[jtwrace]

Look at the Bent Audio PRM-1. 

Steve-I'd try your pre if it had a remote and it was balanced.   

[richidoo]

The deHavilland's volume control is a Goldpoint, dual mono, 24 stepped resistor type:
http://www.goldpt.com/index.html

I agree that steps smaller than 2dB are nice to have.  Usually 2dB steps are used in a 24 step VC.

My ideal VC is an optical resistor, current driven for matching, controlled by an infinitely adjustable pot. I only know of one mfg using that, dartZeel, a little out of my budget.

But there's a lot more to a great preamp than the volume control...
Reading about the Modwright LS100 I was intrigued to learn that it also uses 6SN7 tubes, and only 2. I'd be interested in hearing that one!

[JoshK]

Steve, fwiw,  I am not dissing your choice, in fact I applaud it, but I couldn't live with it.  For me remote volume is a must, not a want.  They might be a compromise, but then so is everything in life.

[jtwrace]

Steve, fwiw,  I am not dissing your choice, in fact I applaud it, but I couldn't live with it.  For me remote volume is a must, not a want.  They might be a compromise, but then so is everything in life.

I agree but if the remote isn't in the signal, it makes no difference sonically.

[Steve]

I think the point is, that whether one DIYs or Shindos, dual volume controls are the best way/accurate,
sonically, to go.
As Nelson Pass once said, paraphrasing, once the signal is corrupt, it is impossible to make
it pristine again. That can happen in the power supply, circuitry, and in the volume control(s).

Of course there are poor controls, solely or in motorized types, so one must choose wisely.
The resistive element of the remote system is in the signal path.
Unfortunately, one cannot go remote with dual controls unless one has two remote controls,
one for each channel.
It always seems to come down to compromise. Sometimes, though, health or budget limit choices. 
The information is good for the public's knowledge base because it is true.

Cheers.

[SteveFord]

Earlier in this thread the volume increments in the deHavilland was brought up; I don't find it to be much of an issue.
I'm usually turning it UP a notch or two.

[carusoracer]

Tuning back to the original point of the thread...

I'm very interested in hearing about other comparisons in systems similar to mine. I have read several reviews regarding the pre amps up for consideration and the choices are among my finalists as well. Hard to imagine, but the price point must be the common denominator, as well as good lucks, sound build quality, and support for the smaller businesses. And it must look good!

I have heard the SAS at the Audiokarma show in MI. Steve is a very straight shooter and nice gentleman. His system had great energy, and a nice sound but I could not pull the trigger until I hear something in my own home setup.

I too have only heard the older Modwright Pre and have yet to listen to his version of the big octal sound. The Modwright house sound has evolved quite extensively in the last two years and I have not been nearly as active to hear his latest. I'm still interested but need to be really pushed to take the audition.

The dehavilland really intrigues me as I have heard nothing but good reviews about the craft manship and the company's willingness to work with its customers. It may be a little long in the tooth and I keep waiting to see when they will replace it though.

The last one is probably the one I have lusted after the most, the Dodd Audio 1st Gen Battery pre. Great looks, tube rolling, big sound with details and dead quiet, not too mention a match for my Dodd Audio 120 Mono Blocks. Down fall is I can't obtain one for a demo to listen to for the ultimate review.

Sorry for the long diatribe but I hope others will chime in and comment on their experiences on the preamps listed above. I have a vested interest as well and hope to keep the thread alive for the poster.

Cheers

[S Clark]

Tuning back to the original point of the thread...
The last one is probably the one I have lusted after the most, the Dodd Audio 1st Gen Battery pre. Great looks, tube rolling, big sound with details and dead quiet, not too mention a match for my Dodd Audio 120 Mono Blocks. Down fall is I can't obtain one for a demo to listen to for the ultimate review....
Cheers

You might give HAL a PM.  I know that he has one that he was trying to sell several months ago.  He might sell it to you on a trial basis. There are many that will testify to his integrety.

Scott

[medium jim]

I recently switched out my McIntosh MX-110 preamp with my Bottlehead Foreplay that has dual volume controls in shunt mode.  Yeah, it seems like a hassle, but it isn't and the big plus is in the soundstage, imaging, and detail.

Less is more with preamps. 

Jim

[Airborn]

....dual volume controls in shunt mode.  Yeah, it seems like a hassle, but it isn't and the big plus is in the soundstage, imaging, and detail.

Less is more with preamps. 

I mostly agree.  The only one of those listed by the OP I have heard in my system is the SAS and that was the 10A, not the 11A.  (I have heard the Dodd and Modwright in other systems and both were very good, imo, but I won't comment on them directly). The SAS threw a huge soundstage with spot on imaging and detail.  The dual volume wasn't that big of a hassle to get leveled right and the benefits were obvious.  I was coming from a Mapletree 4A-SE that also had dual VC, so maybe I got used to it...I am sure the OP could too.  If I'm not mistaken, SAS has an audition period as well...

