Author Topic: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier  (Read 27013 times)

Offline richidoo

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #15 on: September 04, 2016, 07:26:10 AM »
Great!! Congrats Michael! Welcome home.
Are the "good tubes" the Treasure CV181?

Offline mresseguie

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #16 on: September 04, 2016, 08:40:47 AM »
Rich,

Both the good and 'bad' tubes are the CV181. Don had sent out a newly finished preamp with matched tubes just days before mine was ready. He didn't have other matched sets sitting around, so he sold me two good, and two used tubes that were sitting in a drawer. These two used tubes are the ones he referred to as subpar. As soon as he receives new tubes, he will mail the new tubes to me. He said that one of my tubes is slightly microphonic, but I'll be damned if I can hear it. I think Jay didn't notice it either.

His sales volume is low enough that he typically buys just 5 pairs of tubes at a time. Same goes for cabinets, caps, transformers, etc. He does not have a roomful of parts just waiting for the next 20 orders. It was hard for me to imagine that because this puts him at the mercy of holiday delays, supplier hiccups, bad weather, etc. I'm obviously not in his shoes, but if it were my business, I'd prefer to keep five to ten units' worth of parts in stock. [I understand that is a lot of money to tie up.]

At this point my preamp has fewer than 40 hours on it.

I am very curious about how Don's KT-88 amp, Bob Latino's VTA ST-120, or other similar amps sound compared to my 400R. Sure, I heard Don's a week ago, but my aural memory just ain't that good. I may buy an ST-120.
Daedalus Audio Apollos; Fritz Loudspeakers LS/5-R
SW1X NOS DAC III BAL/SPL; Holo Spring3 KTE
Don Sachs Model 2 preamp
Don Sachs dual mono 300b; Nuprime Evolution STA
Hapa loom
PI Audio UberBUSS, DigiBUSS, Uber-MiniBUS

Offline tmazz

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #17 on: September 04, 2016, 09:13:35 PM »
Don't question, just sit back and enjoy!   :thumb:
Remember, it's all about the music........

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Offline hogg

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #18 on: September 05, 2016, 05:26:43 PM »
Nice looking tube gear
Strong as an Ox and twice as smart

Offline dls123

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #19 on: December 23, 2018, 07:42:34 AM »
Hi
I saw this thread, so thought I would finally participate.   I have a new version of the preamp in a nice black aluminum case, with tubes on top of course.    There are a few subtle improvements to the design, and of course, I still build them in cherry or walnut. 

cheers,
Don

Offline dls123

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #20 on: December 25, 2018, 04:37:41 PM »
Here is the matching amp to the preamp.  Of course the blue poly is removed by the user.  It protects the stainless transformer cans....

Offline Nick B

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #21 on: December 25, 2018, 08:58:35 PM »
Here is the matching amp to the preamp.  Of course the blue poly is removed by the user.  It protects the stainless transformer cans....

Very nice. Michael.....mresseguie....has a Kootenay and loves it!
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline mresseguie

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #22 on: December 27, 2018, 11:29:22 AM »
DS Tube Porn!  :drool: My favorite.  :thumb:

Daedalus Audio Apollos; Fritz Loudspeakers LS/5-R
SW1X NOS DAC III BAL/SPL; Holo Spring3 KTE
Don Sachs Model 2 preamp
Don Sachs dual mono 300b; Nuprime Evolution STA
Hapa loom
PI Audio UberBUSS, DigiBUSS, Uber-MiniBUS

Offline dls123

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #23 on: March 03, 2019, 04:32:49 PM »
Hi all,
I have modified the preamp to take a 6BY5 rectifier because it sounds better and you can source 6BY5 tubes for $12 or less. If you own one of my preamps and pay the return shipping I will modify it for you and provide a 6BY5 tube for $75.   If you own an SP14 kit or any other version of this preamp, please DO NOT JUST PLUG A 6BY5 TUBE INTO YOUR PREAMP AS YOU WILL DAMAGE IT AND IT WILL NOT WORK!   This modification is something I developed for my customers only. I will NOT share the details and I will NOT modify any preamp that I did not build. Sorry, but this is what sets my gear apart from the kit versions.  I have gotten notes from a few people who have built the kit version and asked for the recipe.  No, sorry, but I do not share any of my mods.

cheers,
Don

Offline mresseguie

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #24 on: March 03, 2019, 08:50:47 PM »
Hello, Don.

I return to Corvallis in 9 days. I’ve suffered without my amp and preamp for 3 1/2 months.  :duh

I may get all your upgrades later this year, but first I get to immerse myself in beautiful music. I’ll have my new DAC in two weeks.

Party in Oregon.
Daedalus Audio Apollos; Fritz Loudspeakers LS/5-R
SW1X NOS DAC III BAL/SPL; Holo Spring3 KTE
Don Sachs Model 2 preamp
Don Sachs dual mono 300b; Nuprime Evolution STA
Hapa loom
PI Audio UberBUSS, DigiBUSS, Uber-MiniBUS

Offline dls123

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #25 on: March 26, 2019, 07:29:06 AM »
Here is the newest version of the preamp in cherry.  It now has a drop in black top panel to mount the tubes.  More venting, runs cooler.....

cheers,
Don


Offline P.I.

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #26 on: April 02, 2019, 10:59:26 AM »
Hello, Don.

I return to Corvallis in 9 days. I’ve suffered without my amp and preamp for 3 1/2 months.  :duh

I may get all your upgrades later this year, but first I get to immerse myself in beautiful music. I’ll have my new DAC in two weeks.

Party in Oregon.
Woohoo.  Par-tay!  We'll be in Tigard over the week of the 4th of July to catch the Blues Festival on the waterfront.  Any chance you and Melody will be there?  If no we can drive down there to Corvallis if you two are there.

Check out the lineup!

http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com/artists/

Would be good to see you my friend!
"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument." - Hilmar von Campe

Offline mresseguie

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #27 on: April 03, 2019, 07:33:24 PM »
Dave,

When are you two going to move to Oregon? You know you want to.

I'm pretty sure we'll be in Oregon in July - unless Melody dreams up a trip to places unknown.

I'll check the link. I'm trying to increase the number of concerts I go to. It's too easy to sit in my living room and listen. I gotta break that habit, but it's so hard.

Daedalus Audio Apollos; Fritz Loudspeakers LS/5-R
SW1X NOS DAC III BAL/SPL; Holo Spring3 KTE
Don Sachs Model 2 preamp
Don Sachs dual mono 300b; Nuprime Evolution STA
Hapa loom
PI Audio UberBUSS, DigiBUSS, Uber-MiniBUS

Offline dls123

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #28 on: November 25, 2019, 07:13:32 PM »
Hi folks...
Here is the latest version of the preamp with the new OLED display.  It also has relay input switching.   Much shorter signal path:)

cheers,
Don


Offline Nick B

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Re: Don Sachs Tube Preamp and Amplifier
« Reply #29 on: November 25, 2019, 07:29:06 PM »
Hi folks...
Here is the latest version of the preamp with the new OLED display.  It also has relay input switching.   Much shorter signal path:)

cheers,
Don

 :thumb: Very nice
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS