New Darkvoice website with product pictures - Page 7

Once Again... Just So You Know...

Just so you know... all of their new products are "way over-priced" compared to their prior products and the great amps available from US/Canadian mfrs (e.g. Woo Audio, Singlepower, MAD, Headamp, RSA, etc., etc.).

Darkvoice has attempted to increase their margins by bringing out "new and imrproved" versions of their products, which likely are only very slightly better than their old versions - "not that there's anything wrong with that," if the market will bear it.

They've also introduced these products after a 20%+ increase in the value of the Yuan against the Dollar (the unfortunate disadvantage of the reduced value of the Dollar - to US consumers). The result are amps, which are priced in the vicininty of a lot of great amps you can buy right here in the US, and avoid the huge cost of Worldwide shipping, and the relative risks of a warranty that can only be honored after a huge return shipping cost. This is also true by the way of the EU products - they're priced out of competition with great US products (the fortunate benefit of the reduced value of the Dollar - to US mfrs and their employees, anyway).

Unfortunately, some domestic mfrs (one in particular), have taken advantage of the increased prices of foreign produced products, to "inflate their own prices" by 20%+. But, you're likely still better served to buy domestic products, unless you're buying the original Darkvoice amps, which are still reasonably priced - though you still have the warranty risk.

Darkvoice makes great amps... but... they're pricing them out of competition.

I know the 337se is designed to order, but is the same true of the 336se and 3322? It's just, you don't see them being sold anywhere. You'd think if these things were generally available they'd be getting sold online.

What's going on with the new models? Everybody said the 3322 should be arriving Feb2008, but it's now April and I don't see 3322 anywhere.

Darkvoice 3322 (internal shots)

Found these 3322 internal shots, some may find these interesting.

Older:


Recent:

Wow that 3322 is one serious piece of hardware under the hood...thanks for the pics D !!!

Peete.

A slightly informative and highly Amero-centric opinion that.

I own 2 DV amps, and like them, but I think Gradofan2 is right. Given the higher prices, I think amps from Woo audio, Decware, and others are better values now, and for those of you who are overseas and can benefit from the falling dollar, this is the time to pick up one of these.

For example, the WA3 is now basically the same price as the 336SE, and it is better (my direct experience). And with the 3322 the same price range of the Decware CSP-2, I would seriously look at the CSP-2, although I fully confess I have not heard the 3322. But the CSP-2 uses the far better tube complement, of that I am certain.

"Says You..."

Perhaps... in your opinion.

But... facts are facts.

First Fact - The Darkvoice amps I've had are virtually as good as some of the best amps made in the US.

Second Fact - The DV332 and DV337 are not only great... but they're also "great values."

Third Fact - The new DV3322 and DV337 SE are priced too high relative to the competition by great US made amps... and the DV332 and DV337, which likely sound virtually as good.

Fourth Fact - The very high shipping cost of $95 to $165 is a major barrier to their sale in the US / EU, because of the high cost of returning them for maintenance - making the risk too high, unless offset by very low prices of the amps. The DV332 is optimully priced relative to its great sound, and the shipping cost. The DV337, DV3322, and DV337 SE are not - unless you can repair and maintain them yourself, or for nominal cost, locally.

The conclusion is quite obvious - buy the DV332 at a great value price, with fairly low risk / cost of repairs, relative to equivalent US / EU made amps. But - buy the DV3322, DV337, and DV337 SE at a pretty high preimum in the context of the risk / cost of repairs relative to equivalent US / EU made amps.

Of course... if you can maintain them yourself... that would make them all much more attractively priced.

Humm, something wrong with those prices or I must be missing something (maybe a cheaper source ).

WA3: $470 + $20 (S/H to US) = $490
DV 336SE: $229 + $80 (S/H to Worldwide) = $309

Dif.: 181$ (Almost the cost of a 336SE)

--------

CSP2: $795 + $26.95 (S/H to US/NY) = $821.95
DV3322: $439 + $ 95 (S/H to Worldwide) = $534

Dif.: $287.95

The differences in price are still very significant, and not really in the same price range as suggested imho.

And in my case, I can't seem to find any similarly priced tube amps in the EU that match DV quality, even considering the higher shipping costs and import tax.

Importing from the US to the EU the suggested products would only make the differences above even greater, the shipping costs from the US to the EU from the suggested sources are equal or higher, Decware for example where the shipping costs to the EU are incredibly high (in the hundreds of dollars).

We do not get $229 here in the USA for the 336SE. Best price shipped is $350. But you are right, there is still a difference - IMHO the difference, for a US dweller, is well worth it to have a local source for service. My 336SE arrived with no problems, but my 337 did have a couple problems in shipping, which I would have liked to have had corrected by the manufacturer, but with buying from China this was not practical.

For someone outside the US I agree this advantage may be lost.

You can get the very same price I quoted directly from audiophilechina website, you must be seeing the ebay prices, that indeed are higher.

And I agree that would I live in the US I would probably end up buying one of the many options you have locally, sometimes even at great cost I prefer to have peace of mind and buy locally.

In my case DV is still the better option, and I intend to maintain the amp myself with the help of some friends, and I do know how to solder and have the equipment to do it, DV amps also have very straight forward design, shouldn’t be too difficult to fix something.

Makes sense. And I do like my DV amps, don't get me wrong

the reason of 332 updating is one of its components runs off
i'll go to darkvoice lab try some amps in 2 months
can't wait till then ~~

What Do You Mean...

What do you mean?

That one of the DV332 components are no longer available to be included in the original DV332? Such as the green military resistors? Or, which component?

I notice DV are still using those nasty, cheap carbon pots in the 3322. The one in my 332 is working fine but in the FIGARO it is not working properly. Come on, DV, the 3322 is a premium product, put a good quality pot in the thing - an ALPS RK27 for instance.