Overwhelmed with options

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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited February 2005
    What time does the Dodd start at? 6? 8? What is it in military time?

    Thanks beardog
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited February 2005
    zero is between 6and 7....standard pacific time..!!

    or oh-six thirty mister....military time
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited February 2005
    Well, please someone correct me if I am wrong, but it doesn't seem like the Dodd/McCormack combo is going to be a blatantly poor choice.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2005
    I had the same basic experience as Bear. The volume pot is as described, and gets REAL hot by 11AM IMO.

    The gain is just high, nothing uncommon, just high. I find that I personally needed some play in the gain area to accomodate the many speakers that I have running around here. I have a couple inefficient speakers(Dahlquist DQ9/10) that need some power to wake up, and with the gain being so high, they just never opened up before being overdriven by volume, not power.

    Dennis Had, Cary Audio, lowered the gain on my current pre-amp to compensate for my high gain amplifier. It is currently seamless and works just fine; however the stock gain on the SLP-2002 is 20db. You can imagine that my issue would have been worse for my application, if it was stock.

    I think that's a very nice combination, but keep in mind, my rig....and Beardogs' rig, are not your rig. We all run different things, and any or all of them have a say in how it sounds in the end.

    I think the price alone makes it a giant killer, sonically it is THE best pre-amp I've heard so far....to include my current pre-amp.....and the stock tubes are KILLER.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited February 2005
    Thanks so much for your help Mark.

    I emailed Gary at Dodd Audio. Unless he says not to, and provided the McCormack amp is still available, I am going to go for those two together.

    I'll ask if Gary can lower the gain on my pre as well. I am having him put in an extra set of inputs also anyways.

    I do realize that my future rig is not anyone else's, but opinions from others with similar gear is always helpful.
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited February 2005
    I think your making an excellent choice with the McCormack! :D

    If you find that the Dodd doesn't work you may want to give a look to the Audible Illusions tube preamps. The Modulous 3A and L1 are basically the same preamp but the Mod A has a phono section. The AI pre's come with adjustable gain and they're supposed to be excellent matches with McCormack amps. I've got my eye on the L1. I think madmax is running the Modulous 3A.

    In any case let us know how everything works out!
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited February 2005
    Eh, the dude sold his McCormack. Damnit. Making a decision is the hardest thing for me to do, and look what happens when I finally make one.

    The search for an amp continues.
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited February 2005
    Making a decision is the hardest thing for me to do, and look what happens when I finally make one.

    Don't sweat it man. At least you did the right decision jumping on those rather rare SDA SRS2s. Amps are a dime a dozen. Plenty of good amp deals show up every day. SRS2s, what I've only seen a few in a year on the Bay.

    McCormacks come up all the time on Audiogon. Just become a daily "new today" listing junkie like me, refresh every 1/2 hour or so, and you'll find some gold I guarantee.:D

    As far as the gain thing, it is an interesting topic matching amps and pres and something actually I never worried about too much. My Melos pre I usually listen at 9 o'clock and seems to have similar attributes as the Dodd so I'm told.

    Paul
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited February 2005
    Shizelbs ,

    I think the Dodd is a great unit...
    I am very happy with mine.

    As mentioned before by yourself and Mark (Doro), you can adjust the gain and /or try different tubes (which I`m sure you will anyway!!)..

    I will keep my eyes open for a McCormack DNA-1,as I have become an audioholic and can`t stop looking for more gear..!!

    I need help..!!!!



    But I am willing to help if at all possible....
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited February 2005
    Thanks Beardog. You got a real name anyways?

    Not sure how often the DNA-1 comes up on Audiogon or elsewhere, but I was pretty sold on that amp in specific. I'll look around sure, but man I would love to get my hands on that one.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited February 2005
    yep.!

    names Robert..

    I`ll keep my eye`s open just in case.!!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,769
    edited February 2005
    Have you any real hifi dealers near you? If so, you might want to demo some gear first before commiting to anything. Most dealers will let you take gear home to demo with a credit card as security. I suggest this as a way to find a sound you like. You mentioned you were willing to spend some money, how much? While it's true that SDA's don't need a lot of power to play they do, imo need a lot of power to really open up and sing. 200 wpc with high current specs is a good minimum.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited February 2005
    I do have a couple higher end hi fi shops in town. There are more in Seattle that I am unfamiliar with. The best one (not in Seattle) that I have been too is pretty limited in their amp selection. Some Krell and lots of Rotel. Magnolia hi fi is across the street, and they seem to have lots of McIntosh. The DNA-1 deluxe at $850 is near my upper limit. Its high for where I am at in my audio journey. Keep in mind I will be buying a pre and new cables and likely a new source too.
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited February 2005
    Don't rule out the DNA 0.5 either. it's a work horse too. The money you save could be used for your other upgrades, and if you feel like you need more power you can sell the 0.5 and get the DNA 1. I've never felt like I need more than the DNA 0.5, and my Dynaudio's love current.

    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1113660449

    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1113932717
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited February 2005
    The DNA-0.5 is not out of the question, but like F1 was getting at, the DNA-1 had me excited with the higher power.
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