I only ask because while power tubes do not have as large of an effect as pre-tubes, there is still a noticeable difference.
I ended up enjoying both of my OTL amps more after I swapped out both pre and power tubes.
2 Likes
Yeah i keep looking at my power tube. for them to sell the DV so cheap their probably using the cheapest tubes around stock. I would like to exchange that power tube
But i think this dark voice amp is one of those amps that punch way above its price. i mean it competes with the RNHP. I asked Zeos and he said that one of the reasons he still has it is if he uses good tubes on it the DV can compete with the higher priced tube amps
a good power tube to check out would be Tung Sol 7236, it adds more power to drive headphones as well speed and more bass. Itās sorta more solid state sounding than some of the other power tubes
2 Likes
I agree. I used a NOS Tung Sol 7236, NOS Mullard 6080, and a NOS RCA JAN-CRC 6AS7G as my power tubes. All 3 had their own characteristics that made them unique, but all 3 were infinitely better than the stock 6N5P power tube.
1 Like
Iām curious about the La Figaro. Apparently the Dark Voice designer started his own company. What intrigues me is if one has separate monoblock designā¦ could someone then use unmatched tubes in a stereo configuration? And at this moment itās on sale at Drop.
Isnāt the stock 6N5P the one that Zeos raves about?
EDIT: Seems to be the Shuguang Tresure CV181-Z
I respectfully disagree with Z 1000% percent. The Darkvoice is nice for itās price point, but it does not compete in any way with higher end tube amps, regardless of tubes.
5 Likes
I didnt buy the Shuguang Treasure. But I personally had 2 favorite combos I mainly used in my darkvoice. The Tung Sol 7236 + Tung Sol 6SN7-GTB for best power combination. The other I enjoyed was the RCA JAN-CRC 6AS7G + Ken Rad VT-231 Black Glass for the best bass and soundstage combination.
2 Likes
I dont know about that Hazi. this really sounds great
1 Like
Pretty much, the darkvoice is the pinnacle of cheap tube amps, it has all the positive aspects of all the cheap stuff but doesnāt really have many aspects with higher end. When you are under the impression that a tube should be dirty, unrefined, noisy, and should really screw with the sound then it makes sense he would enjoy the darkvoice more than a more proper tube amp
Am I saying the darkvoice is a bad product? No, itās a great way to get into tubes and Iād pretty nice if you have some headphones that take well to an otl. And for the price you can get it on massdrop for itās a good pick. But does it compare with higher end tube amps? Definitely not, move up to something in the 600 ish range and you will find little reason to keep the darkvoice around
4 Likes
And that is why personal preferences are a thing. Iām glad you found something that works for you!
Well you guys may put it down but i think it sounds great
Nobody is putting it down, itās great for itās price pointā¦but just upgrading to a Woo Audio WA3 for $200 more would yield a huge increase in sound quality. Itās through no fault of the Darkvoiceā¦it does very well but is limited by itās design and parts used.
1 Like
I own the La Figaro. You donāt need to buy matched tubes because the independent volume controls can offset any imbalance in the tubes, so you can save a good amount of money. It is very solidly built. However, to add to @Hazi59 and @M0Nās points, it is similar to the DV in the sense that it is kind of a dirtier sound. For a similar price, it seems like the Tuba will offer a little more refinement, but I donāt regret the purchase of the La Figaro
2 Likes
I appreciate the wording and honest feedback!
Imo a fair bit more refinement, also something like the cayin ha-1a or woo wa6, etc
3 Likes
We arenāt putting it down, moreso disagreeing with Z lol
2 Likes
Sir i think you exaggerate. I have heard and i dub the Dark Voice āUnderdog of Tube Ampsā!
1 Like
You have no basis of comparison though. Until youāve heard higher priced tube amps, you are purely speculating.
4 Likes