Darkvoice 336i OR Little Dot MKIII

[jamess71]

Ok I'm gonna purchase one of these two today. Which one? Main headphones are ATH A900LTD's. Thanks for any help.

James

 

[Jo6Pak]

Dude, I'm not gonna vote, but rather tell ya what I did. I was in the same spot a few weeks ago and was pretty much dead-set on the LD. I had been in contact with David via email and the only step left was to place the order. Then I started noticing that people (here) couldn't shut up about the DV and how much better it is, so I made a left turn and ordered a 336i from jasmine_chine. I'm still curious about the LD, but very happy with the DV and the deal/service jasmine provided. David is kewl too and I doubt you can go wrong with either. I rolled both tubes in my 336i again today and after only 4 hours burn-in, it sounds f-ing amazing. Just get one or the other or both...

 

[nick20]

There's been a few people who have had BOTH amps in house, and both prefered the DV over the LD.

The DV gets even sweeter by being able to roll the tubes in the DV for further improved sound.




I believe the money spent to go from MKIII to 336i is well spent. You will love this amp.

 

[musicmind]

Check the LDIII review thread by penguindude and the impressions by headphony, who had both these amps.

I dont know which is better, but the information and user base for the DV336i is greater here because it is an older amp.
If you can scrape another 100$, the 332 is said to be a significant upgrade, at least in design, to the 336.

 

[Negatron]

I have both and they are two different amps. Both with more strengths than weaknesses. You are going to get opinions that by nature are going to be purely subjective. Either amp will satisfy you, both are producing at a level that far outweighs what they cost. The Darkvoice is more forgiving of source, that is to say if you feed it crap it comes out listenable. The MKIII will faithfully tell you what it is and how bad it smells. It is the more accurate of the two but that does not mean good or bad. Both are intensly musical but in 2 different ways and good luck finding words to define that. Not by me, that's for sure.

I prefer accuracy and ambient detail, the MKIII wins, but wait. The DV is musical in a way that accuracies lost do not detract in the least. Actually they are just as real. You can get lost in the DV for hours just as you can with the MKIII. So the DV has a different level of accuracy just as weighty.

Did that clear things up? Hah! Quite simply the best advice you will get is to buy the LD MKIII and the following paycheck get the DV. Carefully compare the two with your favorite music and source material. Then decide over the next year which one to sell as you save for a Singlepower so you can have 3 amps. Just my 2 cents worth of course. YMMV

 

[Penchum]

Jamess71, have made your purchase? If not, I have to throw in with Negatron. I'd prefer to see you purchase the LD to get the most for your money, but others here will stand behind the DV. In this one or the other type of dilemma, it is easy to forget what is most important; good clean sources. If the LD will save you some bucks, then you might be able to work on any leftover source issues more quickly. Just another thought man!
Good luck either way, and let us know how it goes!

 

[Ogresmash]

Like others have have, there is no clear answer to this question. The MKIII probably has slightly more bang for your buck because it's cheaper, but it's definitely not better than the 336i and the 336i isn't better than the MKIII. They both produce different sounds and have different tube rolling options that will allow you to fine tube your audio to your preferences.

 

[jamess71]

THanks guys I'm more confused now than ever.

I am gonna hold off a few more days and do some more research. Which amp has a warmer sound? Also which is gonna give me better/more bass?

James

 

[nick20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamess71 /img/forum/go_quote.gif THanks guys I'm more confused now than ever. I am gonna hold off a few more days and do some more research. Which amp has a warmer sound? Also which is gonna give me better/more bass? James

I would say the 336i with correct tubes. Since the LD has tubes that are hard to come by, you kind of have to "stick it out" until you find some Mullard tubes.


There's TONS of tube options for the 336i, most, readily available, and can be attained very cheap. If you want a warmer sound, with more bass, there's tubes for the 336i that can enhance this, and give you a more enjoyable sound.

 

[LoweArt]

I don't have the experience to comment on the Little Dot but I can happily recommend the Darkvoice 336i.

Easy tube rolling options, good bass extension with good control without becoming "bloomy". The warmth on the Darkvoice isn't over done, so there's
a nice seductive quality that entices you to keep listening until the wee hours !

 

[pataburd]

With the right tube combination, e.g. Svetlana 6H13C w/Sylvania 6SN7GTB, you can get a good, balanced, neutral sound from the 336i. I had a Little Dot for a short while, didn't care for the sound or the build qulaity compared to the DV. : )

 

[nick20]

I also believe there's more community support for the Darkvoice over LD.

 

[boatman7]

I had a bad experience with the LD. Sounded dead & cold not to mention the overheating (fry eggs) and the arching problems.

 

[rivieraranch]

Based solely upon names, their connotations and the imagery that the words evoke, Darkvoice wins over Little Dot by a mile.

"Dark" equates with the underworld, mystery, an incalculable, unfathomable quantity, sexually titillating, something that is there and cannot be seen. Joining this word with "voice" just adds to the sense of excitement that they are creating with this name.

"Little" on the other hand, is trite, diminutive and insignificant; when paired with "dot" another small word, each word reinforces the other.

So we have what the terms evoke:

Darkvoice: dark sexy woman, smoky vocals recorded in a jazz club, sound reproduction with a hint of mystery.

Little Dot: a stain on your shirt, a punctuation mark, a tiny mark.

You get the idea.

 

[unkle11]

i think the mk3 took care of that problem

also, not to step on anyones toes, i think only those who have heard BOTH should comment on the equipment here

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman7 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I had a bad experience with the LD. Sounded dead & cold not to mention the overheating (fry eggs) and the arching problems.