Don Sachs Owners Thread


A place to discuss amps, preamps, and phono stages from Don Sachs. 

 

I just purchased a like new D2 linestage. It has 2 gain controls, 64 step volume control, and digital volume readout. It is set up for the new rectifier. This is my first 6sn7 based linestage. It came with Ken-Rad Vt 231and gray RCA tubes. There are 3 rectifier tubes. A huge Philco 6BY5G, a Tung-Sol 6BY5G, and a Bendix 5852. There is also an Ice Age Audio power cord. With 2 different sounding outputs there are a lot of options. I need to find out what value the output caps are. I have the D2 connected at the moment to a VTL ST150. Input impedance is 125K and 2v in for maximum gain. 

I placed the RCA tubes in left front and rear and Ken-Rad in the right. Used Philco rectifier. Plugged VTL amp into output 1. The brightest sounding preamp I've ever heard. It was comical, bass drums sounded more like cymbals. Output 2 sounds like normal music. This surprises me. With 125K input, I thought there would be no problem getting bass response. 

Some questions.

1. Are the 6Sn7's in the right locations? I guessed by looking at the sellers photograph.

2. Is the Ice Age Audio the AC cord the brand Don offers as an option? 

3. I'll audition all 3 but which rectifier would be considered tops?

The linestage sounds amazing. 

Thanks,

aldnorab

aldnorab

@danmar123 Yes - I have 4 LinLai tubes in my DS2.  I prefer two pairs of these to using Psvane 181-Tii, globes or Shuguang WE61n7 in the buffer position.

 

Cheers, Soren  

I did replace my rectifier resistor tonight. The previous one was, in fact, blown, and open. The new resistor is a 0.22 ohm.

It does not make noisy tubes quieter btw.

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