Review: Tube Research Labs Dude Tube preamp


Category: Preamps

This review is on the Dude tube preamp made by Paul and Brian Weitzel of Tube Research Labs (TRL). I purchased this preamp some 7 months ago direct from TRL which is how they market and sell them. The price is $3500. The unit has 5 tubes total with one 6sn7 tube per channel.

I am not a technical person and can only comment that the unit is very heavy, all point to point wired and contains a forest of caps the size of Red Bull and Coke cans!

The Dude also benefits from TRL’s newly designed power supply which is something very special indeed. It comes with two sets of outputs and three inputs – all RCA. I think Paul can work out XLR’s if you desire, but you would have to ask him. My unit has special wooden knobs which I prefer over his high quality gold ones.

The unit is turned on by a breaker switch on the back on the unit. The Dude does not incorporate any fuses, simply the breaker, for improved sound. The chassis is well built and solid in terms of fit and finish. While it is not eye candy, the Dude offers a simple attractiveness.

I must have over 700 hours on my unit by now and it is fully burned it. I have found this preamp responds very well to tube rolling. This review is based on the use of RCA 6sn7 GT’s ,VT231 with smoked glass. I picked up 6 of these for $130 on Ebay and just love them in the Dude. Paul likes Raytheon NOS’s, but I have not tried them as yet.

I like female vocals, Christian contemporary, jazz, piano and acoustic guitar instrumentals as well as some small ensemble Classical. You can also read my review of the TRL Samson amps for more information of my musical tastes.

As you have noticed I have owned and heard many great preamps over the years. The Dude has far outclassed each of them in virtually every important performance area. I particularly liked the Audio Horizons and Tube Distinctions preamps on my list. The Dude simply recreates real music in my home well beyond these other fine units.

The level of transparency is utterly shocking. Details and musical lines previously hidden now come alive and my music sounds brand new to me. I was amazed at all the instruments and notes I was missing in my recordings. What a revelation and joy to me as one into this hobby for 30 years.

Right now I am listening to solo acoustic guitar by Phil Keaggy and am consistently astounded with the additional pic, string and guitar body sounds completely hidden before. The sting plucks are so much more distinctive with every molecule of nuance presented to my senses. This is true at even the lowest of volumes on my system. Magic my friends and I mean magic!

I have never known any preamp to dig as deep, taunt and powerful in the bass region as the Dude. Bass has incredible impact, drive and articulation. Easily the best bass I have yet to encounter in a preamp. This tube preamp will shatter your preconceptions of tube preamp bass performance. Bass is no longer this vague sort of deep running tone, but rather a distinct and articulate portion of the whole performance.

Tonality is so beautiful and right. Not a hint of listener fatigue to be found. The massive amount of detail is delivered with exquisite beauty, body and soul. Don’t we all want that? The Dude does both in a way I felt was not even attainable. Tonality is vitally important to me. Voices have weight when they should. Like the guitar work nuances mentioned above the human voice is rendered absolutely and completely naked before you. You will hear aspects of your favorite vocalist you have never heard before. More air, more texture, more nuance, more personality – just amazing.

The Dude sets the stage big, wide and deep. First time I have heard stage depth so profoundly obvious. I now get a sense of what some reviewers mean by 3D! Life sized performance is a consistent attribute of the music flowing from this preamp.

I like to listen to very loud music at times. I like the live scale it gives the recording. The Dude is always in control and supremely poised. Nothing, no part of the audio spectrum is ever out of balance or forced. I hear a new standard of performance in terms of effortless, uncompressed music.

My system seems to have infinite room filling abilities. This is very, very important to me. Even at very loud settings music must flow not attack! The Dude is a complete gentleman in this regard.

Highs seem to have no ceiling or cap as they extend smoothly and without any hint of hardness. I am very sensitive to bright or hard highs and will quickly box up a unit if I hear a trace of it. Yikes! The Dude is a smooth operator and does so without robbing music of the precious detail and air we desire.

Well, I could go on much longer as the Dude is a revelation to me. It is the heart and soul of my current system and really makes everything sound so real and right.

I hope my words were able to convey what I experience with The Dude.

Have fun!



Associated gear
Please see my member system.

PBN Montana EPX custom speakers
TRL Modified Sony CD player/battery
TRL Samson amps
Audio Horizons cable
TRL Cables
Star Sound Sistrum stands
Echo Buster room treatments
SVS PB 12 Plus/2

Similar products
I have owned or had these preamps in my home system.

