Hi Oliver,
Great write up on your progress.
I've got a little respite so have decided to add to the thread.
I've gone through several DCB1 builds including a very expensive dual mono build which was a little disappointing, only because i didn't have the skill to get to the bottom of quite a few issues it had.
I've finally ended up going back to using a single board but stuffed full of boutique parts.
Ive ended up having tried resistors from 6 manufacturers with audionote tantalums. They work really well and beat the Charcrofts by quite some margin.
The buffer caps from Nichicon stayed but the Wima caps which are very good indeed were replaced with Jupier caps, they gave the whole sound a lift.
The only thing i really would recommend is to experiment, I did at a huge cost but worth the effort even though it didn't work as it gave me the chance to see what works best.
I'm also very lucky that when i split the dual mono and rebuilt 2 machines i recouped my costs and 2 people ended up with top quality preamps.
Anyone putting together a dcb1, should budget allow should use tantlum resistors throughout and replace the 2 Wima caps for higher spec caps. Stay with the khozmo, Elma switch and get the best hook up wire you can find, I personally like Oliver's spitfire cable.
Then just sit back and enjoy, very probably, the best preamp I've personally ever heard, knowing you built it yourself
Regards Steve...
Turntable; Rega p8
Cartridge; Alpheta mc
Phono Stage; Rega Aria, Bigbottle 3 mm/mc
Amplifier; Rega Elicit
Speakers; Rega Rx3