[evanft]

As some of you may have read in this thread, I plan on buying an Oppo 980 DVD player as a new source. Well, I obviously need an amp, and after looking at a number of option, I thought the Little Dot Micro Tube might be a good choice. I could get it used for around $150-$180, and the sound quality is supposed to be quite good.

But then I stumbled across recommendations for the Darkvoice 336i, which were all glowing. It seems like the asking used price for the amp is around $250 which, while about 50% more than the LDMT, wouldn't be that big of a deal if I'm getting a 50% better amp, especially if I'm investing around $170 for an amp already.

So my question is this; if I'm currently comfortable with paying $170 for a Little Dot Micro Tube amp, should I just go ahead and make an extra $80 investment to get the Darkvoice? I'm obviously going to upgrade from my Grado SR-80s sometime in the future, probably to something in the $300 range, like a Sennheiser HD XXX or AKG 701, so it'd be nice to not have to upgrade my amp as well.

 

[Skylab]

IMO, the 336i is EASILY worth the extra money. I had a LDM tube amp, and it was noisy, microphonic, and hummed. Also, the DV336i allows lots of fun, cheap, tube rolling options. The 336i is a very nice amp.

 

[spacemanspliff]

336. DV is a good quality amp.

 

[evanft]

Awesome. I'll definately keep my eye out.

 

[jaspert]

DV 336i, best audio fun i ever have and on the cheap too.

 

[arirug]

The DV336i is an outstanding amp for a cheap price! I have two of them! I use them in separate rooms.

 

[ElephantTLK]

Definitively Darkvoice 336i! It´s woth the extra money. Really nice amp for that price.

 

[Negatron]

The Little Dot Micro Tube would be a poor choice if you intend to upgrade to Senn's or 701's. Little Dot now makes the MKIII for $199 + shipping, and it has more than adequate voltage and current to drive the 701's, as does the 336i at $250 + shipping. Both amps are excellent buys for the money. You would find the potential of the 701's, especially low bass, more fully realized with either amp. Something the Micro just can't do.

 

[evanft]

That's kinda what I figured. The ability to switch out tubes easily is fun, too.

If it comes with stock tubes, is there any consensus on what tubes are good as an upgrade? Is the tube in back a different type than the one in front?

 

[Skylab]

The front (driver) tube is a 6SN7. The Back (power) tube is a 6AS7. In both cases, getting JAN (military) RCA tubes can be done cheaply and easily, and provides excellent sound.

 

[evanft]

Awesome. So I'm looking for RCA tubes? Any little things I need to look out for?

 

[Skylab]

Yeah, no need to pay more than $10 fur either type of tube. If you buy a tube on EBay that says it has been tested (and the seller lists the testing equipment and the results), and that seller has a good reputation, the odds are you will get a good tube. DO NOT buy tubes that say they are untested and being sold as-is. You will almost never get a good tube this way.

 

[evanft]

Thanks.

 

[Bozz_Keren]

sorry for bashing the post, mind if i ask, how is 336i compared with X-can V3?

 

[evanft]

It's ok.

Could someone point me to pictures or an info page for the tubes Skylab mentioned, or any good tubes, really? Ebay links would be helpful.

Oh, and are 6SN7GTB tubes the same thing?