2. amps-preamps
  3. 175230-171111

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
rbautista
91 posts
 

Just want to say that both Don and Roy provide wonderful customer service with their helpfulness and insight.

lous's avatar
lous
200 posts
 

I shouldn't have left it there. Roy designed Don's preamp, but he was content with it. He's a genius to be sure, and certainly quite knowledgeable. Don is as well, but his genius is perfecting things, and you have to be unbelievable knowledgeable to do so. They are similar, yet different.

lous's avatar
lous
200 posts
 

Now that I think about it, I haven't contacted Roy in years, his outlook may have changed. I may be talking about a Roy from a different era.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

invalid
1,103 posts
 

I'm pretty sure that Roy used John Broskie’s buffer stage, Broskie is the real genius.

lous's avatar
lous
200 posts
 

Well, unless we’re talking Nelson Pass, most circuits are based upon other designs. Cascade amplification, according to Stan Warren, was designed by Nelson who never patented it, and the vast majority of solid state amplifiers reportedly use it. In tubes, I believe that most refer to an old RCA publication as a start. So sure, Roy may have used an existing design to start with, most do, but he blew it up into a fantastic design, Don made further refinements and turned into a state of the art preamp. Bless them all, IMO.

More to discover