Think I'm going with a Dared MP-2A3C

M

MexicoMiike

Active Member
For step into SET, I'm now inclining to the Dared. Does anyone have any particular cons to the unit?

I had been thinking of the Bottlehead Stereomour but I don't like the appearance of them, the fact that BH take my money and I don't see a product for 4-5 weeks and a discouraging amount of posts re missing or back-ordered parts when the kits arrive. The latter would not be a huge issue if I was living in the US full time but it would be extremely annoying to get back the US, pick up the kit and discover something was missing/backordered and then have to leave with the kit incomplete.
 
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Who's going to fix the Dared when something goes wrong? And are there really that many incomplete kit's bring shipped out. Granted they won't win a beauty contest but they sound supreme. I can see none of my gear while sitting in the sweet spot. I'm having a new base made and it should make it a beauty queen.
 
MexicoMiike said:
For step into SET, I'm now inclining to the Dared. Does anyone have any particular cons to the unit?

I had been thinking of the Bottlehead Stereomour but I don't like the appearance of them, the fact that BH take my money and I don't see a product for 4-5 weeks and a discouraging amount of posts re missing or back-ordered parts when the kits arrive. The latter would not be a huge issue if I was living in the US full time but it would be extremely annoying to get back the US, pick up the kit and discover something was missing/backordered and then have to leave with the kit incomplete.
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The BH may not be pretty, but they are a very nice sounding 2A3 SET. I love mine and no matter what amp I switch out to, I always go back to the Stereomour. They are especially good with my Hornshoppe Great Heiled Horns :thmbsp: I think AK'er Poultrygeist has the DARED 2A3 and a BH, so I would get his opinion. On another note, I believe BH will build the amp for you for a small fee.
 
His charge almost doubles the cost. Looking thru the build log a monkey could do it.
 
mkane said:
His charge almost doubles the cost. Looking thru the build log a monkey could do it.
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Pretty much. As long as you take your time and solder neatly. 99% of issues builders have are cold solder joints, not due to anything challenging about the build.
 
I have no problem at all building a kit - have done so many times. In fact, I would prefer a kit. OTOH, the Dared looks better to my eye and it seems to get rather good reviews. I don't think BH is a very good example of a business with their up front charge for the entire purchase before they even order the parts. They seem like a middle man between me and Mouser! :)

Has anyone here experienced a problem with an incomplete BH kit due to oversight in packing or a kit received with parts missing due to backorder? IMO that should never happen. They have been in business for quite a while now - it's not as if they are some startup company. The parts should be on hand..or at least available within days.

OTOH, I readily admit that I could not build an amp from just a schematic so if I'm going to DIY, I need a kit that comes with parts/instructions. BH seems well thought of by most people and their website has a good support base which is certainly a useful thing. Dared has universally good reviews from what I can find but no support base to speak of.
 
MexicoMiike said:
I have no problem at all building a kit - have done so many times. In fact, I would prefer a kit. OTOH, the Dared looks better to my eye and it seems to get rather good reviews. I don't think BH is a very good example of a business with their up front charge for the entire purchase before they even order the parts. They seem like a middle man between me and Mouser! :)

Has anyone here experienced a problem with an incomplete BH kit due to oversight in packing or a kit received with parts missing due to backorder? IMO that should never happen. They have been in business for quite a while now - it's not as if they are some startup company. The parts should be on hand..or at least available within days.

OTOH, I readily admit that I could not build an amp from just a schematic so if I'm going to DIY, I need a kit that comes with parts/instructions. BH seems well thought of by most people and their website has a good support base which is certainly a useful thing. Dared has universally good reviews from what I can find but no support base to speak of.
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One of my Bottłehead kits was a part short, a mistake made when they packed it. I let them know and another was sent out to me ASAP free with no questions asked.

I've built six different Bottlehead kits now and have nothing but praise for both the performance of their products and their business practices. I even got a chance to visit their office and meet them. Great people, in fact one of them even picked me up at my hotel and gave me a ride to the office. Very down to earth and honest people.
 
I think I've definitely decided on the Dared 2A3 based on a review that included this excellent summary:

"Music audio system is seem along with spatial dimensions connected with seem from your audio system for making that disappear with regard to Music in movies consists of quit along with correct sound routes sound impulses. "

What better recommendation could anyone possibly want? SIGN ME UP! :) :) :)

It's from here: http://www.ohtvstereo.com/full-review-dared-mp-2a3c-tube-set-integrated-amplifier/

OK, seriously, I have decided to order that amp but NOT based on that particular review.
It may turn out to be back on ebay shortly after receiving it but hey, as I said before re a single driver speaker, for me this is all about experimenting/playing with stuff I never fooled with before (Single driver speaker/SET amplifier). If I like it, great. If I don't, well, I learned something…

I really REALLY thought long and hard about the Stereomour but this quote on their site re shipping pretty much iced it for me:

"Thus the average shipping date is around 4 weeks plus or minus a couple weeks. " That just cannot work for me in my situation - I'm only in the US periodically and if their shipping didn't match up with the time I'm in the US, it could be 6 months before I could retrieve it.
 
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It's been said that there is no such thing as a bad 2A3 amplifier, so regardless of which one you choose, I doubt you will regret the purchase.
 
Too bad you can't see the amp that's up for sale in Barter Town. It appears to be a seriously good and well built amplifier. I'd take it over your Dared or BH options in a heartbeat. Guys who know a lot about tube gear seem to be very impressed with it. :yes:

cubdog
 
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