what is the REAL deal with DK


I know there has been a lot on this manufacturer, but I just discovered them myself(today). I have never read so many positives while at the same time read so many negatives on any on amp(or any product for that matter). At the same time they are getting huge pats on the back from two different magazines? Could some owners of the Dk vs1 mk 2 offer there opinions that still own them, I maybe looking for an intergrated hybrid that has some power and this is the only one that seems to fit the bill in my price range. So...why the extreme positive and negative?!
sean34
charlie101, if you don't agree that it is the best integrated than what is? I am really trying to find out. I would like it to be a hybrid, if not it has to be a tube integrated with some slam or a ss with it's normal attributes along with a nice midrange and upper end for less than 3000$?????
First, I was responding to the outrageous statement that the DK is the "best integrated on the market period". That is so funny it needed to be addressed. The writer must not be familiar with the integrated market I suppose. Some integrateds that will embarrass that amp are:
deHavilland IOS 845
Cary 300sei
Graaf Venticinque
BAT VK-300x
VAC Phi Beta
VAC Phi Kappa 32
Jadis DA30
Jadis DA50S
Jadis DA60

Now you did not stipulate $3000 in your original post. However, if you patiently look around for a used piece from Jadis, VAC, BAT, etc. you will eventually find something much better than the DK.

Good luck.
It seems the Amperex PQ pinched waists' are the HOT tube for this baby. Any of you guys know where I can get them? Thanks fellahs! Frank
Charlie101, thanks for your input and I will look into those you listed, do any of them happen to be hybrids?
What was wrong with DK’s marketing…......

Hmmm, let’s see. Well, there was the thread-of-the-day for about two months with brand new members frothing at the mouth saying things like “It is simply the best integrated amplifier on the market period”, who seemed to come and go only to leave DK threads, and then there was the dealer blitzkrieg of dozens of repetitive ads, along with the false “wanted” ads, and of course, there was the dealer in Nevada or somewhere at a schoolhouse address in a town of 250 people, who appeared to have been a figment of DK’s original owners mind, and so on and so forth.

Then of course there was the false claims that ended up resulting in the three member test. The only reason this test started was that the original owner went over the line as far as his BS claims, trying to defend the claim that the amp’s architecture was Class A (later Class A+ - how funny is that!). The membership grew tired of all the BS associated with DK and put him up to the test. It went reasonably well for DK, but the ultimate proof is that none of the members who participated ended up keeping the things.

As mentioned before, MK II’s sell for pathetic prices, which makes them excellent values. At one time, there was an attempt to claim that everyone (and it seemed like it was everyone) was selling the MkII for the MkIII. That got laughed down (read the threads), and we’re all waiting to see what the next step is.

By the way Sean, add the Levinson 383 to your list of integrateds that'll chew up a DK.