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Dared Mini Tube Gear

by Josh Ray, Nov 09 '05

Equipment Pics 200507 Dared 330W

Funky little company I've never heard of, Dared is all up in that retro tube game. Shown is the Mini VP-300B monoblock amps at an extremely cheap $890/pair and the tubed SL-2000A preamp with remote (volume buttons only) at an amazingly low $399. The Mini line is only one of four lines of products, slotting in below their Flagship and Imperial lines and above their New Classic line. Review from Good Sound gives the downside of 300B tubes:

"Rock out at ear-splitting volumes? Look elsewhere...Enjoy intimate small-group jazz, pop, folk, or chamber music? Give these a listen right away."

Basically, small tube watts for Nora Jones and big solid state for System of a Down. Makes sense in some bizarre kind of way, doesn't it?

Dared Tube Audio
Dared Mini Tube Review

Comments

"Rock out at ear-splitting volumes? Look elsewhere...Enjoy intimate small-group jazz, pop, folk, or chamber music? Give these a listen right away."

That standalone statement is quite incorrect. Yes, one can rock out at ear-splitting volumes quite easily with any 300B amp that has less than 7 watts. Actually . . . very easily. It requires a very sensitive speaker, e.g. Avantgarde Duos or Trios, Klipschorns, Destiny 6000, Altec Voice of the Theatres, Altec A7 Magnificants, Zu Druids, on and on . . . .

Any of the preceding speakers with 7 watt or less amps will have the neighbors a block away call the local men in blue.

Posted by: guy at October 29, 2006 11:59 AM