Speaking with Dennis about having a custom build LP-27a with some tweaks and upgrades. Wondering if anyone here has some comments about experiences with any of the upgrades they tried or wish they'd had done?

I have an LP-2 with the DACT stepped volume pot, and I have to say it images like a son of a gun! Worth it in my books!

I've discussed the DACT with him and know that it's worth the extra $. Amazing how what's considered a simple, passive component can have such a large impact on performance.

Let us know what options he is offering for upgrades at the moment. I've always been interested what audio note resisters would do if substituted in the signal path.

I also have a DACT passive stepped attenuator in both my SET amp and my LP-27a preamp... Great stuff!

How does the performance compare to the AMP with just the volume pot and no pre and with the LP-27a?

I used the Tantalum resisitors before but did not care for them. The sound was 'bleached'. YMMV.

I needed the DACT in my amp to be able to connect the ZBit directly to it. It did not have to be a DACT, it's just that Dennis recommended it as a more transparent, better performing unit.

Then, I ordered the LP-27a, and asked Dennis if I would still get an advantage out of another DACT in the preamp. He assured me it would definitely be better, even though the amp's DACT goes all the way up when using the LP-27a to control volume.

Now, about your two questions: I can't answer the first one, since I've never driven the amp without the DACT. To me, the amp gets a transparent boost out of the LP-27a, providing better body, dynamics and overall presence (it would even seem to yield higher SPL levels), without any fidelity losses.

What I've found, though, is if I use the ZBit directly coupled to my amp, in selections that do not require much dynamics, as in smaller ensembles like jazz and acoustic music, the quality of the balanced source into the amp makes a tangible difference in texture and overall sound quality. It is not night and day, mind you, but tangible.

When I listen to orchestral ensembles or with highly demanding passages, the LP-27a w/DACT is a must, along with larger tubes like the KT88.

I hope some of this helps.

Twanny,

How much is the DACT? I have the stock pot in mine.

BTW, I have found little difference in 27 tube brands. Ditto for the 6BX7/6BL7.
Tubeworld has some very nice NOS Tungsram 80 recitifiers.

Couple hundred or so