Darkvoice just released 332

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by Godkin

My 332 took ages to run-in properly - about 5-6 days running constantly. DARKVOICE suggests about 50 hours, but I think a lot longer. I agree with you, the top-end is a bit harsh and glassy,

This is good to hear, I just got mine yesterday and the top-end is definitely harsh. It is burn in right now, I hope it gets better.

[Godkin]

The 332 definitely sounds "bright" out off the box. As the amp runs in, this should be tamed a bit, but I think the stock tubes, the Chinese 6J1s and 6S19s, are perhaps the problem - maybe they just sound naturally "bright."

What cans are you using? I imagine the GRADOs could make a bad situation worse.

[Superpredator]

Originally Posted by Godkin

The 332 definitely sounds "bright" out off the box. As the amp runs in, this should be tamed a bit, but I think the stock tubes, the Chinese 6J1s and 6S19s, are perhaps the problem - maybe they just sound naturally "bright."

What cans are you using? I imagine the GRADOs could make a bad situation worse.

I have no idea whether the 332 sounds similar to the 336i or not. I am not quite happy with the 336i's presentation with the upper midrange/highs with a few of the headphones I have paired with it (somewhat independent of tube variations). While not exactly harsh or bright, it seems that there is a strong emphasis on the leading edges of notes, and a lack of follow-through or fullness. While the treble may or may not actually be all that pronounced, it seems this way because the edges of the upper mids/highs sound sharp and, at times, "brittle." I realize this is probably a bizarre description, and my ability to convey sonic characteristics is lacking as usual.

Anyway, what I actually wanted to get to was that I have found Grados (specifically the HF-1) to be an excellent match with the 336i. From my prior experience with the 336i I wasn't expecting this at all. I expected a bad situation to be made worse, as you said, but oddly enough a slightly annoying situation was made awesome. I feel like I am hearing all HF-1, with life, energy and room to breathe without over-coloration or too much amp coming through. Headphones with more laid-back presentations suffered somewhat from the sharp/harsh quality, and the HF-1 doesn't.

I am wondering how much of a 'house sound' there is between Darkvoice models, and I would love to know how a Grado pairs with a 332.

[Godkin]

That's weird. One thing the HF-1 may be criticised for is its "brightness." Just goes to show you that you can't over-generalise. I use HD650s, and although harsh and glassy at the start with the 332, they've now assumed their natural character - very open, natural and powerful.

You may be right, it may be an "in-house" sonic characteristic of DARKVOICE amps. Personally, I very happy with overall sound of the 332, but then again I've changed the tubes - MULLARD M8100s and 6S19P-Vs from Russia. The sound has been tamed and improved somewhat, but I don't think you'll ever totally "civilise" it.

But then again so many factors influence the nature of the amp's reproduction of the music - the amp itself, of course, but also the quality of the recordings, the individual headphones used, etc. Some recordings on the 332 sound great, others crap - very forward, congested and, basically, awful sounding. And in the future I don't think it's going to get any better. Modern recordings have little to no production values - out the window goes quality and in comes "loudness." But there I go, generalising again.

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by Godkin

The 332 definitely sounds "bright" out off the box. As the amp runs in, this should be tamed a bit, but I think the stock tubes, the Chinese 6J1s and 6S19s, are perhaps the problem - maybe they just sound naturally "bright."

What cans are you using? I imagine the GRADOs could make a bad situation worse.

I'm using the HD650 with Raytheon tubes right now and it is better. Grado 325i and stock tubes suck . I'm going to let the Raytheon burn in for a little and try it again with the 325i.

[jamesp]

By the way after about 20 hours of burn in the harshness seems to subside a bit and it sounds great with the HD650 now...I'm too afraid to try out the 325i...lol... may be I'll wait until it burn in a little more

[Godkin]

That's great, I'm glad to hear the sound's improving. The RAYTHEON tubes will certainly help - there're excellent valves (are they black plates?). I think you'll find out as the hours go by that the sound will open up and the top-end will "soften" a bit.

I agree with you, the synergy between HD650s and the 332 is fantastic. I feared the GRADO, with their "bright" character, might not go with the 332. Your experiments with the 325i has confirmed this. Have you thought about replacing the stock 6S19s? I've tried the SVETLANAs and they're excellent. The 6S19P-Vs I have in at the minute are warming up nicely. Certainly would be worth a listen.

Keep us posted about developments.

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by Godkin

That's great, I'm glad to hear the sound's improving. The RAYTHEON tubes will certainly help - there're excellent valves (are they black plates?). I think you'll find out as the hours go by that the sound will open up and the top-end will "soften" a bit.

I agree with you, the synergy between HD650s and the 332 is fantastic. I feared the GRADO, with their "bright" character, might not go with the 332. Your experiments with the 325i has confirmed this. Have you thought about replacing the stock 6S19s? I've tried the SVETLANAs and they're excellent. The 6S19P-Vs I have in at the minute are warming up nicely. Certainly would be worth a listen.

Keep us posted about developments.

Yes the Raytheon are black plates. I'm getting some Svetlana 6S19P-V and M8100, hopefully sometime next week. I did tried the 325i again this morning after 30 hours of burn in, it sounded pretty good although I only had it on for may be 5 minutes, got to give it more time.

[Godkin]

Thanks for keeping us abreast of developments.

