[randog]

I've done a search but found little or no listening impressions of this little Dodd $450 tube preamp.

Give it up!  

Randog

[Carlman]

I bought one recently but, it won't be here until next week or January.  I will be comparing it to the Eastern Electric Minimax and hopefully the AVA T5 and the IRD Purist..... (hopefully all 4 will be present in late Jan for the comparison)

If you've heard the Melos MA-333 then that should give a fair estimation of its sonic character (from what I've been told).  

Sorry I can't answer your question directly... but I will within a couple of weeks.

[randog]

Thanks for the response. I'm in the market for a pre and am serious about both this one and IRD's offering (though I'd be more interested in the Sabai when it comes out). I'm up to audition the Purest in a few weeks. When I saw that Frank lowered the price of the T5, that got me curious about it as well.

The Minimax sounds sweet but is out of what I'd consider budget range and no bypass.

My main stall is that I really need an HT bypass. Gary Dodd offers one... the others don't.

For those who can report on the Dodd, have you rolled any tubes?

Randog

[gotmikey]

Randog,

Just got mine back from Gary today.  He added an extra set of outs for a sub on mine.  I'm at work and the box is sitting on my kitchen table according to the girlfriend.  Looks like I'm going home early today.  It's my B-day and I gotta a new preamp waiting for me... and a pair of Amperex Bugle Boys, and a pair of Siemens 6922's ECC88's and a pair of Mullards!!!  Came in last week!!! wooooohoooo  Stop by the store for some beer and I'm good to go for the whole X-mas vacation.  Hey, Randog aren't you running Ellis 1801's?   I built a pair of his floorstanders.  I'll post sometime next week...

[pjchappy]

Mikey,

How much more did the 2nd set of outputs cost?  If I can get two, this pre will be on a list of possible future purchases when I replace my Foreplay.  

p

[gotmikey]

Fifty bucks.  I'm listening right now with the siemens e88cc's in and they absolutely crush the stock tubes in every category.  When people talk about the midrange magic of tubes, I finally understand what they're talking about.  With the 1801's I think I'm done for awhile... okay maybe not, but it sounds really nice.  The best I've heard so far.

[EDS_]

I listened to one for about two hours a couple of months ago.

It's friggin' great.  At this session the Dodd was driving very long interconnects too---maybe 15 feet.

I've heard nothing that touches the little-Dodd-----in it's price class.

[Al Garay]

Randog and others,

As an option for pre-amp, I highly recommend you look at the BentAudio NOH preamp. I have the TX102S which is internally identical to the NOH.
It is very neutral, wide soundstage, extended bass. Go to the BentAudio circle to read more about it. John Chapman's service is incredible as well.

Another advantage, the BentAudio is passive transformer based. It supports balanced inputs/outputs, and can have a remote control.  

Good luck,

Al

[ken]

I auditioned this little gem back in May or June.  Gary was gracious enough to let me keep it for two weeks and probably would have kept it if I could have afforded to at the time.  I have nothing to compare it to other than my nad from 1983 which needless to say it trounced.  It was a great match with my soundcraftsman ss amp and GR-Research AV-1's   I ultimately decided to purchase the Cayin integrated TA-30 (which from what I'm hearing is one of the true audio bargains out there) and kill two birds with one stone as I really wanted a tube amp as well.  I don't think you could go wrong with the Dodd and from what I understand Gary backs with a lifetime warranty which is practically unheard of.  I still may ultimately buying it someday as I have no intentions of parting with my Soundcraftsman pcr 800

Good luck
Ken