Don Sachs DS2 Preamp - too good to be true?


So I'm looking at trying out a tube preamp. Have always been SS but curious about tubes. Came across a lot of buzz on this forum and others for Don Sachs' custom DS2 line stage preamp, and it has really piqued my interest/curiosity.

I guess I'm wondering if the hype is too good to be true? A lot of people seem to favor this over commercial preamps that far exceed its price. 

Has anyone tried it and been unhappy? I guess the 2 main thoughts in my head are:

1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

2. Why couldn't any given established audio company, with I'm sure deeper pockets and more resources than Don S has, put out an amp that performs as well or better at a comparable price?

The normal answer would be to demo/try it for yourself, but that seems basically impossible in this case as there is no dealer network, demo units, etc...

slazechko

Showing 2 responses by lous

Don is amazing. The DS2 is the culmination of his on the job learning. He didn’t exactly design it, though he certainly has the ability to design. What else he knows is circuit perfection. After decades of working on Citation and Macintosh modifications, he found a preamp which he was able to modify into probably one of the world’s best, yet he sells at nearly a bargain basement price considering the fit, finish, sound, and the quality of the components used. If I didn’t already own one, I would certainly buy one now!

@armstrod

 

If your DS-2 hasn’t had the latest mods, I have forgotten, and isn’t impedance matched to your amp, and are not using Linlai E-6SN7 tubes to drive your amp then you don’t really know which is better for your predilections. Not that it matters, if you prefer to stick to the atmosphere there’s nothing wrong with that. If however all the preceding conditions are not met, then who knows? I have each output setup for amps with impedances around 50K, and the other for 100K. The 50K has Myflex caps, and the 100K has ODAM capacitors. I only use the higher impedance out for critical listening. If I get another +/- 50K amp, I’ll install the ODAM caps. I wouldn’t have named them, but someone even posted pictures of them, so it’s irrelevant. Anyway, everyone has different tastes in their music, so the only real right or wrong is whether or not you derive enjoyment from your system without listening fatigue. I may run from your listening room covering my ears, or you from mine, but listening is a personal thing so there is no right or wrong when we speak about others. The biggest problem with trying to "grade" Don’s preamp is that it has undergone revisions. His latest preamp, or older ones with current devices in the audio path, are quite an improvement over older unmoderated ones. Just the rectifier and capacitor upgrade is likely a 30% improvement, then toss in a pair of E-6SN7s driving the amp and we’re looking at perhaps a 50% improvement for pennies when you compare that jump to the diminishing returns that you would have to pay for such an improvement over any other component in you system. It has always been a phenomenal preamp to begin with for the money. Anyway, not everyone is going to like tubes, this, that, or another thing about any given component. I am currently waiting to hear what a Lampizator DAC can do for my system.