Darkvoice just released 332

[upstateguy]

Originally Posted by jamesp

To me, the M3 is more sterile and the Darkvoice is more warmth... I used to love listening to the Mcube but lately I have been reaching for the 332.

Hi J

Which op amp do you have in your M^3? And could you contrast with a little more detail the differences you hear between the two?

Thanks again

USG

[budgetphile]

I had to go away for work last week, got back yesterday to find all the tubes I've ordered waiting for me. Can't get to play yet, too busy, I'll have to wait for next weekend to get my elbows wet.

meanwhile:

[Godkin]

JamesP, great to see you experiments with the 332 and the GRADOs. The question posed on this thread as to whether the 332 can be used with GRADOs has been answered - yes, it can.

Have you tried any M8100s yet? I think they sound brilliant with the 332.

Thanks, Budgetphile, for the great pic. With your permission, I'll post it on some other sites I visit.

[Godkin]

A matched pair of RCA JRC 5654/6AK5Ws arrived this morning from the good old USA. Fitted them, and right from the off they sounded great. I'll leave any final conclusions until they've run in properly.

They were made in 1962. Just think, I was a glint in my father's eye.

[Norman]

We need 336i vs. 332 comparisons!

Dang.. I can't decide which one to get. I've only briefly heard the 336i in Hong Kong and I regret not getting it since it was so damn cheap ($240USD).
I'm glad I didn't rush to get the 336i now since the 332 is here

336i or 332!? 332 or 336i?!

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by Norman

We need 336i vs. 332 comparisons!

Dang.. I can't decide which one to get. I've only briefly heard the 336i in Hong Kong and I regret not getting it since it was so damn cheap ($240USD).
I'm glad I didn't rush to get the 336i now since the 332 is here

336i or 332!? 332 or 336i?!

I had the 336i before I decided to upgrade to 332 so I did not have a direct conparation but I can say that I would be happy with either one. If money is a problem then 336i I would get. As I recall, there were some improvement in soundstage and lower bass, but I'm not sure if that's enough to warrant a $150 increase in price, IMHO certainly.

[Godkin]

Like JamesP says, the differences between the 336i and the 332 would probably be very subtle, and could only be discerned over an extended listening period. Is it worth the extra cash? For me, yes. But for others, the slight differences - deeper bass, slightly more openess, better treble - would not be worth it.

All I know is, that the 332 blew my modded X-CAN V3 out off the water. But when I say that, I'm talking not about stunningly obvious differences, but subtleties which together made a better sound.

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by Godkin

Like JamesP says, the differences between the 336i and the 332 would probably be very subtle, and could only be discerned over an extended listening period. Is it worth the extra cash? For me, yes. But for others, the slight differences - deeper bass, slightly more openess, better treble - would not be worth it.

All I know is, that the 332 blew my modded X-CAN V3 out off the water. But when I say that, I'm talking not about stunningly obvious differences, but subtleties which together made a better sound.

Godkin,

I agree with you about the subtleties make better sound. I love my 332 and probably wouldn't trade for anything except for may be RSA B-52

[Godkin]

JamesP, I'd rather have a leg cut off than lose my 332. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but I love my it. When you listen to it (with the right tubes), you realise that before getting your 332 you weren't listening to the music at all - whole threads of the music you'd never heard before are revealed. It constantly makes me smile, as you trawl through your CD collection.

I said when I first reviewed this amp, that I wouldn't be buying any more overpriced, overhyped British headphone amps, and everyday that goes by with the 332, I'm more resolved than ever to do just that.

PS You guys in the States sure knew how to make a good tube - this RCA 5654s sound superb!!!

[Norman]

Thanks for the replies Godkin and jamesp

So I assume when you guys talking about a slight increase in bass, soundstage and trebles you are referring to the 332, right?

I've yet to find out the price for the 332, if the price is right I just might have to fork out for one.

[Godkin]

JamesP is the man with the experience, having both the 336i and the 332. There are a number of places to buy the 332. I bought mine on E-Bay for 200 British pounds (plus delivery), and it came from Hong Kong. There's also a shop on E-Bay selling them for 399 USD, but they are located in France. I think you'd be better buying one from Hong Kong, or there is a seller in Malaysia, keep postages costs to New Zealand down.

e-mail: davis(.a.t.)japan(.d.o.t.)com

[jamesp]

I sold the 336i and then bought the 332. In the beginning, I thought for sure I made a mistake, but as time go by and after about 50 hours it start to improve, then with different tubes rolled in it began to get better. I have about 100 hours, a pair of M8100 and a pair of Russian 6S19P-V in it now and it is perfect.

[Worldphoto1970]

Originally Posted by Godkin

WorldPhoto1970,

If your 332 is still lacking "space and depth"

Thanks a lot for the hints, anyway I finally got the first set of 8 russian tubes (the big one: 6S19P). As the postman rang I was listening to 332, yet I reached downstair *really*fast* and as soon he handled me the envelope, I was halfway up. I simply can't wait, so I removed every connection from 332, put some owen gloves on and removed the original tubes. Then I opened the envelope and some siberian wind blow out , I have also to remove some snow and ice from the tubes but can't wait the same and plugged the below zero tubes in 332.

Now to few serious lines: russian 6S19P are curiously shorter than original tubes, still they are heavier and from what I saw from a close look to the inside part, better built. Depth improved from the very first moment (sorry, I can't recall the cd), not dramatically, but it was sensible enough to allow me to catch the change. At present I'm at no more than 10 hours burning, I'll repeat ASAP the test I already runned, then I'll wrote my thoughts about it.

[Godkin]

Good on you, WorldPhoto1970.

The 6S19Ps you have, are they SVETLANAs? My SVETs are shorter than the stock tubes in my 332. You'll know if they are SVETs if they are marked with a circle, usually in purplish-blue, with the 6S19P written inside it. If they have an white arrow pointing up the valve then they are Ulyanovsk made tubes. But you're absolutely right, they're definately heavier and better built - as they should be.

I ask because there are a few sellers out there how don't seem to know the difference. I bought what I thought were 6AK5Ws, an American designation, but they actually turned out to be Soviet 6J1P-EVs. No problem as I wanted them anyway. I now see they are selling supposedly SVETLANA valves, while in actual fact they are Ulyanovsks.

What about the smaller output tubes, thought anything about them? I changed the stock 6J1s, first to MULLARD M8100s, then a few days ago to RCA 5654/6AK5Ws. Replacing these tubes makes a big improvement to the sound. Try nearly anything as anything is better than the stock 6J1s. Prices have jumped, no doubt sellers are catching on to the recent clamour for these small tubes, but you can still pick them up at a good price.

[Worldphoto1970]

They're SVETs, bluishly/purple/circle labeled.

About smaller tubes: I'm waiting for 6J1P from Russia, but delivery is REALLY slow. I ordered big and small same day, almost one month ago, and I just got the big ones (by the way, am I wrong or there are not many options on these?). Custom is really something... I experienced a 3 months delivery delay one time. Poor seller, I really gave him hard time cause I can't believe such delay.

With time I'll get MULLARD and RCA.

Now a small listening update (I left it burning all morning long): just put on a '68 MPS recording, a german label of F-A-N-A-T-I-C-S about recordings. It's Oscar Petersons's "Exclusively for my friends" boxset, 4 cd's of wonderfull jazz trio music.

Well, you DO NOT have idea, it's like I have this great players here in my room. I'm wondering if it's really time to retire the Pioneer player at this point, the Nad 542 appeal a lot to me, I renounce to Cambridge Audio 'cause I heard about mechanics affidability problems about them.