Dared DV-300B Amplifiers
Dared DV-300B Amplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[Aug 23, 2007]
AudioPhileExpert101
AudioPhile
Strength:
-Price
Weakness:
NONE! I've yet to have one complaint. Simply stunning in every way. These Mono blocks are keepers for life! Well, I was already a satisfied Dared customer with my VP-845 SET before buying this pair of SET mono block amplifiers so purchasing Dared's most expensive single ended tube amplifier seemed like a no brainer to me. I personally love the 300B as much as an 845, but the 845's are much more powerful. Thats why I really liked this paralleled 300B SET. Only 4 watts less than my VP-845, I figured 18 watts was more than enough. I took the plunge and bought a used pair off Audiogon. With a retail price of $6000 there really isn't many of these out there so I figured I better jump on this one before it's to late. When they arrived, they were even more sexy than my VP-845. Like always I couldn't wait to get it all hooked up. After setting it up, I sat down and began my vigorous testing. The highs of these mono blocks are stunning. Even better than the VP-845, and the mids were more lifelike. The VP-845 bests the DV-300B's in the bass department but not by much. Again, it didn't take me longer than a week to start swapping tubes and power cables. First the power cables were swapped to PS Audio's xStream Plus SC's. What a cable by the way! PS Audio products are great! The sound change was minor but the already very minimal transformer hum was lessened. The major change was in the 300B's. I run a matched quad of JJ Telsa's. JJ 300B's are awesome and bring the most out of any amplifier. Whats next? The 6SN7's of course. I tried hundreds of them from vintage NOS tubes to modern new tubes. I'm saddened to say, but every modern new tube I installed was not up to par with the old ones. Just like the VP-845 the Tung Sol 6SN7 GTB's were the best. Then I saw on eBay that the Tung Sol 6SN7 GTB's were being reissued brand new made in Russia. I was amazed at $35 a pair! I immediately bought a quad set. They sounded great, but hummed where as the USA manufactured 1940's Vintage Tung Sol's were whisper quiet. I don't know about you, but I didn't pay all this money to hear a hum. Bye bye Reissued Tung Sol's. This amplifier is a great price and I am even more impressed with it than my VP-845. You don't see them for sale much, but $2800-$3000 seems to be what a new pair costs. I feel I got a good deal on my used pair and am extremely happy. No problems yet, and I've been using them every single day. With build quality like this I don't expect I'll have a problem any time soon. These amplifiers may be designed and built in China but they hand choose the best parts worldwide and do a fine job in the engineering department. A+ Again Dared! Thank you. Similar Products Used: Too many to List. |