DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amp Discussions | Drop

DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amp

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A community member

Mar 25, 2020

Is this amp still worth it compared to the newer Schiit and Xduoo offerings?

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Mar 25, 2020

Depends on what you are using and what your expectations are. Read my post below about headphone matching--really need to take that into consideration. If you are looking for dead silent background, you aren't going to get it with this amp (most tube amps have SOME noise since tubes act like little radio towers). Price-wise, I think you get ALOT of amp for the $.

A community member

Mar 25, 2020

DanbsteinI read you're post actually before making my own. Still wasn't sure so wanted to ask. I'm running a Thx789 + smsl su8 V2 + schiit eitr as my setup. Headphones are dt1990 as daily driver. Hd6xx and meze noir secondary. Planning on picking up a hifiman sundara after the silent revision has been out for a while. After that planning to stick with that for a few years while working on other things in my life. With this considered if I may ask, what do you think? Any help much appreciated and thanks so much.

Vote

Mar 25, 2020

Depends on your budget. The dv would change the way you listen to the hd650 (in a very good way)... But of the headphones you listed it would probably be the only headphones you'd use on the dv. The dt1990 may benefit from a warmer sound...I personally find them too bright. But that brings up another point. Are you primarily a dt1990 person or a 650/meze person? I personally like a warmer lusher sound which the 650s and mezes deliver in spades. If that's your preferred sound then yeah go for the dv. If you prefer a brighter more neutral accurate sound, I'd skip it. Another consideration is are you able to invest another $ 50-100 in tubes? If not, I'd skip dv. For me though it's my go to for the 650s. No contest with what I have.

(Edited)

A community member

Mar 26, 2020

DanbsteinFor budget I was looking at this, the Schiit Freya+(~$900), and xDuoo TA-30(~$700). I get very bad migraines so the way I look at the headphones is no migraine = dt1990, headache = hd6xx, migraine = meze noir. I like all the different sounds to be honest. Only time I don't like the sound is when it sounds "off" if that makes sense.

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panos444

Apr 2, 2020

DanbsteinCould you please recommend some tubes please?

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Apr 2, 2020

panos444Here are 2 links to posts I've made with tube recs: 1. https://drop.com/buy/dark-voice-366se/talk/1993974?utm_source=linkshare&referer=GKZXS5 2. https://drop.com/buy/dark-voice-366se/talk/2391797

panos444

Apr 2, 2020

DanbsteinFor HD 6XX which I should buy (for a budget minded solution)? Because you are showing a lot of tubes! :)

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A community member

Apr 3, 2020

DanbsteinIf I may ask. Do any of the tube amps I've mentioned look like a better choice than the other?

Vote

Apr 3, 2020

panos444Hi: first of all, while NOS is preferable, I have done very well with slightly used tubes that test very good or excellent. Just be sure that the seller is a tube dealer with 100% ratings and includes the testing data in the listing. Not sure what your budget is, but I'd go with a 7236 powertube, which you can usually get on ebay for about $35. They have a cleaner sound to them which is great for the 6XX/darkvoice combo (which can be....hate to use the term given its overuse..."veiled"). Sometimes you can get a tungsol/chatham 6as7g for $35 or under (I wouldn't pay more than that). The RCA 6as7g is very inexpensive and widely available (the 7236 is much better IMO, but the RCA is cheaper). For 6sn7, there are SO many you can choose from. Any of the Sylvania 6sn7gt or 6sn7gta from the 1940's/ early 50's are excellent. For Sylvania, check the date code, which is a 3-digit number either vertical or horizontal. Top # or left # is the last number of the year, the second two numbers are the week. I am attaching two pics showing this--one is a sylvania 6sn7gt bottom getter (flashing on the bottom), date code is vertical 313. So this would be a 1953 tube made during the 13th week (the week code is not important here). The other one is a sylvania 6sn7gta chrome top (you may see this advertised as a chrome dome, but most are just chrome tops. A chrome dome is a specific type of sylvania where the flashing covers nearly the entire tube--these are excellent tubes, but very hard to find, and very expensive, so take the "chrome dome" moniker with a grain of salt--don't pay more for it). The chrome top has a horizontal date code of 352--so this is a 1953 tube made during the 52nd week. Other great tubes (I included pics of most): RCA 6sn7gt or vt 231 smoked glass 1940's vintage (the smoked glass will cover the entire glass part of the tube and RCA logo will be in small circle with a lightning bolt) RCA 6sn7gt smoked glass early 1950's vintage (smoke glass will cover the entire glass part and RCA logo will not be in a circle and will have tall thin letters RCA 6sn7gt clear glass 1950's vintage (this website has date codes for post 1950's RCA): http://pax-comm.com/rcadates.pdf Tung Sol 6sn7wgta. this will have a brown base Hytron 6sn7gt sylvania 6sn7wgta (brown base chrome top) Tung sol 6sn7gt mouse ears (see pic with circular mica spacers at top that like like mickey mouse ears). These are sometimes way overpriced. Under $20 is ideal. I wouldn't pay more than $30 Tung sol 6sn7gtb an excellent tube that's usually quite cheap. I'm sure I'm missing some...but this is a starting point Keep in mind most NOS tubes will have a low hum initially. To get rid of hum, take out the powertube and turn the amp on (with the 6sn7 inserted). run it anywhere from 48 hours to a week. that should get rid of most or all of the hum. If you get a bad tube, be sure to contact the seller and arrange for a return. I've actually had very few problems with sellers that have 100% ratings and specialize in tubes. Also, the PAIRING of the power driver tubes make a difference. If your budget affords it, I would get one 6as7g and one 7236 and 2 or 3 driver tubes so that you can play around with combinations. Obviously, you can always make this a long-term plan. This is one of the great things about the DV

Let me know if you have further questions.

Apr 3, 2020

I don't know either of those--definitely in a different price bracket. I would trust schitt to make a decent amp...but that's only based on reviews. I've also read reviews that feel that schitt lives up to its name ("schitt"). They also both come with internal dacs. since the tech for dacs evolve faster than amps, I PERSONALLY would buy separates. gives you more flexibility too.

A community member

Apr 3, 2020

DanbsteinGotcha. I didn't know that about the evolving tech. Much appreciated and thanks so much

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