Tube Research Labs equipment is extremely special. The Dude is amazing, as anyone who has heard it will attest. I find it highly balanced top to bottom, with outstanding bass control and delineation that always keeps my toes tapping, and micro and macro detail and finesse that rivals passives. More than the hi-fi descriptors, what it does that I've never heard another piece really do like it is give the music drive that is truly addictive. PRAT, toe-tapping, dance-ability, however you want to put it. It's addictive. And probably due in large part to the fact that it has a power supply that would put most high power amps to shame. This thing is a full 80 pounds, and filled with large levels of capacitance in its massively overbuilt power supply. Truly world-class tube preamp!
I'm selling because my move to Tucson this past summer has required some major system shifts because I have a very different listening space now. I'm consolidating to an integrated tube amp, and while I'd love to justify keeping the Dude in case my system evolves to separates in the future, I can't justify letting it sit indefinitely for that indeterminate future possibility.
$4,000 obo for the Dude - includes extra tubes for both power supply and some NOS 6SN7's. Nothing super rare or anything, but you'll have extras if you don't already have your own favorite 6SN7's. Also includes original TRL power cable.
This Dude is newer than the one recently listed, with the much thicker faceplate, also with Duelund caps and remote volume control. Four inputs, two outputs. All single-ended design. Original owner was jtwrace on here. Passed through one of his friends who had it for a few months before he brought it over to my house for a visit, and it just wasn't going to leave! It has had Duelund output caps installed by the previous owner, to great effect he says. And it has a Bent-style remote volume control on the stepped attenuator, completely separate power for the remote motor so no signal pollution is even possible. Will happily answer questions about more specifics from interested buyers.
I have original crate packaging for the Dude. This is a full wooden crate - pretty much bomb proof. Tubes for the Dude will ship separately, and I will remove tubes before shipping. Buy with confidence in shipping.
One last note - the chassis for Dude is pretty large - 19.5" x 19.5" x 8.5".
Shipping/fees paid by buyer. Looking somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 pounds for the Dude plus crate. I live in Tucson (85716). Could work out to sell to someone in Phoenix or Tucson and deal with delivery/pickup directly. I will accept personal check if you're willing to wait for it to clear - will avoid some substantial fees. Feel free to contact me if seriously interested, and I'm happy to chat over the phone about anything and everything.
