The Dared SL 2000 modification thread

Scroll down to the 1.0uF 400V $10.51 ea X 4 = 42.04, these will replace the (4) output coupling caps

http://www.partsconnexion.com/capacitor_film_multicap_ppmfx.html

Scroll down to the 0.22uF 400V $12.72 ea X 2 = 25.44, these will replace the (2) input coupling caps.

http://www.partsconnexion.com/capacitor_film_auricap.html

a total of $67.48 plus shipping

H9

P.S. Be sure to measure for the (4) output caps, I haven't done that yet.

jessie52 wrote: »

The 1uf, 400v Multicap measures 17.7mm (W) x 20.3mm (H) x 22mm (L). Do you think these would fit the Dared?
Thanks.

If I decide to just change the input caps with Auricaps, would that be significant enough?

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Dared is in the house!!! I am digging it!! a big plus is a remote!!

I won't compare it to the Dodd just yet as I would like to swap them in and out a couple of times but I feel the Dared is more Dynamic out of the box, I will leave it at that..

Being tube rectified is the main reason also it's a nice simple circuit.

H9

Larry if you need recommendations beyond Kieko's or more insight let me know. I am thrilled with the pre-amp and have tried A LOT of tubes. Here's my latest entry. I have spent the past two nights with this new combo and it's really blowing my skirt up. Amazing sound!

Ok I guess it's time to have a little tube talk......................it's been awhile and I'm sure you guys missed me gushing about my latest tube purchase. I have really corraled the tube buying lately. Partly because I have just about everything represented in the 12AT7 and variant category. Still, I'm on Ebay every other day checking the listings, it's been a fantastic source for me.

About two weeks ago I was looking at yet another rectifier for the Dared SL2000A pre-amp since it responds so well to rectifier changes, and I come across a seller in Greece who had NOS Tungsram 5Z4G military large envelope rectifiers (sold in pairs). I have never seen them before and the plate structure is unique. After some research these are old, as in WWII radar equipment old, and for a very short time Tungsram had a division in Tottenham England, these are from Tottenham rather than Hungary, where 90% of Tungsram tubes originate.

I recieved the pair Monday, expertly packed from Greece. They are pristine, NOS, wrapped in the cardboard inserts from what I assume is from a bulk pack carton. Black base, parallel black ladder type plates, bottom rectangle getter. These are simply superb and slightly edge out the Military Brimar 5Z4G rectifier I am so fond of. Talk about tone, presence and mellow airy highs and excellent detail retrival. I paid $80US for a pair, including shipping, which was about $11. It's amazing how a rectifer can completely change the character of this pre-amp.

Awhile ago I purchased 2/pr NOS GE 6829 tubes from different sellers. Both pairs are from 1959 and 3-mica, one pair is the 5 Star designation the other is "JG" designation. Both are rugged industrial tubes very similar or identical to the 6414/E180CC/7062 type. They have long plates. Unfortunately both pairs were severly microphonic which makes no sense since they are 3 mica and built to be rugged. The 5 Star pair I was able to use 2 pairs of dampers to keep them from going microphonic.

WOWZA, these tubes are amazing, BIG, HUGE 3D soundstage, deep bass and the highs are detailed, mellow and sparkly. Lots of presence and ambient information as well as being fairly quick tubes. This is fairly uncommon tube that is only been recently discovered by audiophiles. I am thrilled with the 6829 and Tungsram rectifier. Listening to Jazz at the Pawnshop, it's like I'm in the front row. I was playing some other live stuff last night and the audience banter had me looking around my room for the people talking to tell them to shut up!!:redface:

H9

I'm done buying tubes for the most part, but I still check the usual sources and I couldn't pass this rectifier up. It's a really sweet sounding piece and as usual on the rare side, atleast here in the states.

H9

P.s. Hmmmmmmm.....it looks like the word "rectifier" is in here twice, but when I go to edit one of the duplicate words out, it only shows one instance of the word "rectifier". Weird!

Larry I'll be in touch later today, but the 5965's have a tendency to be microphonic because of the long plates. Do they ring when they are playing or only when you touch the volume of chassis. Dampers will tame that, but we can discuss how you want to proceed. I guess I really didn't notice those tend to be microphonic as I'm used to the long plate tubes have a slight tendency to ring. However they never ring while playing and I almost always use dampers on the long plate tubes.

