DK Design VS.1 Reference mkII - Optimization

I had Parts Connexion modify a DK VS1mkII a while ago. It was a great improvement over the stock amp. If I didn't have problems with changing gear every couple months I would have probably kept it & been happy. It sounded killer. I think it was money well spent. The quality of work by Parts Connexion was absolutely 1st class all the way. I wouldn't hesitate to deal with them again in the future. I have since gone back to separates and am chasing my tail again. I sold the amp on Agon and the new owner is absolutely thrilled with the sound and that was with some inexpensive tubes in the pre section. He also got my cryoed CV2492 Mullard tubes to plug in when he is ready. The DK is a nice amp that never really got a fair shake due to marketing/shill and all the crazy threads and arguments. It isn't the last word in amps/preamps but for the money it is a great value.

Thanks for the feedback on the Parts Connexion Upgrade, Nicksgem. I have dealt with Chris in the past, just not on a project of this size (literally with the DK!).

I agree with you about the (past) Audiogon climate concerning this amp. I think it got ridiculous on both ends of the extreme. What a shame to move away from insightful and balanced discussion as we are all (hopefully) music lovers and the equipment is just a means to an end.

Take care and wish me luck as I prepare to pack this beast up without any harm to my body.

Sundance1,
I also am interested in what the Parts Connexion upgrade path could do for my unit and would love to hear about the options, process & timeframes, and of course, the results during and after break in.... I would highly encourage you to post your thoughts and progress for us other owners interested in what is possible. Thanks in advance and best of luck in your quest! It would be great to be able to bump up to higher level of performance keeping in mind the "Fun per dollar ratio" we all love about this model.
Best regards,
Jon

Jomionc, I have come upon a tube that just seems to synergize with the DK beautifully and this is it:
http://www.tube-classics.de/TC/Tubes/Valvo%20E88CC/E88CC12.htm
It is designated a Valvo, sold to me as a Mullard, but evidently is a Phillips/Amperex according to Tube Classics. All of a sudden there is this deep structured, detailed bass response with neutral and transparent mids and highs. Look for it as a Valvo E188CC.
Here is a German site that features it:
http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Roehren-Geschichtliches/ECC88-Familie/Valvo-E188CC/Val-E188.htm

The difference this tube made in my VS-1 was nothing short of amazing.

I wanted to ask, how do I change the gain of the amp? I'm asking because I listen to it at no more than 9-10 o'clock and it's pretty load, or is it b/c it's so called 'class A' amp? Anyone noticed this?

Jimtyrro,
I read that the input level is ajustable from the preamp pots but that is all I know at this time. It was in relation to dropping the gain to allow for a "hot" phono preamp input voltage. If you find out anything, please post and I will do the same. I noted the same thing on an earlier post on this thread.
Jon

Jon,

I was coressponding with Daniel some time ago, and in one of his emails he wrote the following:

The line-stage has variable gain. There are small potentiometers on the pre-amp board next to each tube. The potentiometer is adjustable with a screw driver and you can set the optimal gain for your system if needed.

I've tried this yesterday without any luck, the volume is still at 9-10 for notmal listening level. So, I guess I'll have to contact DK Design and see what they will advise....I let you know.

If you are not in a big hurry, apparently exemplaraudio.com will modify (commissioned project) these to add their "active" tube control circuit design as seen in some other tube preamps as well as other design issues (capacitor / power supply mismatching) and upgrades to parts. They are known for mods to the Denon 2900 & others to kick them up into a higher performance category. They also offer build services on the Bottlehead Valve Kits. Also rumored to be the design source for some of the DK signature version improvements....

This is incorrect information.
John Tucker is Vice President of Operations of LSA Group.
This is not a mod, but a collaboration between John and myself for the improvement of the original design.
I don't know how rumors like this become so convoluted, John has worked for us for about a year now, and brings a remarkable technology with him.
These are stock units, that being the Reference, all QC'd by our Seattle facility, John's facility, then an upgrade to the preamp section only, the Signature Edition, with the final upgrade being to STATEMENT Version, which is a full exchange of parts in all areas, replacing inexpensive op amps, utilizing Active Tube Loads, stabilizing the tubes into the 4/6 MHZ region, generally unheard of.
This is definitely NOT a mod, but a factory recognized, and internal event.
Just so everyone understands the relationship, John IS a part of the LSA Group Team, brining his full expertise to the company. We are fortunate indeed to have him aboard.

Best,
Larry R. Staples
LSA Group
President/Designer

I found a matched pair of RCA 7308 tubes and am thoroughly enjoying them. I would like to explore getting the Four Camille Cascode Constant Current Sources (C4S) to replace the stock plate load resistors ala Bottlehead topography and possibly replacing some of the stock caps with VH audio V-caps or better. Too bad DK does not presently offer past product upgrade support from Exemplar....

Jomoinc,
Please read the correspondence preceeding yours.

Larry R Staples
President/Designer
LSA Group

OK Lrsky, that's two shots

As a manufactor's rep, if you would like to contribute to, as the description of this thread states:

"tuning, customizing, hot rodding, tweaking, what ever.. as an OWNER of DK Design VS-1 MK2 to bring out the best in this amp."

Please do. That is the concept of this thread.

It does not say if you are the owner of the company that no longer sells this product... It would be wise to be proactive & supportive to these ends rather than reactive to the very owners already financially committed to this model.

