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Thread: Little Dot mk III tube pre amp

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: London

    Posts: 19
    I'm John.

    Default Little Dot mk III tube pre amp

    Hello all. I took delivery of a little dot mk iii tube amp on Friday. I couldn't find anything on any of the AoS forums about the firm, although they do seem to have a decent following in the US. I was slightly wary given the amp was shipping from and made in China. In the end i took a punt because the all in cost of delivery was so low. I needn't have worried, the seller was terrific in terms of his communication and the package arrived in 4 days. First impressions are very favourable. The unit is built like a tank with a lovely weighty feel to the volume control. The sound is also astonishing, although i admit I have no benchmark in terms of having listened to a tube amp or proper headphone amp before. All i can say is i'm now hearing things in recordings I've never heard before, the stereo imaging is pin sharp and the transparency is like nothing else. It's as though a layer of dust has been removed from my recordings. It's also noticeable how pleasurable listening is, there's no fatigue, i've found myself listening to stuff for much longer than originally intended. As i said, i don't have a benchmark against which to compare it, but the combination of the dot, a schiit bifrost and audio technica AD 700s seems extremely good value to me. Certainly much better than my heybrooks and musical fidelity amp. Also the dot is supposed to need at least 50 hrs burn in before it's at it's best, so things can only get better! The only slight negative is it is fussy about placement; I've noticed interference/ buzzing if it's placed near a wireless router or PC.

    If anyone out there's looking for a sub £250 headphone amp, it's worth putting Little Dot on the short list IMHO. BTW, i have no affiliation or interest in the the firm.

    All the best
    John
    John Caulfield
    | Technics SL1210 Mk2 | KAB PSU | Rega 251| Grado Black Cartridge | Isokinetik re-wire | Isokinetik Isostub and weight | Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 SE | Arcam AVR600 | Home built HTPC | Panasonic PTAE1000 projector | Schiit Bifrost DAC | Heybrook Sextet speakers | Little Dot Mk III pre amp |

  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski

    Posts: 3,262

    Default

    I have had one for years and they really are good and if yours has a 2.0 or higher board you can run DR6H30 tubes and Get some Vishod 6zh1p-ev tubes or Mullard cv4010/ M8100 tubes and you will be in heaven. I also use a huge 10 awg PS audio power cord with mine.

    A MUST READ : http://www.head-fi.org/t/563884/litt...-rolling-guide
    Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER

  3. #3
    Join Date: Feb 2012

    Location: Falun, Sweden

    Posts: 2,245
    I'm Mike.

    Default

    +1 for LD Mk III!
    I have, and regularly use, one too. I belive it sounds really good, but goraman has a point; without having tried each and every tube possible, i've settled on Mullard 8161 which really lets the little head phone amp glow (pun intended)
    These are more body and soul compared to the original tubes, but not overly so.

    Best regards //Mike

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jun 2012

    Location: Forster, NSW, Australia

    Posts: 278
    I'm Hal.

    Default

    The Voshkod tubes are great, used to own this unit and only sold it as I needed a pre with remote control. Oddly I also own the AD700s, great headphones that really love the warmish balance of the pre.
    Enjoy!!

    Hal55

  5. #5
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: London

    Posts: 19
    I'm John.

    Default

    you b"ggers! . I'm now officially on slippery tube rolling slope! Seriously, thanks for tips. I guess i'll be less grateful when my wife is no longer speaking to me!

    All the best
    John
    John Caulfield
    | Technics SL1210 Mk2 | KAB PSU | Rega 251| Grado Black Cartridge | Isokinetik re-wire | Isokinetik Isostub and weight | Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 SE | Arcam AVR600 | Home built HTPC | Panasonic PTAE1000 projector | Schiit Bifrost DAC | Heybrook Sextet speakers | Little Dot Mk III pre amp |

  6. #6
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski

    Posts: 3,262

    Default

    I have got so meany tubes for my Little Dot III .
    The best are the Rocket Vishods EV 1980-1985 with the fluted glass, The Mullard M8100 is good but I like the RCA and GE 5 stars top end better than the Mullards .
    The Power tubes made a huge difference too, Best sound for the Money is Cryo treated EH 6H30pi.
    The MKIII just has a nice simple circuit that works, and the tubes seem to last forever.
    Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER

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