Audio Horizons TP2.1 fully loaded
Joule LA100 MKIII
Conrad Johnson LS16 V2
Thor 1000 MK2
Tom Evans Vibe
Supratek Cortese
Supratek Syrah
Audio Note m5
Wavac PR-X1
Rowland Concerto
Cary SLP98
Aesthetix Calypso
Tube Distinctions SoulMate
Placette passive
Wright Sound WLA 12A
Aloia 11.01
Belles 21A
Rogue 99
128x128grannyring

Showing 50 responses by grannyring

Glory,

That is one cool looking face!Thanks for posting it so quickly. You have got to let us know how it sounds when ready.
Marconi tubes come with a silver metal base or black base. I am speaking of the black base. No other designation needed.

Hard to find. Try Andy of Vintage Tube services.
Quite a few over the years from Cardas, Analysis Plus Solo crystal over, top of the line Kimber, Jenna Labs, Audience, Tom Evans, Granite Audio, Luminous Audio and others I can't remember right now.

I liked the AH Dimension cable the very best. I would call Joseph Chow and demo a set. You will be very pleased I am sure. His IC's deliver detail with weight/body. Lots of air and a nice black background. Nice with the Dude.

The Dude really responds well to tube rolling. Ask Paul about getting the Raytheon tubes.

The Dude will take a little while to burn in as he uses very large caps and solid core copper point to point wiring throughout the unit.

Saw your system and the Dude should be right at home. Nice system indeed!
I use the Raytheon tubes that Paul likes and the preamp just sounds so amazing to me.

I place the Dude on a Star Sound Sistrum stand which is the best I have heard including maple under my Dude.

How does the Dude compare to your tweeked out BAT pre thus far?

My system sounds so good right now that I smile before , during and after each music session I have.

Very happy with the Dude !

Bill
Vett93,

Please update us as it burns in. I find the Dude sets a new standard for bass control, articulation and power in a tube preamp.

Very open and live sounding to my ears. I really enjoy the Dude!

Bill
Get a set of the Marconi's and don't look back. A 100% no brainer folks. In the Dude they are magic. They can be had for $45 a set here on the Gon.

Better then any other tube by a wide margin in the Dude that I have tried.

My Dude and Samson's are still pure joy to me!!!

Andrew, what about your Samsons?
Great questions and important. I will try and answer as well as I can. Thanks for your kind comments.

I have owned or had all of those preamps in my home system over the past 5-7 years. I was lucky enough to sell many of these preamps for audio friends of mine and thus had them in my system for several weeks at minimum.

Sometimes I would choose to buy one and keep it. I have only had 2 sets of speakers over the years in my main system. I have however changed out wire and electronics over the years so my comparisons should be understood in that light.

I was able to compare the best sounding preamps (in my opinion) on a pretty consistent package of gear. The Audio Horizons beat out the Thor , CJ, Suptratek's and Tube Distinctions which were the best of the list for me. I did compare these with pretty much the same gear. The Audio Horizons won out.

I then compared the AH preamp & Canary CA339 mono tube amps to a TRL ST225 integrated amp. The TRL surpassed that wonderful combo and started my interest in TRL as you might imagine.

I tried the AH pre with the integrated TRL amp and liked the TRL Int amp all by itself better. I sold the AH pre at this point. I then decided to try the TRL Dude preamp with the integraded and was instantly amazed. The Dude improved my system to such a degree it was shocking to me.

It was not a matter of matching or synergy alone mind you as the TRL integrated amp was made to run best with a high quality passive preamp section.

With the Dude everything I mentioned in my review came out of my speakers. So for me the Dude was the MAN!

As good as the Audio Horizons preamp is the Dude simply made it sound like good hifi. Please keep in mind the AH preamp was clearly better then those other top preamp contenders on my list as just explained. (At least in my home and in my system)

The Thor was very lively and had great pace and drive. The Dude bettered the Thor in even these strong suit areas of the Thor. The Dude has greatly improved bass, more natural tonality and really overshadows the Thor in resolution of detail and intimacy. The Dude throws a larger stage with more depth and plays much louder without the tendency of of sounding "loud".

The Thor is a nice/great buy today used at prices of under $2000. Very good deal indeed. If one has the money $3500 buys you so much more with the Dude. Not a small difference mind you, but rather one of significant magnitude.

When I purchased the TRL Samson amps I knew I was at the end of the road with amplifiers. Yes, I think they work great together. The Samson amps offer ultra high transparency and the Dude matches it. But the important point here is this; it match it with beauty and graceful tonality. I don't like transparency if it comes at the expense of texture, body and grace. The Dude is the perfect mate.

The Dude is the ideal center piece of any true high end system as it expresses music as it is with life, energy and fidelity to the instrument recorded.

Hope this helps you.
I am not sure. You should ask Paul. Paul has told me he is not a big fan of adding remotes as he feels they degrade the sound and add noise.

I see many great preamps with remote so I guess reasonable people can have a different opinion on that whole question.
It just may add cost and that may be the real objection.

You can certainly ask him.
Glory, you are correct on all counts! I need a longer IC and once I get another (Audio Horizons ) - it will go on the floor. When the Dude gets bigger it will need a new wardrobe!

