Model: SL-2000A
Pre-Amplifier wtith remote-control
(CLASS A)
Technical Specifications:
Frequency Response: 10-30KHz (±0.5dB)
Distortion: =0.05%
Signal to noise ratio: =84dB
Size: L285 X W140 X H140 MM
Weight: 4.0Kgs
The tube used: 5Z4Px1,12AT7x2
This is an ok preamp with a midrange that is distorted and harsh on some instruments and voice. It is improved by the substitution of the better valves in the place of the Chinese ones. I could only rate this unit as a 1 with the original valves. I tried many different valves and am using Mullard Shields at present. Although, the other brands were all a big improvement on the sound of original Chinese ones.
I found out Dared the company one day surfing the internet. They seemed to build high quality gear for a reasonable price. More research led me to owners comments with more excellent feedback along with a few professional reviews. One came up for sale at a decent price and I decided to snag it. At the time my most recent tube pre-amp experience was with a Dodd ELP which have a low volume cult following built and designed by Gary Dodd. He makes very solid, simple, higher end gear with premium parts such as Sonicaps. The Dodd ELP was a very sweet sounding minimalist pre-amp with 2 input and two outputs and used (2) 12AX7 based tubes.
I wanted something similar to the ELP since ELP's hardly ever come up for sale. Enter the Dared Sl2000A. This unit has the Auricap upgrades and well as the Allen Brady resistors. I was simply blown away at how good this thing sounds. Not having a lot of listening experience with tube rectified gear I soon learned the rectifier tube is just as important as the signal tubes. The stock Chinese tubes were not acceptable. The key to the outstanding performance of this unit is rolling some NOS tubes in both the signal position and rectifier position. WOW is all I can say.
The sound stage is huge, wide and deep. Excellent separation and dynamics, not rolled off or bloated unless the tubes you choose have that sonic characteristic. The Dared responds to tube rolling very well and with each type of tube you can notice the subtle characteristics. The remote is only good for volume up and down and it travels to fast so it really is fairly useless but one can learn to modulate it for acceptable use. My unit has two inputs and 2 outputs. It has performed flawlessly in the past year and I bought it used so the reliability should be excellent.
I incorporate the Dared in my system by using the home theater/processor bypass circuit in my Adcom GFP-750 pre-amp. I don't always want to listen to tubes if I'm doing stuff around the house or watching a movie or just have 30-40 minutes to listen to music. It saves wear and tear on the tubes and the Dared. When using the HT bypass on the Adcom the Dared becomes a full functioning pre-amp with no degradation of the audio signal. This allows me the flexibility of a solid state pre-amp which has the ability to run active or completely passive as well as running tubes. It works out extremely well. It also allow me to set the levels on each pre-amp and via the Adcom's remote I can A/B the pre-amps while sitting in the listening position. The Dared gives up very little compared to the Adcom GFP-750 and that was a perennial class A recommended piece by Stereophile for many years. The tubes add soul!!! and lushness and realism even the best solid state can create.
The rest of my system includes MIT cables, MIT Z II power cables, a highly modded Adcom GDA 600 digital to analog converter, Pass Aleph 30 amplifier and a Logitech Squeeze Box II feeding uncompressed FLAC files as a source. Modded Polk Audio SDA 1C's
I've used just about every tube variant available for the 12AT7 (ECC81) signal tubes including; Mullard (Mitchum), Amperex Bugle Boy made in all 3 plants (Heerlen, Blackburn) as well as the Amperex/Philips made in France. Valvo made in Hamburg including the rare 6201 Gold pins, Raytheon 7062's, Amperex 6414 "PQ", Telefunken ECC801S, RCA 12AT7 black plates and 6201 black plates. GE 5 Star black plate, 3 mica, Sylvania 3 mica black plates and others that slip my mind. I've tried several rectifiers, Sylvania 5V4G in-lione black plates, CBS 5V4G in-line black plates, Valvo (Mullard) GZ32, GE 5V4GT, RCA 5V4GT, National 5Y3GT, CBS 5Y3WGT, Sovtek 5Y3 and finally the best by far is a 1940's Brimar STC CV1863 (5Z4G).
3 favorite signal tubes
1) Telefunken ECC801S
2) Valvo (made in Hamburg w/copper grid posts usually late 50's)
2) Valvo 6201 gold pins (made in Hamburg) tied
3) GE 5 Star 3 mica, black plate, square getter from the mid 50's
Brimar STC CV1863 (5Z4G) rectifer is by far my favorite.
