Von Gaylord Audio LAD-L2 6SN7 Tube Preamp with Remote Control Upgraded

For sale is a Von Gaylord (formerly Legend Audio) LAD-L2 tube preamp.  It is a two-box design with dedicated power supply chassis.  I made some simple, but effective, upgrades:

- WBT Nextgen WBT-0210 Cu Ms copper RCAs on CD input.- WBT Nextgen WBT-0210 Cu Ms copper RCAs on Output 1.

- Copper ground wire running across all RCAs replaced with DH Labs AG-18 solid silver.

- Alps volume pot replaced with Goldpoint Mini-V 250k stepped attenuator.

- Remote volume control via Bent Audio Stepped Switch motor for Goldpoint Mini-V.

- Synergistic Research SR20 fuse.

Cardas quad-eutectic solder was used for the mods.

It comes with Psvane CV-181T II tubes, which are quite a bit better than the stock ones in every way.

The attenuator motor has a dedicated 9v wall wart power supply.  In order to implement this I disconnected Output 2 and removed one of the RCAs to fit the power plug.  This is easily reversible if 2nd output is required.

Both chasses are in great condition.  There are some tiny nicks along the top leading edge of the preamp chassis, but you really have to have your face up to it to notice.  

The preamp itself has also been sparsely used.  I bought it in 2012 from Ray Leung, owner of Von Gaylord.  As I had babies around this time, I didn’t get to enjoy it much and it has mostly been in storage for the past 5 years.  I kept it there because I like it so much and planned on returning to it, but I’m just increasingly busy so it’s time to let it go.  I will definitely be looking at another Von Gaylord preamp when the time comes.

This is an outstanding sounding unit.  It replaced a Conrad Johnson CT-5, and has that palpable midrange presence that tube lovers enjoy.  Smooth and airy top end, wide soundstage, solid imaging, and plenty of detail.

For those unfamiliar with Von Gaylord Audio, it’s an American company based out of the Sacramento, CA area that flies under the radar but has been around for decades and has a very loyal following.  I was turned on to it by a coworker who, like most customers, has a full Von Gaylord system end-to-end.  One pair of Chinchilla interconnects led to speakers, preamp, power amps, and all cabling in multiple systems.  I still run all VG cabling and consider it my gold standard against bigger names like JPS Labs, Audience, and Black Cat.  I think the following excerpt from a Chinchilla digital cable review sums up the VG house sound nicely:

"The Chinchilla has color and presence with a drop-dead quietness all the while offering an extended and airy high (no grain or grit) with a rock-solid deep and palpable bottom-end (like the PAD, just not to the same degree). It also has a nice sense of that neutrality 'rightness' to it… a purity and even-handed way about how it portrays one's bits of music (like the DH Labs to a great degree, but not quite to the same degree).

Okay, so it does have more of a mid-range presence (or balance) than either of the other two digital cables, but this what it brings to the table in terms of its own character. This mid-range character allows for a more delineated mid-range presentation, something that brings the energy of the music to a different level of involvement without sounding lean or bleached of color. Nice. Now I am not saying that the Chinchilla has an upfront of invasively forward midrange, just that is is more apparent in a quite enjoyable way. Yeah, it is rather subtle for sure, but it is clearly evident when compared to either of my reference digital cables. Nice."

I am sad to see the L2 go, but at this point in my life I am valuing simplicity and have no room for it, so have gone DAC direct to power amp.  I definitely prefer the sound of my system with the L2 inserted.

Local pickup in the SF Bay Area is welcome and preferred.

FREE SHIPPING to CONUS, which will be quite expensive.