Blindjim,

Usually this much more transparency and accuracy means many CD's are no longer listenable, but I find the opposite to be true right now. These amps from TRL certainly don't warm over a bad recording . Strange thing is my average recordings sound more like real music and less like poor recordings. It's as if whatever redeeming quality the recording has is now captured.

I don't know if this makes sense or if I am doing a poor job of explaining, but yes I do still enjoy all my CDs - even more so.
I would love remote or wish the volume knob had a few more steps. But like you it sounds so good that I really don't care anymore.

Bill
Yes, that would me a nice option for some. My 24 step works just fine for me.

I have been playing with stands/footers under the Dude. The Sistrum stands sound best to my ears. Better then maple, brass, carbon fiber and sand box types.

Brian, you should try them under the Samson amps. The SP1's
Wow, that will be very interesting indeed. I look forward to your comments. The Dude works very well in my system and it will be my last preamp for the very long term!!!!
Gallant Diva and other Dude owners,

Please update me on your experiences with the Dude. I am still in love with my Dude and it continues to play beautiful, trouble free music.
Gallant, wonderfully thought out and written review. I am very intested in what results after the Dude is back and settled into your system.

I did not see the cost of your X2 for comparison to the Dude in terms of value?

I did find the Dude really can change with different NOS output tubes. You can play with a couple to achieve exactly what you want. The Dude sings with all tubes, but you can fine tune to your specific likes.

Thank you again for taking the time to post your thoughts. I am thankful for experienced, well thought out audiophiles like yourself who write so clearly. Helps us all to find those hidden audio treasures.
I am now using some very sweet Marconi 6sn7 tubes and the Dude is singing sweeter then ever.

I highly recommend this tube if you crave rich, buttery midrange magic. Make no mistake the details, transparency and balance to from top to bottom are all there with this tube. It however is the best I have heard in the highs and all important midrange.

What a great find. I paid $65 for the NOS set.
I don't know but will look at them. I am not a tube expert so I will show you a picture!

I know they sound amazing with my new TRL IC !

Bill
I have been using Marconi black base 6sn7 tubes and they are amazing in the Dude. They do mids like no other tube I have heard. The Marconi is balanced from top to bottom and has great tone.

I had not heard of them until I saw an ad here on the Gon and purchased a set. I'm glad I did. Warm, great mids and perfect tone to my ears.
Gallant Diva,

I am happy for you and so enjoy my Dude. You really need to try these Marconi tubes also as they have helped my Dude be all it can be. Ha!

I never look,read or think about preamps anymore. I am still looking at speakers however:-)

Look forward to hearing more on your Dude soon.
Great to hear from yet another owner.

I look forward to hearing more from you.

Enjoy
The Dude is amazing and I am so happy to see others now enjoying it as I do!

Gallant,

I now own Soundlab speakers, basically the M3, and the Dude is great on this speaker.
The SL play more as one voice with more transparency. They throw a larger and deeper stage also. The Boleros go deeper in the bass, play much louder and have more body and warmth.

I will so miss the Boleros. I am going to mod with SL's with some premium crossover perts to se if I can improve on body, weight and high frequency smoothness. The Boleros are so smooth!
I have owned the 100 MKII and heard the 150. I have never heard the 300ME. Based on my history of Joule preamps I know the Dude will greatly please you and I would completely and utterly be shocked if the Dude did not outclass the 300ME. The Dude is that good Bob.

Love for you to compare the Dude to any preamp you have in your #1 system. Paul can make it with balanced inputs/outputs if you need. I think you will be shocked. I know the price is low compared to the $10,000 - $14,000 preamps we are talking about from the likes of Joule and others, but the Dude is up to the task.

Paul's Samson amps are very good, but in my mind and experience the Dude is really so good that it can compete head to head with ANY preamp regardless of price.

My 2 cents Bob
Well the Dude went head to head today in my friends nice reference system against the Audio Research LS26.

The Dude won in all areas, but I still found the LS26 to be a very nice preamp.

The biggest area for me was how small or closed in the 26 sounded compared to the Dude.

It was fun and I do which the Dude had remote control volume;-)
Hi Glory

Yes he did. Pretty easy to hear this in our a/b comparisons. He also had the Audio Valve Eclipse preamp with NOS's. This is also a very nice preamp with great drive, power and scale.

I found the Dude more refined overall with instruments sounding more like themselves. The Audio Valve was a little to forward sounding for me also.

If I had to live with the 26 or Audio Valve I would choose the Audio valve. However the Dude was the best of the three and just did it all right.
Ya, I agree. I still like to compare with preamps I have not had the chance to A/B. It's fun for me and I'm always open minded enough to want to hear better. I have yet to hear as good as the Dude. Yes, the Dude does abide.
Yes, those Marconi tubes will sound great. How much is the VRE-1 and is it tube? Not read much on it. I know of one owner here on the Gon.
Well that is quite expensive for the Vre-1. Love to do an a/b with the Dude.

