DK Design VS- Reference vs Signature

I downloaded the MK III brochure, and it lists the amplifier's class of operation as Class A+. Class A+ ? Is this a new class? I thought the classes were A, B, and A/B?

Newbee, I doubt that's what DK Design meant by Class A+, otherwise there is no reason not to use the common Class A/B spec. Further, Class A operation has been one of the primary features marketed by DK since the release of the MK II, and perhaps the Mk I.

Newbee, you and I think alike.

Larry Staples, who now owns DK with the LS Audio Group, has been touting the Ref MkII to me for over a year. He bought one very early on in the product's infancy, and he replaced his Halcro amps when he heard the DK. He is working feverishly to get the marketing, and the product info, going in the right direction so the grey areas and fuzziness typical of the previous ownership are cleared away.

I haven't heard the DK, so I can't make any claims to it's superiority, but I do know Larry, and his group deserves our open minds.

01-22-06: Lrsky
Amperex ECC88/6DJ8, circa 8/1962, New Old Stock, and probably about $250.per pair.

Amperex 6DJ8 Bugle Boy from the early 1960s can be found any given week on E-Bay for around $50/pair. Amperex Orange Globe "O" Getter tubes made in Holland from the same era will run about $65/pair, and Amperex 6922 PQ USA white label will cost between $100-$150/pair, and sometimes less.

I have purchased three matched pairs of Amperex 6922 PQ USA white label tubes in the past year for $80/pair, and they all tested better than new.

It's not clear which Amperex 6DJ8 tubes Lrsky is referring to in his earlier post, but paying $250/pair is unecessary.

Actually saying that 'paying $250 a pair is unnecessary' is somewhat misleading. Of course one can get poor quality, or what I consider to be throw away Bugle Boy tubes for the prices mentioned, from ebay or many other private sellers.

Allow me to correct any unclear or somewhat misleading statement.

Here's a quad of excellent quality Amperex 6DJ8 Bugle Boy tubes that all test strong. One day remaining in the E-Bay auction, and they are priced at less than $20/quad.

Now, I suppose it's incumbent upon me to offer apples-to-apples proof that Amperex 6922 PQ USA White label tubes that are tested and guaranteed can be purchased at prices substantially below $250/pair from E-Bay sellers.

Here is a matched quad Amperex 6922 PQ USA White label tubes that I purchased from an E-Bay seller for less than $220/quad ($110/pair) that measure 101/101, 100/100, 100/100 and 102/102. These are excellent tubes with outstanding test measurements that were offered with a return guarantee by the seller.

I have purchased other tubes off E-Bay that were offered with test measurements and with return privileges. None of these tubes have been anything other than tested, excellent quality, and far from throw away.

I stand firm on my point that one does not have to pay $250/pair for excellent quality vintage Amperex 6922 PQ tubes, but one certainly has that option.

Buy from whomever makes you comfortable.

NOS means exactly that...New, Old Stock. These are unused vintage tubes. Used tubes cannot be called NOS, but NOS is a term commonly misused by tube sellers to describe any vintage tube. That's why a buyer of NOS tubes should always ask the seller if the tubes have ever been used.

Tube dealers sell on E-Bay just like they do on Audiogon or their own websites or over the telephone. E-Bay, Audiogon and personal websites are simply marketing opportunities...virtual storefronts. One should not make the mistake of assuming legitimacy comes by way of one venue and not another.

Legitimacy and trust comes via an established history of positive feedback, either here, on E-Bay or by word of mouth, regardless of the product being sold.