Where Do I Start - So Much Has Changed... Mini Reviews and new/old stuff...

I'm afraid this is going to turn into an epistle... But I don't know where to start and end each part honestly - so I guess I'll stream of conscious it all out and see how we end up...

To go back to the beginning... I thought about replacing my 2b's... FWIW they run on the B&K/Pio Elite combo, the 2b's have always sounded a bit veiled compared to the 1c's (which are on the McCormack and Dodd MLP) - I was even trying a few speakers thinking about replacing them.

But then I got to thinking... though my 2b's lag far behind my modded 1c's, I wasn't giving them a fair shake - so I decided to build up an 800v/a Dreadnaught, upgrade the terminals, SDA cable, dynamat, and install the Larry Rings (I already have for them). I also bought a set of Signal Cable Silver Resolution interconnects from @acsubie. Then a slightly used Dreadnaught case from @GlennDog (and some wire and necessary terminals from @helipilotdoug). I'm 'sposed to be saving for the crossovers... but that comes along later in our story.

Enter @hoosier21 and his offering of the Dodd 50W dual mono tube amp. Could not, just could NOT, pass up the chance at that amp. So first I put the Dodd in place of the McCormack with the MLP. Truthfully, I was a little worried about it running the big 1c's, but that proved unfounded. At least at my listening levels, it seemed to run them without a hitch, and the sound was oh so sweet. I'll say this, without a doubt, the McCormack exercises much tighter control of the big 1c's. It's a much more neutral presentation than the Dodd, and the highs just sparkle. But the Dodd... the Dodd... just sounded so liquid for want of a better word. Effortless on guitar tracks like Dire Straits "Making Movies" or James Taylor "JT" and Eric Clapton "Slowhand" SACD, hell even Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath" or Def Leppard's "High n Dry" the sound is just so listenable. Like the guitar amps are set up in the living room, the midrange is positively glowing and silky, (or FAT and CRUNCHY if the music dictates) though I'll admit; I was still missing the bass control provided by the big McCormack in all that.

So now, what to do? Honestly, I still love the McCormack, and particularly how it pairs with the modded 1c's and the MLP tube pre... and as it turns out, I've been using less and less full HT anyway, so... (do you smell the massive rationalization there?)

I picked up an Audible Illusions Modulus L1 tube pre to pair with the McCormack, hoping I could preserve the MLP for the "Dodd on Dodd" synergy. (Remember that crossover money I mentioned...yea...?) Well, got the AA L1, and rearranged my racks to pair it with the McCormack, and honestly, didn't love it at first.



It has nowhere near the pitch black background of the Dodd MLP which is astoundingly quiet. And I thought, a bit tinny to begin with... Being a tube pre though, I did a little of my new favorite past-time, and got to rolling some 6dj8's. It came with NOS Tesla's, and AA recommends Siemens among others, so I rolled in a set of Siemens NOS's I had on hand and - YIKES! Microphonics from hell!! Out come those and in go a set of NOS Amperex Holland Bugle Boys, ahh... that's more like it. Back is that buttery tube love I remember from the MLP, highs are airy and not as strident, midrange authoritative, and bass is surprisingly increased and more balanced as well. Houston, we have a winner. It is still nowhere near as quiet as the Dodd, but it's enjoyable, and has additional inputs so I can run the AudioGD NFB-5 with JRiver ... but that's yet another story I haven't started yet (and won't here).



Sooo - I decide to bite the bullet and dismantle the HT rack and make that side into a (mostly) tube rack. But why just do that when you can spring for something I really can't afford but I've always wanted in "mantown" (as we call it at our casa)... So I had a dedicated 20amp circuit installed and outlets placed behind each amp. Now the amps and preamps all run on the dedicated line, and the rest of the components are connected through a couple Panamax conditioners I already had on a different circuit.




The Dodd MLP, Dodd 50W are paired with my Eastern Electric Minimax CDP, one of my Sony 9000es SACD players, and the Yamaha YP-D6 turntable. I used up all my Silver Resolutions in this setup (see I got around to that eventually), in addition to a SC Silver Resolution turntable cable I had picked up elsewhere and they're connected to the SDA2b's for speaks.



To make a long story, longer yet. I am absolutely amazed. I LOVE the pairing of the Tubes, SC Silver Res, and 2b's, so it's win/win. The 2b's have awoken from the grave. The veil has been lifted. I don't know what else to say. The Dodd(s) are warm and engaging without sounding smeary or loose. The Silver Resolutions really brought the out the highs and produced much more focus, the Yamaha has NEVER sounded this good on vinyl playback... (I had thought about selling that too...) the 2b's are now lighter and and more airy, the midrange is still lush and delicious, and the bass has also improved with the move to the 2b's (over the 1cs), I believe they are just a better match for the Dodd 50W for whatever reason synergy-wise.

On the other hand... While I still don't love the AAL1/McCormack pairing as much as I did with the MLP, I do still like it - A LOT. The McCormack presentation is still very musical, but so very detailed as to be amazing. The soundstage is ridiculous in width and depth, and the whole package is not fatiguing at all now that I've got the Amperex in there. These dig deep, and they dig very low, but not with an "in your face" overblown bass, more with what I can only describe as accuracy and control. When I feel like a critical listen, this is where I go.



So in the end - I have two systems, each with strikingly different qualities, that to quote @tonyb just blow my sack back. I like them both for different reasons, and I find myself listening to them equally, based on the mood I'm in and what I plan to listen to and how I plan to listen. Hell, sometimes I just warm them both up for the day and trade sides - what a luxury to have! I still think I'll keep an eye out for another MLP or Dodd pre - the synergy with the McCormack was just that good - but for now, I've got two great systems, and I no longer feel that one is the weaker link, they're both excellent. I'm mighty pleased.

You guys are hell on the wallet, but you're sweet in the ears. I have never, ever had it so good, and frankly, I never thought in a million years, I would ever have it so good.

Thanks to each and every one of you along the way for your help, advice, questions answered (including previously asked ones I've mined from old threads) with the journey!