DK Design Group vs. Boulder

with USblues on this one. If the DK is the best to your ears buy it. Don't look for much support however, especially with statements like, "The thing is, I have already heard equipment several times the price then the DK and have yet to hear something better."

Either another shill posting, or "operator error" in setup of a fine system. FYI any great or expensive (or both) component can be made to sound poor. The overall system sound is only as good as its weakest link. IE - Hook up that Boulder equipment with "tooth floss" wiring from Best Buy. That DK may sound like heaven.

For the record I have heard the DK Mk II coupled with some great gear, Usher Dancer 8871's, Esoteric DV-50, Aesthetix preamp (top of the line model - can't recall name) with very high end Synergistic Research cabling.

I still maintain my above position. May be "great" for 5K. IMHO, from what I have heard I don't find the DK worth it's asking price. I actually find it laughable there are so many new "members" that find it superior to proven names in the industry. I may not agree with the esoteric products pricing, however you are paying for the R&D that went into that product as well.

Anyhow, again IMHO there isn't a comparison.

Others have above stated, it is only your ears that matter however, and if you find audio nirvana with the DK congrats. I am not so sure professing it kills other well regarded amps will create any new beleivers.

Audioaril, why not post your system so the rest of us that may be a "bit" skeptical can get an idea of your associated gear.

Yes, or at least I beleive so... as I controlled the volume to the Aesthetix via remote. I heard the system with just the DK as well as the Aesthetix just driving the amp section. With the Aesthetix driving the DK, it sounded much better. I don't recall the price of the Aesthetix preamp, however I am quite sure the preamp alone was almost twice the amount of the DK. The preamp was used for both cd and vinyl input...

Perhaps it was a Mk 3. Who knows, they have a new model every other month... I will find out next time I am there. There was a preamp running just the amp section. Whether that is model 2, 3, 4, etc. I can't keep up or better yet just don't care to.

Oh- my memory slipped yet again Audioaril - I can't recall what you said the rest of your system was?

I didn't inspect the back of the amp... was definately a DK and it was in the "mode" with the two "digital renditions" of an analog meter on the front...

The only thing I can imagine in this case was the guy was running the preamp into one of the inputs? Which doesn't make much sense.

Tried calling this morning and no answer... will post once I speak with him and learn the configuration.

To be honest, the configuaration may not be correct - however it was a DK, with an Aesthetix preamp... sorry it isn't any easier for you Audioaril - how about that system of yours???

Ok spoke with the gentleman today... it is a DK VS-1 Ref. Mk II...

I have heard his system with just his Esoteric DV-50 and both VPI super scoutmaster going into the DK alone... speakers were Usher Dancer 8871's. It was alright. It wasn't BAD, it wasn't GREAT. He liked it.

Since then, I have heard same system with the Aesthetix Callypso (I think) preamp. He confirmed tonight he is running the Aesthetix via balanced cable into the balance inputs on the DK. (So technically, I guess this would be going through two preamp sections???)... he swears it sounds MUCH better this way. When I heard it this way, not to my knowledge it was going through an input, I would have to agree - it did sound much better.

Did I do an A/B comparison? no. Was it weeks in between? Yep. Am I can expert? nope. Am I sure it sounded much better with teh Aesthetix? Yeah, it was not close.

Audioaril, you ask if I think Boulder equipment is better? I have no idea. Never owned one, never heard one. What I have seen is thread after thread on how the DK integrateds beat integrateds by known respectable manufacturers that retail for 3-8 times the cost (doesn't necessarily make them better) and these members swear the DK "kills" it.

I don't think so. Most of these members, like yourself explain no other parts of your system, and just expect us to believe the DK will just totally "blow away" a decent performer.

You may be selling to peeps here, but I for one, am not buying.

I agree with you on that one, Audioaril - it makes absolutely no sense to me to run a preamp into the integrated. When I questioned him about it, he said the guys at Aesthetix said it would be fine as long as both preamp sections weren't turned up too loud...

I wouldn't imagine it would have made an improvement, nor did I have ANY idea he was running it into the aux input balanced. However, it did sound better to me. He swears it sounds much better and the phono section on the Aesthetix is very good, as I think he said the phono on the DK needs jumpers moved and leaves a lot to be desired... That is only hearsay, I haven't heard a comparison on the phono sections.