[bladesmith]

I have been looking at this Dared tube preamp ( SL-2000A)

Anyone have any experience or heard anything good or bad about this little tube preamp....?

It's looks like it might be alright to hook up to a SS amp and get some descent sound...(?)

thanks....

[Meicheng]

I had one of these and didn't really like it.  Lots of tube rush, a little bit of background hiss/noise and really cheap feeling remote.  In this price range I would look for a used Audio Experience Symphonies Plus preamp, which IMO is much better. 

[dangerbird]

Mine is dead quiet,,it responds very well to tube rolling,,I upgraded the caps in mine--but,stock with the right tubes,I think it's a great bang/buck, just my .02 worth.

[cjmustang69]

I have a Dared SL2000A preamp - bought it several months ago as my first step into "tubes.  I read a lot of good reviews about it - particularly on Polk Forum from members whose opinions I respect highly.  I'm very satisfied with its performance - particularly after changing out the stock tubes.  The preamp is dead silent and I'm running it with an Onkyo M504 amp in my second system.  In my opinion, it performs well above its price point.

[dangerbird]

I got mine from a PF member,, try some Syl 5965's,,you'll love em' inexpensive too.

[bladesmith]

Just ordered a new Dared s-2000a preamp, should get it next week.

Going to put it front of a SS amp and see how it sounds on my second system..

Anyone experimenting with different tubes in their Dared preamp...?

-bladesmith..

[Poultrygeist]

I have the Dared 2a3c which after exchanging the terrible Chinese 6n3 signal tubes for WE 396A's is an excellent amp. Dared's products are high quality.

[50jess]

Quite impressive even with the stock tubes and capacitors.  I use it as a pre-amp to a Virtue 2.2.  Changing to NOS tubes and probably upgrade the caps.

[Chris Adams]

I purchased a new SL-2000A about six weeks ago and it is fantastic. I wanted to try a tube pre in front of my SS amps. Worked so well that I upgraded almost immediately. I spent twice the money and got a little bit of improvement. For the money and even for quite a bit more, I think the Dared is a giant killer.

[50jess]

I purchased a new SL-2000A about six weeks ago and it is fantastic. I wanted to try a tube pre in front of my SS amps. Worked so well that I upgraded almost immediately. I spent twice the money and got a little bit of improvement. For the money and even for quite a bit more, I think the Dared is a giant killer.

What SS amp are you using, Chris?

[Chris Adams]

I have a few, but for now I built a Hifimediy T3 mono block pair. 300w into 4ohms of very nice Tripath power. Also a pair of Tube Audio Design Hibachi mono amps. Both of these worked very nicely with the Dared.

[50jess]

I have a few, but for now I built a Hifimediy T3 mono block pair. 300w into 4ohms of very nice Tripath power. Also a pair of Tube Audio Design Hibachi mono amps. Both of these worked very nicely with the Dared.

With what speakers?

[Chris Adams]

Modded Magnepan MMGs.

[Tubeburner]

The little Dared smoked a Cary SLP 98 preamp. Change the rectifier to a Sylvania 5Y3 and use either RCA 5963 black plate or Seimen E81CC. Excellant for the money IMO.

[50jess]

The little Dared smoked a Cary SLP 98 preamp. Change the rectifier to a Sylvania 5Y3 and use either RCA 5963 black plate or Seimen E81CC. Excellant for the money IMO.

Is your Dared of the earlier version with Auricaps?

[Tubeburner]

When I owned the  Dared, it had the Auricaps and the gold contacts. The remote was a small wood piece. I believe this was the second version...? My next preamp cost $2700 and had a wider sound stage, but this is a matter of taste, like many decisions in audio, not a better value. The Dared is a very good piece, IMO.

[50jess]

Is the 5Y3 rectifier as important as the 12AT7 tubes in influencing the sonic character of this preamp?

[Tubeburner]

Yes, the rectifier makes a big difference. I did not like the Mullard GZ34/5AR4 in this preamp, but the relatively cheap Sylvania was quite nice.