[MarkR7]

Dodd Battery Preamp in glossy Curly Maple finish.

Never thought this day would come!  I'm selling my beloved Dodd Battery Preamp.  Best preamp that I've owned and heard in my system.  If musicality is your top priority, this preamp will not disappoint!  Great build quality, great sound quality!

I have reluctantly decided to sell it in order to simplify my system and to take some money out of it (afterall, I WILL need the $$ to buy Cubbies World Series tickets!).  My Modwright modded Sony 9000ES has a DACT stepped attenuator built in, but the gain from the tube stage has always too high, until I recently bought a pair of Goldenjacks -14dB attenuators (from the UK; highly recommended, btw).  To make a long story short, my cdp is the only input, and now has a usable volume control, so at this time the preamp is expendable, along with it's respective IC: a 1.5m Synergistic Research Tesla Accelerator pair of RCA ICs.

Here are some juicy pics:












It's in excellent condition, in the same shape as I received it in about 1.5 years ago (I'm the orig. owner).  It will ship with the stock JJ tubes (unused) that shipped with the unit, and as a bonus, it will ship with two Hi-Fi Tuning fuses as well as the original fuses.  No service issues whatsoever.  Sent back to Gary Dodd for the power upgrade where all 4 batteries are being used for endless dynamics and power!

Dodd Battery Preamp => asking $1925 obo.
Synergistic Research Tesla Accelerator, 1.5m IC => asking $825 obo.

Buyer pays shipping fees and Paypal is accepted, but buyer will be expected to cover fees as well as shipping.  Local purchase always encouraged!

Cheers! 
Mark

[Will2]

From the research I have done this is a fantastic preamp and they come up very rarely. I would be all over it if I hadn't committed to one already - check out this review http://www.10audio.com/dodd_battery_pre.htm and note that Jerry, unlike many other reviewers that I read, gives very few pieces his top "10 LP" rating.

Good luck with the sale - shouldn't take long.

Will

[Mariusz]

WOW, for this price........IT IS A STEAL!!!!!
You might regret it though.

Good luck with the sell.

Mariusz

[Mariusz]

One more thing, if you do not mind me asking.
Are those tuning fuses in your Dodd?
If yes. What are your thoughts?
I might add that I am not a huge believer in tweaks as the main source of improvements.

Thanks
Mariusz 

[AliG]

Is this the version where only two batteries are used at the same time?

If I understand it correctly, Gary has changed his design some 6 months ago that all 4 batteries are used at the same time, also the charger was changed to accomdate worldwide voltages 120-240V. Of course, none of these changes should affect the sound. 

[S Clark]

The upgrade was after Gary found that running all four batteries at the same time actually increase the life of the batteries.  It has no effect on the sound.

Damn shame to sell it.  It and my LS9's are the only things in my system that will probably still be with me 10 years from now.

[MarkR7]

Thanks Will.... agreed, it is a fantastic preamp!

From the research I have done this is a fantastic preamp and they come up very rarely. I would be all over it if I hadn't committed to one already - check out this review http://www.10audio.com/dodd_battery_pre.htm and note that Jerry, unlike many other reviewers that I read, gives very few pieces his top "10 LP" rating.

Good luck with the sale - shouldn't take long.

Will

[MarkR7]

Hello Mariusz... yes, those are the Hi-Fi Tuning fuses.  I like them alot, and have them throughout my system.  The more you have, the more the affect on the whole system, but it's not a night and day difference.  Perhaps dynamics are improved a touch, and a slightly better soundstage, and even perhaps a touch of naturalness added too.  But you will get more of a difference in rolling tubes, without a doubt.  You may also want to replace the stock "glass" fuses with ceramic types, and that will get you half way there for a fraction of the price.  If you hear and like the affect, then go with the Hi-Fi Tuning fuses.

One more thing, if you do not mind me asking.
Are those tuning fuses in your Dodd?
If yes. What are your thoughts?
I might add that I am not a huge believer in tweaks as the main source of improvements.