The RAYTHEONs sound great, and the higher grade, mil-spec black plates make them ever better, and more desirable. In that period (1950s/1960s), the US were making excellent tubes: the RAYTHEONs, the SYLVANIAs, the RCAs and the GEs, all great sounding tubes. It's strange that when you put a tube from the 50s and 60s, it sounds better than one made yesterday. In the modern world, I suppose, the "art" of manufacturing tubes has been lost.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the M8100s or the SVETLANAs.

[budgetphile]

My 332 arrived today, I ordered it ten days ago, through an Audio shop owner in Malaysia, who happens to frequent these forums.

I asked for a 240V transformer to be fitted (the available power supply in U.K) instead of the standard 220V transformer, this and the fact that the factory tests all its export models for three days before dispatch took a few days, the DarkVoice was dispatched on the 22nd from China and arrived at my doorstep in London on 25th, must be a record.

I initially contacted Jian Liu whose details were provided by echo1 in the DarkVoice 336 thread, I sent Jian Liu several emails, he only answered the one (I think it was either the second or third email I sent) in which I inquired about the availability and the cost, the rest of my emails went unanswered.

I tried the ebay sellers, and none of them could provide me with a DarkVoice with a 240V transformer, they only have 220V or 110V models, which makes me suspect that they simply sell standard Chinese models, and have no contact with the factory.

Then I came across Tan Su Eong who is an audio shop owner in Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia through a link somewhere on this forum that pointed to a forum in Malaysia, Tan Su was absolutely fantastic, putting up with, and answering, a torrent of emails from me, he even called me over the phone from Malaysia (at his own expense) to explain a few issues for me (Tan Su speaks perfect English).

The price I paid for the DarkVoice is comparable to prices charged on ebay, what I got over and above what the ebay sellers have to offer is a DarkVoice for export with a 240V power transformer, and the chance to get to know a great guy.

I played the DarkVoice for about an hour so far (using both HD650 and HD580 Senns), and I must say that I am very impressed indeed, even with stock brand new tubes the sound is very lush, rich and well defined with acres of sound stage, far better than anything I've ever heard in this price range, from memory I even think that the DarkVoice (with stock tubes, and still not run in) sounds better, by far, than amps that cost twice as much.

I took some pictures which I will post later on, but for the time being, here are the contact details for Tan Su:

email: davis(.a.t.)japan(.d.o.t.)com

Tel: +60-16-4220885

I have ordered several replacement tubes, and I am waiting for them to arrive, some tubes were ordered over ten days ago from the US, Canada, Ukrain and the U.K. (China post has beaten you guys by a long margin) and I am still waiting for them to arrive.

Once the DarkVoice has settled down a bit, and had replacement tubes fitted, I'm sure we are going to have one heck of a tube rolling party in this thread.

happy Dark Voicing everyone

[Godkin]

Welcome, Budgetphile, to the 332 owners club.

Good to see you got a 240v version. That was one hell of a quick delivery!!! I thought I was doing well with a 5 day delivery. And from a reliable, helpful and courteous source, you can't get better than that.

You'll find that the 332 will get even better as the days go by. DARKVOICE recommend about 50 hours, but I found it took a lot longer. Are you using the 332 with the QED power lead? What valves have you ordered? I know for our earlier posts that you had no problem getting your hands on the SVETLANAs. They're very good in the the 332 - very open and atmospheric.

At the moment, I'm burning in a pair of 6S19P-Vs made by the famed Ulyanovsk plant in Russia. I must say they are excellent as well. They appear more heavily built than the SVETLANAs - very heavy with think glass. Sonically, they seem very similar to the SVETLANAs, but I think the separation of voices and instruments is better with the Ulyanovsk tubes.

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by budgetphile

I played the DarkVoice for about an hour so far (using both HD650 and HD580 Senns), and I must say that I am very impressed indeed, even with stock brand new tubes the sound is very lush, rich and well defined with acres of sound stage, far better than anything I've ever heard in this price range, from memory I even think that the DarkVoice (with stock tubes, and still not run in) sounds better, by far, than amps that cost twice as much.

You couldn't have pick a better amp for the Senns....there is something magical about Darkvoice amp with the HD650....I'm also talking about the 336i that I upgraded from.

Happy Listening

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by Godkin

At the moment, I'm burning in a pair of 6S19P-Vs made by the famed Ulyanovsk plant in Russia.

I just won 6 tubes on ebay that was made from the same plant in 1983, man this is going to be fun rolling all the tubes. It's a good thing that all these tubes are relatively cheap.

[Superpredator]

Originally Posted by jamesp

You couldn't have pick a better amp for the Senns....there is something magical about Darkvoice amp with the HD650....I'm also talking about the 336i that I upgraded from.

Happy Listening

I agree. I found the 336i to be a more synergistic match with the HD650 than with the K340, which makes sense since I believe the 336 was designed for use with, among other higher end cans, the HD650. It would appear that there is a Darkvoice house sound. I wish the 332 used the same tubes as the 336i.

[budgetphile]

Hi Godkin,

I've ordered:

Sylvania 6AK5W

Svetas

Ulyanovsks

generic Russian 6S19P-V

Mullard M8100

and UltraSonic tube dampeners, not that the 332 needs them, it is "outer space" silent.

I've hooked up with the QED cable you recommended, and I am using QED Qunex 3 interconnects.


Hi jamesp,

I did not have the chance to hear the 336, how does it compare to the 332?


Taking into account the dealers' commissions and the shipping charges, those Chinese factories are performing near miracles for very little indeed.