Don Sachs Owners Thread

@bugredmachine my Model 2 also has some noise at 15" away from the drivers. I have the dual gain control model and the hiss volume doesn't change with setting. Think they work on the input instead of the output. 

Just ordered 2 more Linlai E6sn7 tubes. Looking forward to hearing the Don Sachs preamp with all Linlai. I need to mark the tubes to keep from mixing up the sets. Any recommendations on how to mark them?

@bugredmachine  that is a nice reduction in hiss. What rectifier were you using and what is the replacement?

I haven't tried comparing rectifiers for noise. Great idea. Looking forward to your thoughts on the new caps.

Thanks,

aldnorab

 Thank you @danmar123 . Don's site shows 4 matching tubes, which didn't provide orientation info. Mine are now correctly installed and the channels are more "balanced" sonically. Interestingly the Schiit Freya+, and I believe the Cary SLP 98 position  tubes as I did originally. Thanks again for getting me on track.

@markusthenaimnut  thanks, your thread was my inspiration. 

@mresseguie thanks for the tip on line outs. Never considered one set could be set up as a sub and the other full range. Makes sense. When time allows, I'll pop the bottom cover to see what value the caps are. I'll also audition different gain settings. Glad to hear you love the D2. Do they sound pretty similar or worlds apart?

@soix, ​​​​@ozzy62 and @jaynemo1962 Don has posted about work load changes on his website. He says:

"LATEST:  I have decided to close the build queue.  I now maintain a wait list for every product I build.  There are no deposits.  I will continue to produce tube equipment.  I am NOT retiring, but doing things on my schedule at my pace.   This allows me to perfect designs.  The current version of the preamp, the phono stage, the Kootenay 120 KT88 amp, and the Valhalla integrated amp are the best I have ever built.   If you are interested in a product send me an email and I will tell you about how long the wait will be.  I work more in the fall and winter and less in the summer.NOTE:  After many years of rebuilding vintage tube gear I have stopped taking on any new repair and restoration jobs to focus entirely on production of custom tube line stages, phono stages and my KT88 power amp.  I may do some more vintage work in the future, but for now I am only building custom pieces."

He is still building equipment. Just focusing on his brand vs reconditioning other equipment. 

Time to do some listening.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@jaynemo1962 , wow, 6 month wait. That is patience. Had a chance to buy the DS phono along with the DS2.  I passed, perhaps stupidly. Couldn't see buying a matching component for something I hadn't even heard yet. Looking forward to your thoughts on it.

Thanks,

aldnorab

Anyone using Linlai 6SN7 tubes in their preamp? Thinking about getting 2 as a trial. Need some back up tubes, and new would be a great addition to my nos. 

Thanks,

aldnorab

@firstgrowth  good to know. Hope he doesn't over do it and stays healthy. Which upgrades are Don adding to your Model 2? 

Just saw a post by Jim McShane saying his tube/ Citation amp business was swamped. Don used to do his Citation restorations. Mick is running about 4 months on Supratek orders. They are all getting up in years and fighting supply chain issues. We are pushing small artisan businesses to the max. 

Thanks for the update,

aldnorab

@firstgrowth  that should improve sound quality quite a bit. Surprised it was finished so quickly. Hope you post updates on the sound improvement. It is always interesting to read about the changes.

Thanks,

aldnorab

As good as the Model 2 sounds, I've been missing sweetness and delicacy in the high frequencies. Sound leans towards early CD digital sound, no give and little decay. Not quite effortless.

I've had other tube equipment, but used the new tubes they shipped with and always bought new replacements. With the Model 2 I'm using the 1950's and 60's tubes supplied by the original owner. I have 2 new Linlai 6sn7 on the way.

Read about using a Dremel to buff old tube pins. The buffing wheel looks to be made of soft cotton. The pins already looked clean and chromey. Except, the 2 Ken-Rad VT 231. They were almost black. Even after polishing they are no where near chrome finished. More dirty brass colored.

The sonic improvements are amazing. The high frequencies are more natural with  sweetness and decay. Just more pleasant all around. Amazing difference. Highly recommended.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@firstgrowth good to hear. It is always nice when upgrades move the sound in the direction desired. What 6by5 rectifier tube did Don send with the update? 

Weiss makes great DACs. What were you using before? Please keep posting updates.

Thanks for sharing,

aldnorab

Just received the 2 Linlai E 6sn7 tubes ordered last month. I'll try them in both circuit locations. If they beat out my GE/Ken-Rad, I will order 2 more.

These are huge tubes. Newer D Sachs have wider spacing. They will not fit in my older wood top D Sachs directly. They require a socket saver to raise 1 tube higher than the other. I used the savers from AES. Even this BARELY fits. The tubes are so close together a credit card won't fit between the globes. It would be nice if someone made an adapter to space the tubes further apart. May have to diy a couple.

Thanks,

aldnorab

I should have said RCA/Ken-Rad tubes above^. 