Thanks
Mariusz 

[MarkR7]

No, all four batteries are used in my preamp.  I sent it off to Gary to have that done.  You will also notice that only two fuses are required (position 2 and 4) whereas four fuses were required when using only 2 batteries at a time.

Is this the version where only two batteries are used at the same time?

If I understand it correctly, Gary has changed his design some 6 months ago that all 4 batteries are used at the same time, also the charger was changed to accomdate worldwide voltages 120-240V. Of course, none of these changes should affect the sound. 

[Big Red Machine]

I'm trying to get Yooper to bring his over for an audition against my MW.  It might be sold by then but I'd be interested if the comparo went well.

[tanchiro58]

I wish I could purchase this decent look Dodd preamp. How many dB does it have?

Thanks,
Tan

[MarkR7]

I believe that the gain is around 16dB...

I wish I could purchase this decent look Dodd preamp. How many dB does it have?

Thanks,
Tan

[AliG]

Gain should not be an issue... I have tried many different sources (some of the more expensive ones rae Esoteric X-01, Audio Research CD7, EMM Lab CDSE) in my system, most of the time I only need to turn the volume knob up to 9 o'clock - ok, granted I have a small room 11x13

I wish I could purchase this decent look Dodd preamp. How many dB does it have?

Thanks,
Tan

[MarkR7]

I concur... I usually ran the preamp between 9 o'clock and 10 o'clock.

Gain should not be an issue... I have tried many different sources (some of the more expensive ones rae Esoteric X-01, Audio Research CD7, EMM Lab CDSE) in my system, most of the time I only need to turn the volume knob up to 9 o'clock - ok, granted I have a small room 11x13

I wish I could purchase this decent look Dodd preamp. How many dB does it have?

Thanks,
Tan

[tanchiro58]

Gain should not be an issue... I have tried many different sources (some of the more expensive ones rae Esoteric X-01, Audio Research CD7, EMM Lab CDSE) in my system, most of the time I only need to turn the volume knob up to 9 o'clock - ok, granted I have a small room 11x13

I wish I could purchase this decent look Dodd preamp. How many dB does it have?

Thanks,
Tan

I have own and tried some different preamp including DIYs and passive one like TVC with tube buffer stage. The dB range is from 15dB to 46dB. When turning up the volume from 9-12 o'clock from most preamps it is considering as normal and a good match for most of amplifiers. In my situation and experience I own a 46dB preamp which is a better match for 6-10watts (low watts) amps and I have to crank up 12-3 o'clock in a Promitheus Audio Apollo (old version) for most tube amps (single-ended amps) to get a better sound. Therefore, IMO gain is also considered as an important factor in a preamp.

[MarkR7]

Source output levels and amp input sensitivities are also important considerations that will affect preamp performance (synergy).

Gain should not be an issue... I have tried many different sources (some of the more expensive ones rae Esoteric X-01, Audio Research CD7, EMM Lab CDSE) in my system, most of the time I only need to turn the volume knob up to 9 o'clock - ok, granted I have a small room 11x13

I wish I could purchase this decent look Dodd preamp. How many dB does it have?

Thanks,
Tan

I have own and tried some different preamp including DIYs and passive one like TVC with tube buffer stage. The dB range is from 15dB to 46dB. When turning up the volume from 9-12 o'clock from most preamps it is considering as normal and a good match for most of amplifiers. In my situation and experience I own a 46dB preamp which is a better match for 6-10watts (low watts) amps and I have to crank up 12-3 o'clock in a Promitheus Audio Apollo (old version) for most tube amps (single-ended amps) to get a better sound. Therefore, IMO gain is also considered as an important factor in a preamp.

[tanchiro58]

Source output levels and amp input sensitivities are also important considerations that will affect preamp performance (synergy).

I agreed. That is why audiophiles and/or musiclovers are always in search of the components in their systems to match with their sonic tastes.

Tan

[MarkR7]

Both, the Dodd Battery Preamp and the Synergistic Resreach Tesla Acclerator IC have SOLD.