Anybody using a Bogen db20df?

[imready]

For the last couple of years or more I have been the owner of an early series (104) Bogen DB20df. I almost sold it when I was trying to keep some money coming in when I went thru a bad coupled of years health wise. Finally , my health started to improve, I went back to work and kept my amp. Then I started searching for a mate. Lots of the gold ones came and went . So did many DB20's but no DF's. That is, till this past Sunday! Finally a DB20DF that is close enough in series for me to buy, a series 124. I don't know if there were any electrical tweeks but physically on the outside all appears the same except they moved the jacks from the side to the back. I listened to my amp briefly probably over a year ago; it was wonderful and I can't wait to get two of them playing beautiful music together. I don't know much about the dampening factor adjustment but it should be fun learning about it.
If you do have one of these amps, I'd like to hear about using the dampening factor adjustment if you us it regularly and what you think about it. thanks, john

 

[ekmanning5]

Hey John! I was able to find a mate for mine as well. Bought it off e-bay where the seller said it worked fine. Of course it didn't but I expected that so no big deal. I had a few things done to it and its partner just to get them up and running. They sound great now on AUX. but the phono stage is weak. Have you found that to be true of yours? Regardless, they are a great match for the Altec Valencias I use with them. Cds are a treat, just need to conquer the TT problem. Keep us posted as to what you find out. I'll try and do the same.

 

[imready]

Hey John! I was able to find a mate for mine as well. Bought it off e-bay where the seller said it worked fine. Of course it didn't but I expected that so no big deal. I had a few things done to it and its partner just to get them up and running. They sound great now on AUX. but the phono stage is weak. Have you found that to be true of yours? Regardless, they are a great match for the Altec Valencias I use with them. Cds are a treat, just need to conquer the TT problem. Keep us posted as to what you find out. I'll try and do the same.

I used an NAD PP-2 phono preamp thru the "aux" input when I brought up the DB20DF for the first time. I will have to check out the phono stage in both units and see what I find now that you have brought it up. I am glad to hear you are using them with Altec's and having good results. These will go in my main system for a trial driving my Altec loaded Heathkit AS-21's. If I can train my wife to operate them , hopefully they will get to stay there. She is a little afraid of tube audio and also has difficulty running equipment that has more than a knob or two so they may have to go elsewhere. Also , my cabinet gong into that room that she likes is very small and the Bogen's may not fit. My original concept for that system( using the cabinet she likes) is using my Van Alstine Superpas IV in the cabinet with a Dynaco ST-70, ST-35, mono blocks or something along those lines closer to the speakers out in the open where it can breath. I think my wife would be more comfortable running a tube system if it didn't feel like a heater was on inside the cabinet!

 

[Transconductor]

I have three db 20's, two of them are df models. I restored two of them as amplifiers only, bypassing the preamp section and put in all new components throughout. I also removed the dampening components but can't recall the difference in sound before I did this. They do sound incredible now. The last db20df I have is all original and I plan to restore this keeping the original circuit topology. I picked all these up a bunch of years ago, before prices went up on them. Very, very mellow sounding tube amp which is why CD's sound so good with them.

 

[bricktop]

The cathode feedback is way sweet - you don't see that in many old integrated amps.

 

[imready]

Fired up the pair of DB20df's today and played with the dampening factor control a little bit. Kinda cool , almost sounded like I put a different cartridge on the Sota. Had considerably more output form one of the amps so I checked out tubes, one has 6L6G's, the other 6L6GB's. At first impression, amps are fairly articulate (depending on where the dampening factor is set) but lack the musicality I get out of my Pilot and Lafayette EL-84 amps. Kind of dry sounding, think I'll try a different cartridge and see if it sweetens things up a bit. Lacks bass punch and sparkle in the highs.I remember this amp sounding much sweeter the first time I brought it up and auditioned it. It is completely lacking synergy with my source and my speakers. However, I have been moving amps around a lot lately and have noticed what sounds good with my Klipsch Hersery's does not sound good with the Heathkit/Altec speakers. Starting to think my musical woes are speaker related.