Any comments or observations from anyone on why folks may have moved away from a Dude? I'm overly cautious since I have to order one to hear one and want to be sure it will be quiet and reliable. I am digging around here and seeing that perhaps some have given up the Dude due to noise issues.
I can understand moving up and I have considered the Eklipse and Joule units. I'm presently auditioning a Rogue Athena and would also like to try a BAT VK51SE or 52SE. |
Thanks Granny - so you still own it? And is it quiet w/o hum? I'd like to purchase one and would do so based solely on reviews here. |
Hey folks, about to order a Dude before the price increases in October. I've seen photos here of the black and gun-metal gray units. Anyone have any other colors of anodizing that TRL offers they can forward me? I'm leaning toward blue, red, or basic black but want to see what you have selected. Thanks. |
Have you seen the anodize color sheet? Bill is trying to get me one so I can choose. Just about any color you want for no charge if his plater can do it.
Bill says someone is ordering Candy Apple Red Dude and amps to match.
Price goes up to $4000 in October. Order yours NOW!!!! |
Good source for the Marconi tubes? What is the exact part number designation? Clear top, smoked glass, fringed rear window?
On the mounting, are there locations to add feet or would I have to drill and tap myself? Engineer and DIY'r so no fear here. |
Mental note made.
"I also have a quad of Marconi 6SN7.... if anybody wants to play around let me know."
Where does the 12SX7 go in the unit? |
What power cords are you using on your Dude's? |
I'm still waiting for mine to be built!! |
Paul says some difficulty with the machine shop is slowing s down. The guts are wired up in the bottom chassis plate but we need the machined pieces to finish then off to anodize. |
My Dude panels will be anodized next week so it should ship very soon. Candy apple blue!! You guys make a master list of tubes for me to try this spring!
Samsons in my sights in April as well. |
Finally!! The anodizer has completed my front panel w/o any defects and it will be absolutely cool beyond words. I'd post a pic here if I could to show you. Very blue indeed. Can't wait! |
Okay, the blue photo is up in my system. Can't wait to see the final product. Planning silver knobs right now. Dual volume controls.
Now to decide on some mono-blocks. I'm teetering between DNA-750's and Samsons. BTW, Paul says they will discontinue Samsons. |
Paul said he will never go back to a silver or black unit now that he has the blue in front of him.
I am afraid to try and match Samson colors and have anodizer delays all over again so am thinking just plain black, which Paul says he has in stock (panels). I just sold my BAT amp and cannot be without an amp for very long - else you guys will be hounding me to evaluate and I will not be able to do so! |
The new price is supposed to be $4k. I came it at the transition time. He did not charge extra for the blue anodizing and the pseudo balanced connections.
There are many updates they have done to the Dude that will be reflected in this unit like a "lighted" selector knob to let you know it is on.
Pete |
Dude ships tomorrow. Of course I'll be out of town next week when it arrives.
I decided to go with the Samsons and I might even get them in matching blue. |
Paul has a great sense of humor. His LinkedIn job title is Janitor at TRL.
Dude is in FedEx's hand at the moment! |
The Dude Abides!! Yes, the crate lost it's "feet" but the unit is intact and beautiful. Sitting on the dining room table waiting for me to spring for some amplifiers.
Damn thing is HEAVY! Built like a tank and the knobs have great feel. Cool amber light behind the selector switch.
Paul included 9 CD's of high rez tunes in the box.
Sound? Who the hell knows at this point. And it will be at least 10 days before I know unless I drag out a surround amp from the theater and try those 60 watts on my system before that. |
I'm not going to wait. Pulling the trigger on something this week. Getting closer to a decision. |
Samsons are at 68kohms impedance. So I would guess amps at 50kohms or higher would be okay.
Sgr - go for it. Paul has a new anodizer and finally can get things moving which means other colors for those that ask.
I uploaded a few more photos of the preamp into my system just for you guys to see.
McCormacks are at 10kohms. |
Are you kidding me? Wow!! Right out of the gate - clarity, depth, separation, and dead quiet.
WOW!!! And I'm using 10+ year old amps as a stop-gap. |
I am amazed at the initial results within 2 hours with low end 'amperage' and a DIY IC slammed in there to just get the system back up and get some tunage. You used the word "musical" and that is exactly what I hear. The sound is so gentle and revealing - graceful may be the best terminology. It's just stupid, but I actually do hear MORE detail of what is going on in the music but it is not forced at all but just laying out there to grab.
I'm in a hurry now to get some better amps. I have some new IC's coming and some new PC's to try. And the tubes in the Dude are temporary according to Paul as he awaits shipment of the new supply. I believe I have some RCA's in there right now.
If the Samsons are half as good as the Dude I may have to retire early and become a hermit in my man-cave. |
Bugredmachine, how long have you waited for your Dude? Tthean 03-16-11
Well I waited an inordinate amount of time - 6 months. Paul had to find a new plater/anodizer due to economy, etc. last year and once he found one they kept having troubles as they were running his stuff on 3rd shift. Then there were delays when his Dad took ill in a town far away. Then winter hit them and us and their queue was big. But I kept in constant contact and always received a response from Paul. Many phone calls and bits of progress.
They finally got the anodizer to do their stuff first shift and they resolved the problems. This whole time the chassis was finished and circuit up and running, just w/o the sides and top panels.
Worth the wait for sure but you won't have to wait as long as I did. |
Dual Shallco attenuators and the selector switch.
I think I have 6SN7's but will have to verify. |
I made a Lexan cover for my Dude today. I was worried I might scratch it trying different cables so I made thin cover to sits over the top and clears the bolts.
Ordered my Samsons Thursday. Paul said it would be a travesty not to get a pair in blue. |
About 200 hours and counting. Added some Triode Wire PC's to the amps and that increased the pleasure meter some as well.
Samsons may be completed in 2 weeks per Paul. |
A very mint pair of PS Audio Delta 250 mono-blocks I found on here but sold by a local who was original owner. OBM and not a scratch on them. |
Paul says he has reconsidered and decided to continue and make Samsons after the outcry when he said he would discontinue them. He also has ordered enough electronic components to build and service them for the next 20 years. |
Samsons are here!! I updated my system pages with some photos. Once broken in I will have to review the amps. |
RED!!! I've got some tubes coming for mine to try out. It's all broken in now.
Yeah, the Tx in this thing puts most power amps to shame. Hand wired, no PCB's, what's not to love? |
Hey guys, I posted on AC that I have been feverishly rolling tubes in the Dude and looking for what matches well with my Lampizator L4/G4. Both the Dude and Lamp have Duelands and neither are anywhere near burned in yet.
Anyways, when I dropped in the RCA Red Base 5692's the sound just took off like a rocket. I was floored how all of a sudden the soundstage came out to me and enveloped me. I could hear new depth in the sound bouncing right off the diffusers 90 degress to my chair. The midrange took on a new grunt and bass jumped up several notches.
Everyone has their preferences, but these tubes are awesome. I also have some NOS CBS-HYTRON 5692's and some Sylvania 6SN7GTA Tube-Short Bottle-Tall Base-Chrome Top's coming to try.
Just thought I'd throw that out there. It is amazing how more detail you can keep extracting from the Dude. So if you feel you are wanting and get frustrated, don't give up, there is room for improvement! |