I can give you a refund, or I might have another spare pair of nice sounding regular (non-long plate) tubes I can send you. You can get some dampers and try those and if it still doesn't work then I can still refund of exchange.

Up to you.

Have you played them at all? Or do they ring just sitting there?

H9

george daniel wrote: »

I had the same issue,, I tried tube dampers and also isolated the pre with some success.I still think that the Syl long BP's sound very good though.

I have the issue with all the 5965's to one degree or another, but they don't ring when playing. I use dampers and it helps quite a bit. If the 5965's I have didn't sound so sweet I wouldn't bother trying to damp them. The 6829's that I have been using lately need two pairs of dampers, but damn do they sound good. I have noticed no ill effects when listening to music, loud music with lots of bass. If I touch the vol control I can hear it, but I use the remote and I rarely mess with the volume too much anyway.

Larry, if they aren't ringing while playing give them a listen for awhile and I guess be gentle when moving the vol control manually. If you can listen to them without them ringing it will atleast give you the flavor of that particular tube. I'll still work with you for whatever you want to do, but listen to them as they are if you can. They are pretty sweet sounding tubes.

H9

george daniel wrote: »

I meant the 5965's-- for the price of admission,they are hard to beat.I sent Steve a pair for his C-J ,,so far I think he's liking them pretty well.Brock,,thanks for the link to that seller--I'm gonna get another pair from him,,they are that good.

You are welcome, George. Damn, I wish I was going to PF this year. We could have sooooo much fun talking a bit about tubes face to face. I was thinking the same thing, you know me I like to have a "back-up" of my favorite tubes, for the $$$ they are really hard to beat.

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Brock I ordered some tube dampers from herbie's I will let you know how they work out. they do sound good but I also found that I can tap on my rack and it picks up the sound. it is from the 12AT7's as the rectifier tube with the stock tubes I don't have the problem..

Larry, this happens with the long plate tubes. I guess it just doesn't bother me because 1) I don't tap on my rack or the pre-amp chassis 2) I'm just used to the long plate tubes having this issue to one degree or another. Tube dampers help, but it won't eliminate all the noise if you rap on the chassis or your rack. I have never had an issue when listening to music. These long plate tubes sound really good so I am willing to deal with them being a little tempramental at times.

When you recieve the dampers if you are still uneasy about how the tubes perform I can take them back or I think I have a similar extra pair of 6201's I can send you. I guess I never thought about this issue because for me it's really a non-issue. But, if in the end you feel you can't live with it, I competely understand and I'll get it squared away however you want.

FYI, I've never heard of a rectifer being microphonic. Despite the issue how are you liking the tubes? How about that rectifier? That's a really great sounding rectifer and Bendix stuff is built to survive a nuclear blast.

H9

P.s. I am currently using a pair of 1959 GE 6829 5 Star 3 mica long plates that sound really great, but I have to have to sets of dampers on them and I can still hear some ringing when I tap the chassis. No issues I can tell when playing.

P.s.s. A typical 12AT7 tube won't have these issues because they are small wing type plates, so don't think this is an issue with the Dared or the type of STOCK tubes it uses because it's not. It's simply the long plate variants that can have the issue.

Check those TFK's because mine are new and slightly microphonic. It's the nature of long plates. You should LOVE those tubes, well I have rolled a lot and those are my favorite by a lot.

H9

heiney9 wrote: »

Check those TFK's because mine are new and slightly microphonic. It's the nature of long plates. You should LOVE those tubes, well I have rolled a lot and those are my favorite by a lot.

H9

I'm new to tubes but learning quickly.

What is "slightly" microphonic?

I have some 1960's Amperex 6922's that I think are "slightly" microphonic, but then again I don't really know what "majorly" microphonic is. :redface:

With the preamp on, but no music playing, no noise at all comes through the speakers. If I tap on the preamp, even lightly, I can hear noise come through the speaker(s) that coincides with my tapping, but then it's back to silence.

I'm inferring that a "majorly" microphonic tube would just make noise all the time.

BTW they sound GREAT with music playing.


Am I correct in my microphonic assumptions??? (where's that damn question mark smily...)

Thanks,


Ben

make that a 0.5 uf value.