Redd Foxx Atlantic SD18157 LP You Gotta Wash Your Ass
"It is better to wash your ass than to try to cover it"
mmm....

To all,
Sorry if that comment, clarifying the nature of John Tucker's involvement in MY company ruffled Jomoinc's feathers--it's just that, with others actually modifying, therefore voiding warranties, I wanted to set the record straight.

The Amp's name will change to LSA in our next run--simply to make our marketing direction clearer. We have made significant product upgrades in the internal parts, and quality control since buying DK more than a year ago.
QC'ing all the amplifiers has been a great value add for most of our customers--since we include a certificate with each amplifier, signed by the technician performing the tests.

Our newer models, the Signature and Statement, are in the hands of reviewers as I write this, so we should have press shortly--also, Bound for Sound's Marty DeWulf reviewed the Signature some time ago--and was impressed with the sound, enough to compare it to units,(even separates) costing multiples of the price.

Thanks for the opportunity to clarify.

Best,
Larry R. Staples
President/Designer
LSA Group

At the risk of beating a dead horse, John Tucker is now a part of DK/LSA Group. John maintains his interest in Exemplar Audio, but they are completely separate companies.

I had a DK MK2, but now have the new statement. If you are considering taking the plunge, do it! It's that good. Rumor has it that DK may offer an upgrade for the MK2 down the road, but I don't know.

I received this email through audiogon recently,

"Jomoinc, My name is Tom Bery, National Sales Manager for The LSA Group. We will be offering an upgrade for the MKII amp to bring it up to the "Signature" status, as much as is possible. We are still working out the details and price. If you are interested I will provide details as they are available. Please contact me directly at [email protected], or 888-671-8607, if you are interested. Thanks."

Any one else taken the modification plunge? DIY or Vendor?

Try HIFI Tuning Fuses! Four inside you have to replace, I
did and got very good results! You can see more into the
soundstage now. Highs are better also, but this is not the
shot in the arm you maybe looking for. You need good cables
with this amp! The Power cord plays the major role here,and you can't use bright sounding cables at all here. I had planed on getting a new amp up to this point. Not anymore! I'm going to try the fuses with my Black Cube's power supply next. They did great things for my Kora tube DAC.

CHANGE THE CAPS WITH HIGH QUALITY LIKE I DID ON MINE I REPLACE THOSE BIG CAPS ON TUBE BOARD WITH NICHICON GOLD SAME VALUE AND AURICAP 3.0 MF IT TRANSFORM IN THE NEXT LEVEL.

I have changed the CAPS in my DK amp also, to Auricaps 3.0!
they sound a hell of a lot better. I my mind the highend
fuses working with the CAP upgrade takes the amp to even
higher level. I don't get the un-even sound anymore. Once
the amp is hot and ready to run, she runs! I have noted that the highs sound a lot better now after the change. They still sound a bit distance. The total job cost me about $100.00. $40.00 for the caps, $60.00 for have them
put on the boards. Beats buying a new amp!

I have changed all the RCA connection and the binding posts on the amp. Added WBT's, this was also a great upgrade to the amp. The sound is much clearer now. The highs have a little air now.

Hope this tread is still alive:
To Isslewis:Yes, changing the fuses to HI-FI Tuning, is great just. But if You only changed 4, You surely are missing the one under the bottom cover of the amp. It is hidden under a plastic cover too.. And this one makes a big difference, I missed it myself , that’s why I know...

My Tweaks:
I have fittet a Vincent powercord to my MK II with great result. Clears up the soundstage in a nice way. It seems to be sensitive to powercords.
I also use a “symmetry box” on the in my powerline and it makes a lot of difference. It works well with everything I tried it on. But the company that made them has closed, I am sad to say.
I have also changed the big and heavy speaker binding posts to a banana type. I have found some with very little mass. And I use bullet plugs for my rca. Sounds more natural than the types with lots of metal.
The tubes are Siemens cca (gold pins), think they are the best sounding tubes for this amp. With lots of air In the high notes.
The amp is standing on Solid-Tech: IsoClear feet from Sweden. They have a lot of small springs and keep the amp “floating”. Even thou it stands on a very heavy Audiomagic Hepta rack, they make a lot of difference.
Another thing to try out, is fitting short-wired rca plugs to the unused rca`s . Only the input ones of cause…!!! I have used WBT ones, and it makes a big difference in my set-up.. The soundstage becomes much better defined. Some sound recordings suddenly sound a bit narrow, and others sound huge, like they are supposed to, I guess.
From day one it has had a little hissing sound from the speakers, but don’t` know how to cure it, Maybe somebody else knows this?
I am very pleased with this amp and is still looking for more tweaks and upgrades. But sending it to U.S. for major upgrades is not an option because of the shipping costs.

Lauritsvd,
In what country do you live? There are other options than to send it to the USA. LSA has a European Master Distributor, if you live in the European community, for example.

Larry R. Staples

After adding the WBT RCA's and Binding Posts and Cardas wiring to the Amp, the sound just took off!The service tech had a problem with the WBT RCA's, they had to be cut or drilled to fit. I used Cardas 19AWG wiring to the Binding Posts and changed or upgraded the connections to the pre-amp. The Tech did the same for connections from the Amp to the pre-amp. The higher performance level from the my upgrades were so great!The Amp's backgound runs a black you can feel, the high end is so much better. Running the DAC and Transport from the Amp now I can do my serious listening. I still love my vinyl too!

This time I will remove the opamps from the amp and replace them with much better sounding ones.