@jaymark Please do report back if you do try those competitors! I'd love to hear the report. I'd also recommend replacing the Miflex capacitors on the primary outputs if you do get the modding itch. Not sure it it's covered in this thread or another, but I have Duelund tinned copper CASTs and love them. And few other users have put in VH Audio ODAMs and said similarly superlative things about the change. |
@t_ramey I have no doubt that the Truth can be very good in some systems, but it didn't do much in mine. I had one for about a month and eventually went back to source-direct since the improvement was small. When I bought a DS preamp, that was certainly not the case. Instead I had a substantial improvement in sound across the board and will never go back to source-direct.
As always, these impressions are totally system dependent (mine is posted here). There are plenty of people who's ears & systems I trust who have thoroughly enjoyed the Truth. |
@atmasphere Wow, quite the scene inside there... |
I'm also researching tube pres in this price range and the deHavilland UltraVerve seems like another good option. |
@markusthenaimnut Great to hear. Based in part on this conversation, I bought a Don Sachs (still in queue), but I'll certainly consider Supratek if I end up moving on... please update the thread as you get more time with the unit. |
@waltersalas I did not buy his amplifier. I am curious, but I ended up building my own First Watt F4 (25W class A, zero negative feedback). Since upgrading from Coincident Super Eclipse IIIs to Pure Reference Extremes, I’ve been trying to better my Coincident Frankenstein SET mono-blocks because the PREs need more power to shine (primarily in bass).
I’ve tried a Lyngdorf TDAI-3400, Pass Labs XA25, and Atma-sphere M60s. In all cases, the Franks won out despite the improved bass performance. Eventually I decided to build an F4 to supplement my Franks as a booster amp on the PREs’ bass cabs. The F4 has no voltage gain and only provides current to the input signal. Surprisingly -- on these speakers -- the F4 was actually the best of all by itself. It has almost all of the inner detail of the Franks, but with the best bass control of the amplifiers I’ve tried. It’s also the clearest, with a super low noise floor and no discernible distortion.
After discovering this, I sadly put my Franks up for sale (still available if anyone is interested), bought the parts to build a second F4 so I could have two 50W monoblocks, and ordered the Sachs preamp to provide voltage gain. Driving the F4 by itself, my dac maxes out at around 90db.
I’m very surprised by this outcome, but I guess it’s just a situation of stumbling onto a really good amp/speaker match. I presume the F4 isn’t more widely loved because: a) it’s an older design not available new, and b) it shines best on an efficient speaker with a relatively flat impedance curve. I’m probably most surprised that it surpassed the Pass XA25 since that’s providing the same amount of power out of a newer, presumably better, circuit from the same designer. Just got lucky I guess...
In the 6 moons review of the F4 the key descriptive phrase was: "relaxed ultra resolution." That is a brilliant description of its sound. My longer description is smooth, slightly sweet, and ultra clean with an enormous soundstage and great layering. Plus I can keep it on 24/7 and not have to fret about my tube life.
Can’t wait to get the Sachs pre in the chain to see how it changes the sound. Music is already the best I’ve ever had and I’m hopeful for much more. |
Just got a Sachs preamp delivered yesterday. I'll post more after I've got a couple hundred hours on it, but first impressions are very positive. |
@markusthenaimnut Great, please do post. I've been enjoying my DS pre, but would still love to hear about the shootout. |
Also, because I wasn't using the second output, I decided to buy some additional capacitors to try in that location. On a whim bought two Mundorf Supremes as something very different than the Duelund copies Don uses on output 1. I find them substantially better. I totally believe in copper foil caps (have Duelund tinned copper on my tweeters), but find the Mundorf's better in the preamp. The Duelund copies sound kind of flat and dull in comparison. Better focus and front-to-back layering/depth with the Mundorfs. Plus they're a lot cheaper. $40/pair for 2uF.
Will probably continue to play and try the v-caps that atmasphere recommends. TFTF as the CU-TFs are just too pricey at this point. |
Have finally put in enough time with my Don Sachs pre (all upgrades) to evaluate the unit.
The difference between my source direct (I've used both the ps audio pwd & dsd units) and through the Don Sachs is not even close. Music sounds diffuse and unbalanced going direct. Adding the pre to the chain improves every dimension of the sound... bass, highs, clarity, and imaging. It's just better and I couldn't possibly go back to source direct.
Also, I agree with the reviews saying that the sound is not at all syrupy, dark, or slow (i.e., tubey). The pre isn't really adding a ton to the signal... I'm just getting a better version of what comes directly out of the source. A very nicely transparent pre-amp. |
First, my DS pre does have a mute option. Perhaps that went away for the oled display version without balance control. Second, even with amps on, there is no power up issues to watch for. Very minor tube rush, but that's it. Third, my unit always begins at 0 volume after power off. |
@audio123 I bought a pair of the Shuguang WE6SN7 Plus tubes for my DS pre. They are very clear and nicely extended. Unfortunately I'm always trying to tame my accuton tweeters and they made me grate my teeth a bit. I'm currently running Raytheon JAN's with copper support rods in the driver stage and RCA Grey Glass VT-231s in the buffer stage. I could see how the WE6SN7's would be great if you didn't have the tweeter issues I've got. |
@audio123 Really looking forward to hearing the conclusion of the preamp comparison... please do post the update. |