This an excellent pre for the money and I really feel like I'd have to move way up the line in order to do significanlty better. Buying some nice NOS tubes is the key to the outstanding performance and sine this used 12AT7/ECC81's they are cheaper than the more popular 12AU and 12AX series and variants.
Weaknesses: The remote does cause small jumps in volume change as opposed to a smooth adjustment, but at this price for This Sound, who cares.
Bottom Line:
A few years ago it was unheard of to get this kind of audiophile performance at this price point. This newest version of Dared's SL-2000A tube preamp, with Auricaps, Allen Bradley NOS resistors, & a high quality Power transformer is an extreme audio bargain. Dared is one of the best Chinese manufacturers of audiophile quality stereo gear & manages to keep the price very competitive.
The SL-2000A is almost toy like in size, but top quality parts and a very simple design allow a neutral and noise free sound to pass thru as though there is no preamp at all. In fact I would have to describe this as a Tube buffer/volume control.
Using a pair of NOS Telefunken & a NOS RCA 5Y3 rectifier tube with this little gem puts it in the same league as a couple of $2000+ preamps that I have had in my system.
With the NOS tubes, there is a slight widening & deepening of the soundstage, while at the same time allowing a little more space between the players. It has paired excellently with the fast & transparent Audio Zone AMP1, slightly enhancing the soundfield, but at the same time allowing the very natural tone, timbre, & prat of the AMP1 to flow thru. Overall result is a very live, in the room sound, where the speakers and walls disapear.
Swap out to some new NOS tubes & this Dared is an Audio Bargain! and not out of place in a mid to higher end system. Highly recommended!
System: AZ AMP1; Cambridge Audio Azur 840c; Wharfedale EM97; Acoustic Zen cables.
Strengths: Dead quiet, excellent sound, build quality and affordable
Weaknesses: - The remote control is like car remote and if you hold it, it goes too fast. Every time when you push a button to go up or down you will hear loud clicking. If you press the remote buttons quickly few times to go up or down, it sounds like popcorn popping.
- Name “2000A amplifier” is printed on the side of the preamplifer.
Bottom Line:
I bought the preamp August 2004 on Audiogon for $330 with shipping. It is very nicely made and looks cool. I have rebuilt a Dynaco ST70, so this preamplifier matches the design of my amplifier. I changed the Chinese 12AT7 tubes with Siemens but I have better sound with Sylvania 3 mica black plates. I changed the rectifier with GZ30 Mullard - this made a big difference in the sound. I found that the GZ30 is the best rectifier for this preamp. You can find the GZ30 Mullard for about $20 to $25, from time to time on Ebay.
The sound of this preamplifier is soft and nice with big soundstage. Big improvement from the previous solid state preamps. It has two outputs, so that you can have your subwoofer and amplifier connected at the same time. This preamp looks small but it is built very well. Some folks are buying Chinese preams and amps, modifying, changing the name and reselling for double or triple price. With good tubes this baby can sing.
If you are looking for a Dynaco stile preamplifier, for budget price, you will not be disappointed at all. I am planning to keep this preamplifier
Strengths: Sound quality , above average quality of internal components.
Weaknesses: Not a prestigious brand name , prepare to be mocked for buying this piece . Remote is RF and can't be cloned by my learning remotes. Power switch located on back of unit.
Bottom Line:
This little preamp sounds amazingly good for the price. Mine is the newer version with the Auricaps, dual outputs and two inputs, that switch via a toggle switch, located to the left of the transformer. It looks pretty small almost toylike but the internal parts are all surprisingly high quality besides the Auricap coupling caps it uses good quality japanese power supply caps, silver signalpath wiring and a japanese motorized Alps volume pot. I also replaced the chinese 12AT7's with GE 5 star tubes and a GE 6087 5Y3WGTB rectifier tube. I also took off and spray painted the side and front oak panels with a black semi gloss. I like the look much better now, it matches with my speakers. The remote is very powerful but has trouble making fine adjustments, it takes light taps to try and make a small change in volume. I'm nitpicking here , for under $400, for a remote control, tube preamp, that is dead quiet, and sounds better than any of my solid state preamps, is an amazing feat.
