SPECIAL GROUP BUY DODD AUDIO 120 MONO'S

prokennex · « **Reply #80 on:** 9 Oct 2005, 05:35 pm »

Yes I have the amps up and running. It was quite easy, thks again for the help on the biasing, just wanted to play it cautious.
As posted earlier I purchased the amps and the midlevel pre. Plunked both of them in replacing my quad606 and modified quad pre. I wished I could say I had instant magic but I think there is a bit of synergy problem in my system. With both inserted I found the sound a little bright. With that said, I always found the logans sl3 to be on the bright side. In the past I experimented with some resistors on the output of the quad pe for more flexibility and by swapping the metal film for Allen Bradleys, I had alot more forgiving sound which suited the electrostats. The cables are all zcable. Passion for the speakers, live3 interconnect and the lighting power cords on the amps and pre. I sold my ram modified samsung to help me pay for the amps and pre, so I only using my old trusty marantz 63 as a cd player which is probably not helping matters.
Anyway other things that stood out were how nicely voices are fleshed out with full body. The base is really tight. The sound stage comes more forward, not in your face but a more of in the room presence. Tremendous amount of detail in the mids and highs.
My quad gear rolls off the highs and currently I have my modified quad pre along with Gary's amps in the sys.
Although Gary is a busy man he took the time in length to speak to me about the synergy. He said he likes is customers to be happy with is gear and will work with them to get things sounding the way they like it. He ships the amps with Jan Phillips 5687 for the input driver tubes. He states they are also the bottom of pile in 5687 and uses them for burning in the amps. Included with the information are better tubes that can be used such as the Tungsol 5687 late fifties black plate D-Getter and any brand of the 7044. After our talk that's my next step to order some tungsols. After they arrive and I have them installed I will contact him again.
One more thing the amps look gorgeous more so than on the site. I'll have to take some pics and put them on this site.
I hope people don't see this as a review or something negative. It's more of letting people know what sys. I have and how things react or sound in that particular sys.
Any suggestions or comments appreciated.
Tks Ray

gld · « **Reply #81 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 05:57 pm »

Hi, I reckon it's time for another update. It has been some time since the last post here.Well I delivered 2 more pair of amps last week. I have heard from some of you guys who got them and haven't heard from others. I suppose you got your amps. Well I have an assembly line set up in my garage and am building the last 20 amplifiers and 10 midline preamps. It is kind of slow this way, because you have to move things around a lot due to space restrictions. You don't even realize how much work there is involved in building this stuff. I should be able to start burning in some finished amps in 2 weeks and start shipping 3 pair at a time, thats how many I can burn in at once, burn in lasts 9 days. Meanwhile I am still selling product and I am getting a dealer base set up as well. Too much to do for 1 guy!! I need to get back to work now. Thanks for your patience. It is greatly appreciated. Amps and Preamps are getting closer!

prokennex · « **Reply #82 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 11:05 pm »

Gary I finally received the tungsol 5687s. Took out the phillips, installed and biased the tungsols. Low and behold the magic is here. I didn't realize how much effect different tubes or brands could have.
I now have both the mid pre and the 120s in the system. With the new tubes installed the hardness is gone and replaced with seductive mids. The highs are very refined and the base is much more extended. Now I understand when it comes to tubes what all the fuss is about. I can't see going back to solid state. All this and the room isn't even treated and the source is fairly old and inexpensive as mentioned above.
It was well worth the wait and indeed a great deal. I have to get to Texas or a show in the future where I can hear Gary's gear with Danny's new line source speakers.
Tks Gary for the advice
Ray

Danny Richie · « **Reply #83 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 03:16 pm »

Hey Guys. Gary sent me some pictures of the amps he's been working on. It seems like that is all he does these days. Every time I call him he's building amps. He's burning them in three pairs at a time and now has a pretty good group of them in line for burn in.

As you can see from the pics, some units still need front face plates and the wood side panels installed but he now has quite few near ready to ship.

JoshK · « **Reply #84 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 03:23 pm »

Quote from: prokennex

Gary I finally received the tungsol 5687s. Took out the phillips, installed and biased the tungsols. Low and behold the magic is here. I didn't realize how much effect different tubes or brands could have.
I now have both the mid pre and the 120s in the system. With the new tubes installed the hardness is gone and replaced with seductive mids. The highs are very refined and the base is much more extended. Now I understand when it comes to tubes what all the fuss is about. I can't see going back to solid st ...

Oh great, there goes the price of tungsol 5687s.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #85 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 03:44 pm »

You guys are really going to love those amps.

I have a full Dodd Audio system now including reference pre-amp, 50 watt mono blocks, and balanced power supply, and I love it.

alotaklipsch · « **Reply #86 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 09:50 pm »

Gary, sorry for the long time between receiving the amps, and replying. I had so many(Cary M211 Anniversay, Lamm 1.1, EAR 890, Berning ZH270, VRD's)that I finally got around to unpacking your last night. I gotta say, they are very well thought out, a breeze to set up, and easy as hell to bias. I tossed aside all 5687's except the Tung Sols, and waited for about an hour. They sound very nice out of the box. I am letting them burn in for another week before I give my serious views.

