Dared SL 2000 Pre Amp

[nap]

I know H9 has covered this before but I am looking to buy the Dared Pre Amp and I thought we had a preferred vendor for it. Is it the guy on Ebay from Illinois who is selling these for about $450 or so ? Please let me know. Thanks in advance. Cheers.

[Keiko]

Tony, here's a direct link. Joe is the guy you want to talk to. I believe he sells on audiogon as well.

http://www.dared.us/contact.htm

Cheers,

Mike

[heiney9]

Yes Tony, His name is Joe Zhou and he" is solid. Buy with confidence. When you need tube rolling advice let me know.

H9

[nap]

Thanks guys. Can't wait to get this. Cheers.

[george daniel]

I think that you will be pleasantly surprised with this puppy.

[heiney9]

I can't stress this enough, this puppy shines with many tubes so don't get stuck with the stock tubes. Changing out the rectifier makes a HUGE difference.

Congrats

H9

[nap]

Ordered it this AM. H, I think you are mainly to blame for that. It was that picture of it you posted back in the spring time. Of course now there are all these mod threads which doesn't help keep the money in my wallet. I'll let you know when it comes in. Seriously, thanks a lot. Cheers.

[Ricardo]

He he he. And to think that when I got mine 5 years ago or so everyone was ridiculing me. Now it's a popular one....


This is a great little preamp. From the ones I've owned, this is probably the one that is more revealing to tube changes.

[reeltrouble1]

I will give you it is pretty good...still like the Dodd a bit better but the one GD brought to the fest held its own no doubt...I do believe a bit of tube rolling was done.

Ricardo........you thought it was the pre-amp????

love ya.

RT1

[cstmar01]

I will give you it is pretty good...still like the Dodd a bit better but the one GD brought to the fest held its own no doubt...I do believe a bit of tube rolling was done.

Ricardo........you thought it was the pre-amp????

love ya.

RT1

which Dodd model are you talking about?

[heiney9]

The Dared stomps the Dodd..................err....not stomps but it has better tone than the Dodd. I reckon it's because of the tube rectification.

H9

[reeltrouble1]

i am sure you know far far more about it than I ever could

Dodd ELP Chris, made in USA by gary Dodd an excellent circuit designer...he is not making anymore ELP as he has moved on to higher end products under his name, check them out...I also had the MLP, which is another level up so your just getting something from a guy who builds them from the ground up, his present model is a battery operated pre, Hoosier has one so you might touch base with him. He stands behind his products, when a member here has a problem with any unit he built even if they were not the original owner he took care of them...no charges.

RT1

[heiney9]

i am sure you know far far more about it than I ever could

Dodd ELP Chris, made in USA by gary Dodd an excellent circuit designer...he is not making anymore ELP as he has moved on to higher end products under his name, check them out...I also had the MLP, which is another level up so your just getting something from a guy who builds them from the ground up, his present model is a battery operated pre, Hoosier has one so you might touch base with him. He stands behind his products, when a member here has a problem with any unit he built even if they were not the original owner he took care of them...no charges.

RT1

I have nothing but great things to say about Gary and his products. He doesn't offer a more entry level tube product any longer. I spent some time with both the dared and the ELP together and IMO I felt the dared edged it out. I'm sure you've spent time with both the dared and ELP and have come to a different conclusion. I do doubt you've really given the dared any kind of serious listen before Polkfest. But, hey that's alright. I'd be proud to own either the dared or ELP, I did have the opportunity actually, and I chose the dared.

Is it the end all be all tube pre-amp, nope but then neither is the ELP.

YMMV

H9

[brgman]

The Dared stomps the Dodd..................err....not stomps but it has better tone than the Dodd. I reckon it's because of the tube rectification.

H9

Does the Rogue pre stack up?

[heiney9]

Which one? Rogue is a step up or more from both depending on model, etc. It's very hard to really compare tube pre's head to head since there are some different circuits and mostly because of the endless variety of tubes available. The Dodd stuff is impeccably built and thought out. Rogue is a solid brand and many like them. Never heard anyone complain about a Rogue piece, their stuff is well thought of.

We did do a brief/haphazard comparison of a Rogue Magnum 66, upgraded by Gary Dodd, and the Dared. The Rogue was a very nice piece and overall edged out the Dared from my recollection, but it would take a much more extended listen of both to determine strengths and weaknesses of both. On paper and according to price and "prestige" the Rogue is better, but I don't always think that way in audio although that follows suit much more often than not. One area is cables, MIT has the prestige and the price and as far as I'm concerned there isn't much out the there that is better at any price, just as an example.

H9

[reeltrouble1]

Is it the end all be all tube pre-amp, nope but then neither is the ELP.

YMMV

H9

yep, and although I rarely base any decision on cost, either is a high dollar/value piece which can light your tube fire for good.

nap I am sure you will be rocking.

RT1

[brgman]

Which one? Rogue is a step up or more from both depending on model, etc. It's very hard to really compare tube pre's head to head since there are some different circuits and mostly because of the endless variety of tubes available. The Dodd stuff is impeccably built and thought out. Rogue is a solid brand and many like them. Never heard anyone complain about a Rogue piece, their stuff is well thought of.

