Doge 8 Clarity

What was your overall impression of the Doge 8? Did you use the linestage?

Outstanding sound and build quality. Mostly vinyl at the time. And just the right amount of controls, inputs and outputs for my needs. I just couldn't take the hissing. I don't remember the hissing at lower volumes, but like I said, my .34 mv cartridge needed plenty of rotation on the dial.

i have the original doge 8 and only used the MM phono input. it was fantastic with none of the hiss. my understanding was that the MM employed the tube section while the MC phonostage was the JFET. i never used it but by all accounts it sucked. everyone using MC carts preferred step up transformers into the MM. with regard to the clarity, pacific valve's website says "The phono section removes the JFET transistor hybrid design and uses an all-tube configuration." seems like they've bypassed the JFET, which should eliminate the problems associated with it, like your hiss. maybe give joe from pacific valve a call to discuss it? he's always been pretty responsive to questions, in my experience. even stock, the doge is a great preamp for the money, especially for someone using MM and linestage only. if using MC carts with stock, the added expense of a step up transformer is a factor to consider, though, and provides a definite impetus to explore the clarity. in any event, i'll be sad to see it go. i'm selling mine and moving to an integrated to eliminate extra boxes in the living/listening room.

I have a Doge Clarity. I must say that they have changed the entire phono stage from the original.
I use mine with a Ypsilon SUT through the tube mm section and it is perfectly quiet. The jfet section has been improved but it still is not as resolved as the mm. I believe that the jfets are still there. The line stage is still fantastic if not more so. It seems to be more spatially separated and defined. Also,when using the phono (99% of my use);the volume control can be turned up quite a bit more than the original.
Over all, more resolving and worth the extra money.

I had a Doge 8 that was in my system for about a year and a half. I loved it and couldnt say enough good things. Read with interest about the improvements in the clarity and contacted Joe. The phono does not employ the jfet any more and according to Joe uses the same tube compliment of 4 12ax7. I asked if I could see a schematic but he said Doge would not make it available. I question how quiet the phono can be if its gain is increased to work with MC. Ive had a fair amount of experience with ax7 phonos and cant imagine how it could be quiet at the higher gain.From Emorrisiv's post it seems the mc improvemnt is minimal. I was considering trying one but the no schematic policy has me put off.