I will say, right outta the box, they threw a real wide,a nd deep soundstage with my APL 3910, and my BonMod Modwright. A bit brighter than my reference KT88's, but with a little more realistic midrange. The bass is just about as good, so far. They definately need a bit of time to burn in more, but, I have to admit. I AM SMILIN

I have 5 pair of cryod Tung sols on order to play with.

I would like to know if I can mix and match on the V1/V2/V3, and what each position does sonically. I have a hell of a tube collection, and have many NOS E180CC's, Pinch waist Amperex, Mullards, et. I just wanna make sure I wil not break anything, and of course get YOUR FINE PROFFESIONAL opinion here. I am a tube rollin fool.

BTW, I left you a message today for your PC's.

Best

Steve

prokennex · « **Reply #87 on:** 17 Nov 2005, 10:48 pm »

Man, that's alot of amps. Looks like a secret military installation lol. I may not be 100% committed to the tungsols. For me they were the most accessible and made a big difference compared to the stock philips supplied with the amps.
I would be very interested in the impressions of other owners on the different brand of tubes that Gary suggests like the GE7044 and 7119 Mullards.
Living in Canada tube rolling can be expensive. Consider the exchange in currency, shipping and 15-17% customs and 6 $20 tubes U.S. can add up.
For that matter be very interested in hearing Danny's new line arrays (when he gets them finalized, I believe L6 and L9) with the Dodd 120's.
Ray

arthurs · « **Reply #88 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 12:40 am »

that sure is a good lookin pre Danny.....

JoshK · « **Reply #89 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 12:53 am »

I think these monoblocks look super damn cool. I really like Dodd's aesthetix. I'd be interested to know what the 3 5687's are for, I can only imagine, one is for input, one for phase splitter, and one for driver (both sides of dual triode). If that is the case, I'd think the 7044 or 7119 might be a good choice in the driver position since it has higher gain than 5687.

BTW, Danny, what kind of tube is that in the 50watters?

Danny Richie · « **Reply #90 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 01:10 am »

Quote

that sure is a good lookin pre Danny.....

Isn't it? I'll send it down to you and let you check it out.

arthurs · « **Reply #91 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 06:16 am »

Quote from: Danny

Quote
that sure is a good lookin pre Danny.....

Isn't it? I'll send it down to you and let you check it out.

Can't wait......next I need some Epiphany 20/21's...or is it LS9's????so many choices...

kyyuan · « **Reply #92 on:** 23 Nov 2005, 07:19 pm »

Quote from: alotaklipsch

Gary, sorry for the long time between receiving the amps, and replying. I had so many(Cary M211 Anniversay, Lamm 1.1, EAR 890, Berning ZH270, VRD's)that I finally got around to unpacking your last night. I gotta say, they are very well thought out, a breeze to set up, and easy as hell to bias. I tossed aside all 5687's except the Tung Sols, and waited for about an hour. They sound very nice out of the box. I am letting them burn in for another week before I give my serious views.

I will say, right ...

alotaklipsch,

Any update on the Dodd? Please share your thoughts. Thanks.

Ken

kyyuan · « **Reply #93 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 06:06 pm »

Any more updates/feedback from anyone? Thanks.

Ken

prokennex · « **Reply #94 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 06:55 pm »

Ken; I'm really enjoying the Dodd amps and pre. There have been many nights that I have stayed up to late listening to music through them. I have currently replaced the marantz 63 with a sony xe670, which has a lc audio clock and zapfilter installed. I bought the sony a couple of yrs ago for $200 Canadian and had the clock and zapfilter installed but found it boring with the quad amp and pre. With the Dodd amps, it really comes alive with less sibilance and more detail than the marantz. The marantz had a little more decay and bass but overall the sony with the zapfilter is alot better. Getting back to the amps they have better bass control than my quad had. I supplement the sl3s with a sunfire true sub. With the dodds I have the crossover turned alot lower a little over 35hz and the volume is also turned lower. The base is more detailed and you can really feel the slam with symphony type music and other music that has it and you still have the magic of tubes in the mids.
I can't imagine you not likeing these, hope this helps

Ray

Cacophonix · « **Reply #95 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 09:36 pm »

am i too late to this party?

kyyuan · « **Reply #96 on:** 6 Dec 2005, 07:28 pm »

Quote from: Cacophonix

am i too late to this party?

what do you mean?

Ken

Cacophonix · « **Reply #97 on:** 6 Dec 2005, 10:09 pm »

Well, i was wondering if it was too late for me to jump on this nice deal.

I stumbled on this thread just recently, and this is pretty much the kind of amp i was looking for. But i am not sure if Gary would let me sneak into what looks like an already long queue ....

So if there is anybody here who have already ordered the monoblocks, but are having second thoughts, then just shoot me a PM.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #98 on:** 6 Dec 2005, 10:28 pm »

I have a buddy that is having some larger custom Dodd Audio tube amps built and a matching pre-amp and is selling his 120's and matching reference pre-amp.

See sale here on the amps: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1137650779

These are all chrome with Maple sides. The Pre-amp looks just like it in all chrome and Maple sides.

I was told that he would take $2,600. for the amps and $2,600. for the pre-amp. That's half of what they retail for with a standard finish on both units. That's a pretty killer deal!

kenk · « **Reply #99 on:** 6 Dec 2005, 11:09 pm »

Wow the amp actually appreciated from $2k to $2.6k

Man it is doing better then my stocks