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