That being said, now I have a W4S STP-SE because I needed balanced outputs and now I couldn't imagine living without the remote volume control.   
As mentioned above, this is a hobby of trade-offs, even though everyone wants to have their cake and eat it too.

[jtsnead]

I have had a MW SWl 9.0se, Cary Slp 5 I most recently, I now have a Dodd Audio Pre/Buffer better than any active pre I have ever owned, battery powered, got to have a good phono/cd source but very true to the original source

[wilsynet]

Just want to point out that the Dodd Buffer/Pre is an active, not a passive.  It just happens to be zero gain.

[medium jim]

Good point...passive v active.  My system seems to like passive with low MU tubes, in my case 6FQ7 tubes.

I point this out as different amps and even front end components react differently to passive and active preamps.  What sounds sweet in one system may not in another.

Jim

[cheap-Jack]

Hi.

(1) ...my Bottlehead Foreplay that has dual volume controls in shunt mode.  Yeah, it seems like a hassle, but it isn't and the big plus is in the soundstage, imaging, and detail.

(2) Less is more with preamps. 

Jim

(1) Yes, dual volumes WITHOUT balance control is the way to go for sonic purists, like yours truly.
      For better sound, don't bother about hassle.

(2) This is the principle of quality music reproduction - yet not many audio fans know & appreciate it.

[rollo]

   The Dodd preamp makes the most sense to me. You are using a Dodd amp. Although the other contenders are worthy they may or may not have a synergy with your amp. The Dodd does in spades. No issues. If you step up to Mundorf caps silver/oil in lieu of the Solens IMO you are in for a treat.
    Dodd can and will match the preamp to your source as well. The battery lasts 6 years and with the C-Tek charger is under the cost of a aftermarket power cord [ under $200].  Get some Herbies tube dampers for the 6H30 tubes and be done. Best of all Dodd will work with you on cost.   
     


charles
 
     

[S Clark]

   The Dodd preamp makes the most sense to me. You are using a Dodd amp. Although the other contenders are worthy they may or may not have a synergy with your amp. The Dodd does in spades. No issues. If you step up to Mundorf caps silver/oil in lieu of the Solens IMO you are in for a treat.
    Dodd can and will match the preamp to your source as well. The battery lasts 6 years and with the C-Tek charger is under the cost of a aftermarket power cord [ under $200].  Get... 6h30DR...   

All these things are true for the gen II pre, but the gen one doesn't use the c-tek and the batteries are good for about 2+years.  Just thought I'd make the correction in case you picked up a used generation one.

[carusoracer]

   The Dodd preamp makes the most sense to me. You are using a Dodd amp. Although the other contenders are worthy they may or may not have a synergy with your amp. The Dodd does in spades. No issues. If you step up to Mundorf caps silver/oil in lieu of the Solens IMO you are in for a treat.
    Dodd can and will match the preamp to your source as well. The battery lasts 6 years and with the C-Tek charger is under the cost of a aftermarket power cord [ under $200].  Get some Herbies tube dampers for the 6H30 tubes and be done. Best of all Dodd will work with you on cost.   
     


charles
 
     

Charles,

Thanks for the reply. Are you referring to changing out the Caps in the Amps to Mundorf or the PreAmp?   Do you also need to change Bypass Caps as well?


I have talked this over several times with others and Gary but have yet to pull the trigger and I need a qualified person to perform the procedure

2nd question is can the Buffer run the system or do I need more gain?

Cheers

[rollo]

Charles,

Thanks for the reply. Are you referring to changing out the Caps in the Amps to Mundorf or the PreAmp?   Do you also need to change Bypass Caps as well?


I have talked this over several times with others and Gary but have yet to pull the trigger and I need a qualified person to perform the procedure

2nd question is can the Buffer run the system or do I need more gain?

Cheers

   The caps would be for the new preamp. You will require more gain than a buffer. That is why the Dodd Pre makes sense. For now I would leave the Amp as is.  If all works out you can sell the buffer easily or use it after your CDP. 


charles

[medium jim]

My preamp only has 10db of gain and it is enough to drive my Magnepan's (a tough to drive speaker) to full volume.  This may be a byproduct of my amps though.  What I'm learning is the preamp needs to be sympatico to the rest of the system to get the best/desired results.

Jim

[Quiet Earth]

I use my computer as the source, feeding a Calyx DAC with external power supply into my preamp.  I have always had the harshness (and I have changed everything except the Pre and Speakers) so I am actually fairly sure it is the speakers and not the preamp.  To be clear I am not looking for a new preamp to fix the harshness

Even though you don't suspect the preamp of doing anything wrong, have you set your Bryston Amp to the low gain setting when using the Rotel preamp? It seems like you have a lot of available system gain, which could account for the hard sound.

Since your DAC has a high voltage balanced out (7volts!) and your amp has both a high and low sensitivity balanced input, have you considered a balanced, passive line stage feeding the balanced inputs of your amp?  That may be all of the elegance and simplicity that you need, with none of the constrained sound that you have now.