Bugredmachine,

I have owned the Joule 100 and 150 and can say quite confidently the Dude will best these preamps by a good margin. I love the Joule sound and really enjoyed the preamps, but the Dude is really in a different leauge of musicality and control. Far more dynamic and in control is the Dude. The Dude does bass like no other preamp I have heard. The Dude let's you see more into the music and instruments.

I have never owned BAT so cannot comment here.
Agear is right Bugredmachine. Yes, your system is very nice indeed. I see you just updated it and yes the Dude would be a great fit in your system.
I recently purchased some OTL amps from Atma-sphere - the MA1's. They mate very well with the Dude as do the TRL Samson SS monoblock amps. The Dude matches the wonderful life and live sound the MA1's have and the Dude's body and texture really make for a great combo.

Ralph at Atma is now upgrading my MA1's to his very latest standard - 3.1 with V-Caps etc. They aleady have every other option possible. I am looking forward to hearing them in my system again with the Dude and Soundlab speakers.

My Dude has a slight mechanical hum from a transformer. Not heard through the speakers at all, but rather it's mechanical in nature and heard with my ear a couple of feet away only. Unfortunately I have heard this on many pieces of gear through the years. Even one of my Atma-sphere MA1 transformers hums a tad mechanically.

No other Dude owner has heard this that I know of. It may be related to the power at my home? Who knows.
Seem like two very different preamps (in design) and it would be very interesting to compare. The Dude is $3600, but of coarse it is sold direct and does not "suffer" the full retail mark-up.
Tvad, the Dude is very transparent and brings out inner detail that I had always missed. I would also say it is most neutral. I feel the Dude plays music as it is recorded and I never hear one consistent "type" of sound from recording to recording as with other preamps I have owned.

The Dude plays music with full impact and scale (at least as well as I have heard any piece of electronics do). It sounds utterly uncompressed or strained and full of life. That would be the difference between the Dude and other highly detailed and transparent preamps I have heard.
This to me is more like great sounding live music.

I do think your spot on in regards to personal preferences and would also add system matching.
I like how Tvad and others are always striving for the sound that pleases them the most. I am in that group and always have an open mind on gear and opinions.

This is how I found out about Paul & Brian and TRL. If I had a closed mind I would have missed the Dude and these fine folks.

Enjoy.
I can buy new 6sn7's all day long for $25 each that sound quite good for my Dude. Not as good as the Marconi tubes, but very good still. My Dude really only has two 6sn7's that impact the sound. Only two, so I have no problem paying $100 set for tubes that will last many years?

Topsel,

Glad you like the Marconi tubes. I find they get tone better then the others I have tried.

The Dude likes to be placed on a good stand or footers also. I use a Star Sound Sistrum stand. Lastly, Paul's TRL power cord is also very good on the Dude. Same wire as used inside the unit. Solid core copper and wonderful sounding.
The only Marconi tubes I have seen or used are the black base ones with either white or red Marconi lettering on them. Both sound great.

I am not sure about the detail of build and must let one with more tech knowledge answer about plates etc...

Sorry
Mine are clear glass. I have not seen a smoked before? Mine are not thick at all and rather neutral and tonally wonderful.
I did try a Lessloss cord and must share that the TRL cord was FAR better on the Dude. Not even close. The Lessloss sounded rather dull and lost focus and clarity compared to the TRL cord.

The Lessloss sounded better on my CD player, but did not work as well on the Dude.
I like the Dude plugged into the wall usually, however right now I have it plugged into a BPT 3.5 Ultra to great effect.
Stronger bass and better focus.
I used to own Paul's IC and they are a steal and wonderful. I mean wonderful! I now own some Fusion Romance IC's that are also top notch. I say both are top contenders with the Fusion having a touch more beauty and warmth while the TRL IC's are more open and dynamic.
I will say that Paul's power cord is a must on his gear. They really help the Dude and his amps come to life and fully reveal all these great pieces have to offer.
Agear, please let me know how they sound. For me the Marconi's are the best fit thus far.You refer to the 5691, can you give me the details on brand and markings as I may order some to try. I think these are RCA's, but need more details as to the best ones.
Wow! Candy apple blue! That is one fancy Dude. I think you must be getting a super Dude. Let us know how it sounds Bugredmachine. You have quite the username BTW.
Yes, the Samson amps are great with the Dude preamp. I highly suggest the match! I have owned many a great SS amp including top tier amps from Belles, Mac, Parasound JC-1's, Conrad Johnson, Electrocompaniet etc.. and the Samson amps are the best of the bunch.

Knghifi, where do you get those Shuguang tubes?

Brian, can we use these in our Dudes?