Doge 8 and Conrad Johnson ET-3

Rower30 - Great evaluation! I certainly get the flavor of where you put the Doge in your landscape. I would consider myself more mid-fi with my SS system looking to inject Tubes into my music/ HT. combo.(MA- sr6, Para p7/a52, oppo 83se,vpi classic/benz micro. (Somewhat bright.)

I assume you used your Sim audio phono pre with the clarity ?If you had a chance,did you evaluate the phono section of the clarity compared to the Sim? I'm looking at an HOMC now but a lower output cartridge is in my future.

Do you think the tubes in the DOGE were broken in sufficiently to yield the kind of precise soundstage you are looking for? optimum tube selection?

Here is my takeaway from your discussion. I too (would)enjoy a defined and 3-d soundstage but I also need/want tubes. if the Doge can't deliver soundstage then I,m thinking it will bring tubism but I can get more of that in a 6SN7 based preamplifier . Soooo...

I should acquire both a Clarity and a used Modwright and compare side by side. I;m doubtful tho that 30 days is enough breakin with the supplied tubes for the Doge.

Anyway,I appreciate the time and careful objectivity/consideration you put into your review-
excellent "work"

The Doge will require upgraded tubes for a fair evaluation.

The Clarity had upgraded tubes from the factory. Now if you mean continuous tube rolling...well.

The built-in phono stage was entirely too noisey for MC, so I ditched it right away and went with the MOON LP 5.3 line stage. For $2,000.00 I didn't see it as a loss. I don't use a MM cartridge so I can't comment on background nosie, which is unservicable in the MC settings.

Yes, 30-days is a short duration for break-in, so run the thing 24/7 for two weeks on the radio. Don't expect the tiger to change it's stripes too much after two solid weeks of break-in, though. All my stuff has shown it basic fundamental sound by then.

I also have a Benz Micro, a RUBY 3, that I bought as a re-tip (notice I buy a lot of used stuff!) that sounds pretty good. But, my favorite was an Accuphase AC2 that I just wore out. A channel intermittently drops out. At 30 years old I guess that's expected.

I'm thinking of a Soundsmith The VOICE the next time around.

So Rower, are telling me that even at 2.5mv,the phono stage would be too noisy? That would be a deal breaker for me.. I just picked up a used Mod LS-100 W/ PHONO which I was going to compare side by side with the Doge.Now I;m not so sure... What does s it cost to evaluate one, $250?

Well, if you use the "MC" setting, you won't be happy with the background noise. It's terrible. The MM setting isn't so bad. The trial shipping (about eighty bucks) and a ~10% restocking fee, or another 200 bucks, so $250 to $300 is about right (depends on where you live on shipping).