Thanks Charlesdad for your comments. I have heard good things about the Coincident preamp and it was one I set out to beat in my design. DHT preamps are where it is at. Once you hear one, it is hard to go back. The first one my partner and I build was a two chassis design but the parts used in that preamp are no longer available so I had to source replacement parts. There was nothing I ever heard that compared to it. I can only express the sound in this way, if you poured a cup of water into a garden hose and then a cup of water into a two foot diameter pipe, the water would flow without any issues in either one but you probably would not even know the water was in the two foot diameter pipe. That is the way music flowed out of the two chassis design. Music just flowed so unrestricted and musical without any stress, everyone wanted one. I just could not source the parts to make one under $10K. I tried too many to mention (transformers and chokes), had some custom ones built and now we build them ourselves. It has been a long time getting to this point where I can source parts that I need to produce a consistent product. I use a 226 or you can use the 101D tube. I really want to hear a pair of Western Electric 101D tubes but too pricey for me. The 101D tubes used in the Coincident where just OK sounding compared to the 226 tube for my tastes but to each his own and you can swap them out without any issues in my design. The custom transformer that we now make really made a big difference in overall sound quality. You would never know it except in direct comparison. My partner and I were impressed that this happened and it will be what sets us apart from our competition. In addition, we will be the only company making a preamp where you can adjust the sound of the preamp by turning a selector switch. When trying to figure out the final parts design of the preamp, I had to choose the final parts section. Some parts seemed more open, some better soundstage and placement, some more musical, some more dynamic with better resolution. I spend months listening to these select parts, keeping notes, asking other audiophiles for their opinions, etc. I set up the prototype with a selector switch so that I could change between the parts, much simpler then soldering them in and out. It then dawned on me to keep the selector switch and let the consumer decide on what sound they preferred. It also helps with different recordings. Some are better than others, brighter, softer, etc. So now the consumer can select the sound they want or switch the sound anytime. It may change the way consumers value interconnects! Cables make less of a difference in my opinion with DHT preamps and so far the preamp and selection switch offers more than any interconnects I have tried. All this being said, have we built best preamp ever, no but it sure beats the pants of all of the mass produced preamps we have compared it to.
Anyone in the NYC area feel free to contact me and we can arrange for you to hear one in your system. Anyone in an audio club interested please feel free to also contact me to audition. The final chassis should be done within the next four to six weeks but I have prototypes to audition now.
Happy Listening.
