Price Paid:  $450.00 from ebay

Summary:
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:
Inexpensive, noise free, extremely neutral.

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.

Similar Products Used:
Placette Audio, Rogue Audio, Audio Aero.

Price Paid:  $330.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
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:
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.

Similar Products Used:
This is my first tubed preamplifier

Price Paid:  $399.00 from Ebay

Summary:
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.

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.

Similar Products Used:
Hafler DH110, Parasound PHP850. Rogue 66 Magnum

Price Paid:  $315.00 from eBay

Summary:
I don't have too much to add to the review below, except to note that the performance of the SL-2000A is quite dependent on the quality of the tubes. While it's been a very strong performer since I bought it about 10 months ago, this pre really shines if you "feed" it better-quality NOS valves. I just installed Sylvania Gold Label triple mica 12AT7s, and the sense of soundstage depth and definition has increased remarkably. BTW, list price on this pre is just under $700, according to Audiogon, so getting it for under $400 constitutes a real bargain. And it looks pretty cool, too.

Strengths:
A major asset to any smaller-scale audio setup.

Weaknesses:
Limited to only two inputs (although I only have a CD player hooked up to it, so for me that's not a problem).

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
It looks like I will be the first person to put pen to paper here and write about this great little preamp.

I purchased this new from Joe who sells Dared products on Audiogon. As a quick aside, Joe is very professional, and the preamp was delivered fast and arrived intact. At the time I was using a Cary 98 preamp that needed some repair work and I was having the coupling caps changed out. At the price of $400 (to include shipping!)I figured I really could not lose, so I ordered one to use while the Cary was being repaired. I figured once the Cary was back, I could either keep the Dared or sell it on Audiogon. The preamp arrived one day and I inserted it into my system, which includes a pair of Lumley 150 Signature tubed monoblock
amps, and Tyler Acoustic mini monitors with the ScanSpeak tweeter and SEAS midwoofer. The front end is a Sony 555ES SACD player and vinyl is played via a Linn LP12 with Benz ACE and Ittok arm. The LP12 signal is fed to an Audio Experiences phono preamp. I'd also like to mention that the Dared comes with a remote (volume up and down) and a pair of input RCAs as well as a pair of outputs so subwoofer users rejoice. A small switch on the left side of the transformer allows the switching between input #1 or #2.

Okay...down to the nuts and bolts of the little Dared. This preamp sounds great! It is very reminiscent of my Cary SLP50A, another great preamp but the Dared has a more detailed sound, without being "etchy" or too detailed. The Dared has AuriCaps as stock coupling caps, and I(IMHO) believe they are part of the reason for the clear presentation, and wonderful detail. The Dared is also tubed rectified, another "plus", as far as I can tell. Now, I have to admit that the music provided by the Dared got significantly better when the Chinese tubes were replaced with Phillips Miniwatts or RCA blackplates in place of the stock 12AT7s, and the rectifier was swapped out with an NOS Sylvania 5Y3. Things just got that much better! Vocals (Eva Cassidy and Nora Jones are nightly visitors) have a large, lifelike presentation, and the sidewalls in my listening room are the only boundaries to the soundstage. That being mentioned, the soundstage is also as deep as it is wide. Instrumentals are big, and have "weight". I seem to be able to listen to music for long periods without fatigue, and I am digging out more and more music all the time just as an excuse to spend more time with the Dared, and the great music I am getting.

It is almost embarassing to tell people I spent "only" $400 for the preamp. I truly feel that this preamp can stand up to several preamps that could sell for 5X as much as the Dared.

I wish I had a professional reviewer's vocabulary to describe just how much this diminutive preamp plays great music!I recently swapped out the stock power cord with a Cardas TwinLink cord. All told, the preamp in its current state, with the cord, costs a little over $500, a bargain if there ever was one in this "hobby/obsession".

I have owned over 14 preamps, both sold state and tubed. The Dared is one of only one or two that I would consider to be a "keeper", and one or two that produces music that makes me want to keep listening to the music, and not the equipment.

Thank you for your time in reading this. My only regret is my lack of ability to pen in this review the technical terms and specifications that many people look for. Even though I cannot do that, I can say that people should buy these preamps before others discover the bargain they are and the prices climb. If you love music, and enjoy a warm, detailed and involving presentation, then "dare" to buy a Dared. You will have no regrets...

Strengths:
Soundstage width, depth. Warm,detailed presentation, low cost, easy (inexpensive)to retube with NOS tubes

Weaknesses:
I have not found any yet, and doubt I will!

Similar Products Used:
CJ PV10, Cary 50A & 98, Audible Illusions 2D & 3, ARC SP-6, SP-9, Mod Squad Deluxe Line Drive, etc.,etc...