combo comes close to the Dodd/Aleph J system (now in my CT place).
Getting back to the Dodd pre with tha Aleph J, friends can't get over the sound from the Merlins. My daugher walks into my den while I'm listening to classical guitar, and stops in her tracks...she thought she was in a recording studio. |
GSherwood, we have similar systems. I have the Dodd and Merlin TSM-MMe's as well. For amps, i am using VAC 70/70 Monoblocs. The clarity and detail with this combo is quite remarkable. |
Interesting how many folks are using Dodd with Merlins. I wonder what the connection is? Glenn, great SS is almost always Class A, and Class A is always hot, but the J really isn't too bad, you should have felt the Aleph 3. At least you can get buy with 30 watts:) |
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. |
Read the review at Stereomojo.com.
http://www.stereomojo.com/Dodd%20Audio%20Preamp%20Review/DoddAudioPreampreview.htm |
Just to add something to this old thread: I have a McCormack ALD-1 w/Steve's A+ revisions (separate power supply, full reworking of the internals, basically upgraded as much as possible) and on a lark, just purchased a used Dodd through the 'gon. Once I get it fired up, I will let you know how it sounds. FWIW, the ALD-1 (which obviously isn't the RLD-1 platinum, but is very similar performance-wise when it has the top level of revisions) is a very special preamp. I borrow or buy a preamp (used) now and then to see if something beats the ALD-1. Last 3 challengers were an ARC LS-26, McIntosh C2300 (w/Telefunken Smooth plates), and Modwright Signature 9.0, all of which came up short. Hoping the Dodd bests them and gives the ALD-1 a run for it's money, and for what I paid for it, I will probably keep it as a different "flavor" of a pre, even if it doesn't exceed the ALD-1's performance. Will report back..... |
Dawg, congrats on the Dodd, but I would suggest going to the Dodd website and reading Gary's latest notes on battery charging in order to get the best results. I ended up getting rid of my Dodd because of battery reliabiity and charging issues, but I did so reluctantly, because it was certainly one of the best sounding units I've ever owned. |
I bought an RDL-1 for $850.00 and sent it straight to SMcAudio for the 2012 platinum mod (it changes with time) for $3K. Why? Well, I like the basic sound of the MAP-1 and DNA-225 that I owned and Steve's reputation. I really liked the basic layout and build quality of the MAP-1 / RLD-1, too. I didn't say "fancy" I said quality.
I'll report back on my findings but I suspect that this will be a real nice spot to relax awhile and enjoy the music. The pre-amp is to ship about the 15 of March 2012. |
