Dared MARS – Hybrid Vacuum Tube Amplifier - I bought one.

[ABM78]

http://www.dared.com.hk/index.php?route=product/product&path=92&product_id=168

Bought this as a band-aid to get me through as I needed a pre-amp to get my Quad 909 and Dynaudio X-12's going again. Cost me about 290 pound and about the size of 3-4 DVD cases stacked up, seems well built and is my first look into Chinese components. Just had the caps etc replaced on the Quad (Cost me 400 pound here in Australia!). Initially found the set up brighter than I would like, and quite different to what I could remember my system sounding like, but starting to grow on me as the system gets some run in time. I have been hooking up the Macbook to the USB Dac and using my Samsung S6 edge to control spotify. I can't say I have much to compare it to, I guess when I was using the Leema Pulse as the pre-amp I found the sound more pacy and fun but I have been without that set up for a good 6 months so not sure. I would say voices certianly jumped out at me from the start and not in a bad way. I have not tested as an integrated amp yet, only have the x-12's and B&W 685's, not sure if it will have the juice to get those going, but when I upgrade it may find itself in a small bedroom set up. Sorry its not a technical review but overall I am happy with it just to get me up and going again and makes me wonder what the more expensive Chinese gear can do.

 

[NSA_watch_my_toilet]

Me and my crew are so happy for you !!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcOiJ98gCX4

 

[drummerman]

It looks neat and is cheap. Had a quick look at their website and liked that they didn't try to talk up their tiny bookshelf speaker with ludicrous specifications as some others do. It may still be slightly optimistic but far bigger brands are more guilty of 'misleading'.

I don't think I've heard 'hybrid' valve/transistor amps and am a bit dubious about it (probably without reason). I guess, if well done, they can provide (some) benefits of tube only amplifiers whilst avoiding the pit falls. Having said that, they perhaps attempt to be a jack of all trades but master of none ... ?

Never mind, I don't think yours was meant to be 'high end' but I certainly like the look of that little thing!

Spec (and price) wise, it seems to be similar to the well known FatMan hybrid products which also pop up under other names.

 

[paulkebab]

is strange indeed drummerman. I was also dubious as to how, why, and the rest. My biggest concern was 'it'll sound great then when I put the hammer down it'll start to sound hard and edgy'. I couldn't have been more wrong, and I cant tell where the crossover point is. It sounds wonderful, and will go extremely loud with no changes in character. If that is the trait of all hybrids I'd give them a listen.