Sorry,

aldnorab

Interesting outcome. You have a nice collection of newer signal tubes. The fact you were able to reduce noise and improve sound quality is good news. The only tube I have from your bunch is a Philco 6by5GA rectifier. It seems very airy, but light on bass and midrange warmth. All of my rectifier tubes sound different. The Tung-Sol is probably the most balanced. Just acquired an RCA 6by5GA that is close, but a little softer sounding. The Bendix 5x4 is very, very punchy. Hearing all the different personalities of this linestage with different tubes, it would be very to review it properly.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@bugredmachine nice cable collection. I always find it beneficial to try multiple wire looms with new components. Some setups just lock in and sound great.

Didn't realize Don provides caps and allows customers to diy install them. Good to know. 

@whitestix  just received my 2nd pair of Linlai E-6SN7. Can't wait to try the complete set. Good to know the left row makes the most difference. After full break in I will compare the Linlai vs antique tubes.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@bugredmachine sorry to hear there's a problem with the Linlai tubes. Can you get replacements in warranty? Mine don't have any audible noise 10 feet away. Have you tried just two in the left position to see if half are good? It is unlikely, but did you try cleaning the pins? Hope you get them working for you. 

Seem to remember something about VDH taking over the sales of certain caps. Greaf that Don refered you to them, and told you what to buy. 

Thanks for the info,

aldnorab

@whitestix the Kootenay amp is very interesting. Wish my tube amp didn't require me to bias it. Looking forward to reading more posts about it and how it performs with the new speakers.

Thanks,

aldnorab 

@bugredmachine thanks for the capacitor and circuit board images. Amazed at how much smaller the new caps are. For this hobby, it is great to have soldering skills.

@lous  the previous owner sent the model 2 to Don for updates. It has the 6BY5 rectifier, not sure about the caps. I'll have to pop the bottom and take a look.

Yesterday I removed the Pioneer M22 (30 watts x2 class A) and tried the similar speced Pass A3 volksamp. The Pass is MOSFET and the Pioneer is bipolar. There are differences, but both sound fine. I was worried about their lower 47K input impedance vs the VTL ST150's 130K. There was a little less bass but that could be transistors vs tubes and the VTL having twice the power in triode mode. Still fun to hear the D Sachs linestage with all these amps.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@lous thanks. Wouldn't the cap values be reversed? Lower input impedance needs higher cap value?

Thanks,

aldnorab

@bugredmachine good to know. Haven't tried any specialty fuses. What sonic benefits did you hear with the D. Sachs linestage?

Just noticed the ground connector on the back. Anyone have it connected? If so, what component.

Thanks,

aldnorab

@danmar123 interesting. If you unhook the ground at the D. Sachs does the noise level or sound quality change? I'm only running a ground wire from the turntable to phono stage.

What is the lowest input impedance anyone has happily used the DS Model 2 with? My lowest is 47K. Considered adding a class D amp for summer use. The highest input impedance I've found on an affordable one is 25K. One was 5K! Tubes don't like low input impedance. Don't want rolled off bass.

Thanks,

aldnorab

The D. Sachs D2 linestage sounds really great now that the 4 Linlai E 6SN7 tubes have broken in. It is large and imposing with such large tubes stacked on double socket savers. It takes up a lot more shelf room. The tubes seem to do everything darn well. My various old stock tubes might do 1 or 2 things better, but then really fall down in other areas. The Linlai are very even handed.

Bought a PS Audio S300 amp during their sale. It keeps the room a lot cooler than the 8 tube 6550 amp and Pioneer class A. Now it is a race between the linestage and Ayre Codex DAC for hottest component.

Thanks,

aldnorab 

@lous  good to know. After the 2nd set of Linlai finish breaking in, I will compare them to my other tubes. 

Thanks,

aldnorab 

Anyone know the power draw of the D Sachs preamp? Considering a power regenerator. 

Thanks,

Aldonrab

Thanks @mogelsvs ​​​​​@bugredmachine . Glad to know it doesn't draw much. Still undecided about the power regenerator. I have my own power transformer, out on the pole. But, things inside the house can also cause problems. The PS Audio is on sale this month. 

Thanks,

Doug A

@rbautista congratulations on the DS preamp. It is quite an ear opener. I think the remote is set to the preamp and doesn't have to be "paired" . Don't believe there is any way to change this. Bummer. Since you changed the batteries, the only other thing I can think of is try cleaning the remote's IR window. A long shot, but easy to do. 

Good luck,

aldnorab

@rbaughman welcome to the Don Sachs component thread. You have a great sounding linestage. I have a Bendix rectifier. It is punchy and kind of forward sounding. Exciting, but not very subtle. I find it a little fatiguing. 

Don't think you have to worry about starting a fire with tubes. Though it is possible for a tube to take out other parts. This seems less likely with a linestage. I have had the problem with amp power tubes. Even that didn't start a fire.

Thanks,

aldnorab