We did do a brief/haphazard comparison of a Rogue Magnum 66, upgraded by Gary Dodd, and the Dared. The Rogue was a very nice piece and overall edged out the Dared from my recollection, but it would take a much more extended listen of both to determine strengths and weaknesses of both. On paper and according to price and "prestige" the Rogue is better, but I don't always think that way in audio although that follows suit much more often than not. One area is cables, MIT has the prestige and the price and as far as I'm concerned there isn't much out the there that is better at any price, just as an example.

H9

thanks for the info.I just see the Rogue advertised and haven't seen it mentioned here so i wasn't sure if it was good,bad or what.

[nap]

yep, and although I rarely base any decision on cost, either is a high dollar/value piece which can light your tube fire for good.

nap I am sure you will be rocking.

RT1

I am sure I will. In the interim before the thing arrives, I am brushing up on my tube rolling vernacular. I am just trying to keep up with youse guys. Cheers.

[heiney9]

Nap if you need some solid suggestions for a few pairs of tubes let me know. I can point you in the right direction and give you some of my impressions of some of the different flavors of tubes. Same goes for Mr. Daniels and Keiko. Not sure what you will run this with, but I have some favorites that are fairly common on Ebay and won't break the bank. Perhaps you won't cringe at the Chinese tubes shipped with the unit to start with.

Just let me know and I'm glad to pass along my impressions, etc.

H9

[reeltrouble1]

I am sure I will. In the interim before the thing arrives, I am brushing up on my tube rolling vernacular. I am just trying to keep up with youse guys. Cheers.

hehehehe...I am sure you will...all you reeeeeely need to know is...


The Tub-eth Rul-eth. Enjoy.


RT1

[nap]

Nap if you need some solid suggestions for a few pairs of tubes let me know. I can point you in the right direction and give you some of my impressions of some of the different flavors of tubes. Same goes for Mr. Daniels and Keiko. Not sure what you will run this with, but I have some favorites that are fairly common on Ebay and won't break the bank. Perhaps you won't cringe at the Chinese tubes shipped with the unit to start with.

Just let me know and I'm glad to pass along my impressions, etc.
H9

H,
Sure pass those along. I was reading the mod thread you guys (Yourself, George, and Mike) had and was taking some notes. It seems the preferred rectifier tube is the Brimar. Tubes with long plates can be microphonic and may require dampers. Mike likes the "value" oriented tubes (Sylvania, Siemens and Telefunken to name a few) while you tend to try more esoteric ones. But by all means pass along a good value set-up. I probably will listen to the ones it comes with first to be able to judge the upgrade. Many thanks. Cheers.

[heiney9]

H,
Sure pass those along. I was reading the mod thread you guys (Yourself, George, and Mike) had and was taking some notes. It seems the preferred rectifier tube is the Brimar. Tubes with long plates can be microphonic and may require dampers. Mike likes the "value" oriented tubes (Sylvania, Siemens and Telefunken to name a few) while you tend to try more esoteric ones. But by all means pass along a good value set-up. I probably will listen to the ones it comes with first to be able to judge the upgrade. Many thanks. Cheers.

Mods can come later. Yes, you have it about right but I enjoy the common variety tube just as much as the esoteric. For me I've found the older the better they seem to sound to my ears. Telefunken are not all that value oriented because they are a premium tube and IMO are worth it, but sound a little different than say an Amperex or RCA or Sylvania.

For rectifiers I have found I like the Brimar alot, but a Bendix 6106 is also excellent as well as an older RCA 5Y3G with black plates or a Mullard GZ30, etc.

Have fun and give a holler if you need anything.

H9

[cdn5003]

I just got my Dared last week and finally listened to it for awhile this weekend. It is a significant upgrade for me, my stereo separation and soundstage are much improved. I swapped the stock tubes for Siemens ECC81's but haven't changed the rectifier yet. I have an RCA 5Y3GT to put in and try when I get the time.

The difference between the stock tubes and the Siemens was noticeable and I'm hoping the change in rectifier is as well. I want to look through that other thread again and hopefully get some more tubes to interchange for fun. This is my first piece of tube gear and I was shocked at how small the tubes actually are. Pictures online make them look much bigger.

What is the easiest way to remove the tubes? They were a little bit tough to get out using gloves and grabbing them at the base. If there is an easier way I would appreciate it.

[heiney9]

Gloves is suggested, obviously the power should be off and I'd even let the unit sit for 5 minutes or so after power down. I usually use Q-tip with DeOxit and rub it on the pins occasionally. It gets rid of oxidation and make it slightly easier to insert/remove the tubes. You want the tube sockets tight like that, that means it's making good contact. Also one other note that doesn't really apply to the small signal tubes but does to the rectifier since it has a micanol base. That is to always pull from the base not the glass. On the older tubes there is a remote possibility of unseating the glue that hold the base in place with the glass. If this happens and base becomes a little loose you can always use a very thin bead of quick drying epoxy to repair. But always insert/remove a tube with a base, whether is be a power tube, large signal tube or rectifer by the base if possible.

H9

[nap]

Have fun and give a holler if you need anything.

H9

A good suggestion for the signal tubes and the place to buy them or did I overlook something ? I'd like to order them up and have them on hand. Thanks.