Dave,
I actually sold my Audio Research Separates (SP 16 preamp, VS55 Power Amp) and replaced them with a DK Design Integrated. It does sound better than the AR stuff. Of course sadly many people love 'name' brands. There is a certain SNOB appeal which is lacking with the DK even if the sound it makes is not.
In fact the DK sounds heaps better than my Gryphon Tabu which I also owned. Far more three dimensional and fuller. It's not the best amp in the world but then no such amp exists. For it's money it is very good and as good as many a 4000 to 5000 Dollar unit. Try getting the Australian HiFi magazine (June/July 05 Edition)review which also ran the untit through full technical testing. It came out very well.
My Auditors are on the matching stands. I use a Audionet ART V2 Cd Player, Spider Rack, Audusa Eupen power Cables, Lat Interconnects and Osborn Datalink Speaker Cables.
All in all excellent sound and now I only play around with tweaking things here and there.
Best of luck with your decision.
Oh and by the way don't let all the knockers of DK on this site bother you too much, I have a feeling they either snobs or anti-Asian, as Dk uses China to have this amp built at a reasonable cost.
I actually sold my Audio Research Separates (SP 16 preamp, VS55 Power Amp) and replaced them with a DK Design Integrated. It does sound better than the AR stuff. Of course sadly many people love 'name' brands. There is a certain SNOB appeal which is lacking with the DK even if the sound it makes is not.
In fact the DK sounds heaps better than my Gryphon Tabu which I also owned. Far more three dimensional and fuller. It's not the best amp in the world but then no such amp exists. For it's money it is very good and as good as many a 4000 to 5000 Dollar unit. Try getting the Australian HiFi magazine (June/July 05 Edition)review which also ran the untit through full technical testing. It came out very well.
My Auditors are on the matching stands. I use a Audionet ART V2 Cd Player, Spider Rack, Audusa Eupen power Cables, Lat Interconnects and Osborn Datalink Speaker Cables.
All in all excellent sound and now I only play around with tweaking things here and there.
Best of luck with your decision.
Oh and by the way don't let all the knockers of DK on this site bother you too much, I have a feeling they either snobs or anti-Asian, as Dk uses China to have this amp built at a reasonable cost.