Douk G7 Amplifier Review

[Endibol]

Really ugly VU meter colour choice

Taste of colors is culture dependent. You can see this for instance in Asian equipment brochures. I guess the Chinese like blue more than US/European people do.

 

[solderdude]

Really ugly VU meter colour choice

Inspired by the legendary McIntosh amps no doubt.

Of course in McIntosh products the meters actually indicate something.
Here it about the visual aspect; seeing meters swing.

 

[Audionaut]

Of course in McIntosh products the meters actually indicate something.

I think that, especially with McIntosh devices, the main function of the VU meters is to create the typical McIntosh look.
Black housings, blue VU meters, silver-black knurled knobs, and green McIntosh lettering.
That's what you expect from McIntosh—and that's what you get from McIntosh.

Even with a record player

Douk Audio devices, on the other hand, are completely inconsistent in design—each one looks completely different, and there is no discernible design line.

 

[amirm]

I did not like the light yellow when I was 14 (in 1971) or now. Am happy to see some other color for the meters.

What???

I don't like the super yellow ones that much but the lighter version as in my Otrai is right on the money:

 

[EJ3]

What???

I don't like the super yellow ones that much but the lighter version as in my Otrai is right on the money:

That is not the (deeper?, darker?, duller?, dimmer? [all of the afore mentioned?]) parchment yellow I was thinking about.
Those on the Otari look quite good.
I have 2 Akai reel to reel units and theirs are also not the ones I was thinking of.
But.. I certainly have seen some in the past

 

[RHO]

Not that it matters too much, but let's be fair to this amp.

 

[amirm]

I will update when I get a chance....

 

[RoA]

Build looks really nice. I hope they can get this and QC sorted.

 

[thewas]

Counterpoint: The smaller the better! Audio gear is either ugly, ostentatious, or both. You want nice things to look at, buy art.

I wrote that is my personal POV so please allow it for me, as I allow you yours. Audio for me can beautiful even if you see it differently.

 

[thewas]

Perhaps because typical homes in China are smaller than the ones in the USA or Europe?

Possibly, although I think the main reason is shipping costs for export.

 

[amirm]

Except the measurement issues I personally am disappointed that these Asian devices are almost always smaller than the classic 43cm/17" Hifi components width which makes them look more toyish to me and matching less existing components.

So you prefer that they attach columns to them to make them not toy like as in Nagra?

Or do you consider these toy like as well? In which case, this is not from China.

 

[thewas]

So you prefer that they attach columns to them to make them not toy like as in Nagra?

Or do you consider these toy like as well? In which case, this is not from China.

Exceptions prove the rule, I don't like the look of this Nagra either. On the other side I can find dozens of 17" amps from outside of China - even with VUs - which look nice to me while not really many from that country, how many of your dozens of Chinese tested devices were 17"?

 

[Sokel]

So you prefer that they attach columns to them to make them not toy like as in Nagra?

Or do you consider these toy like as well? In which case, this is not from China.

Nagra are usually full size gear or close to it.
Their classic preamp is about 44 x 40 cm (2 pieces though, so about 4U?) .

Amps are way bigger though, specially height.

 

[Sokel]

Exceptions prove the rule, I don't like the look of this Nagra either. On the other side I can find dozens of 17" amps from outside of China - even with VUs - which look nice to me while not really many from that country, how many of your dozens of Chinese tested devices were 17"?

Full size, low cost Asian gear are totally doable as Tonewinner for example, some full size, 20 Kg amps that cost close to 700 euro or so.

 

[thewas]

Full size, low cost Asian gear are totally doable as Tonewinner for example, some full size, 20 Kg amps that cost close to 700 euro or so.

Hope we will see more then measured and reviewed in the future, as I have per se nothing against them.

 

[amirm]

Nagra are usually full size gear or close to it.

What? They are very close to "mini" system size that were so popular in Japan. No way are they full size.

 

[Sokel]

What? They are very close to "mini" system size that were so popular in Japan. No way are they full size.

The two-chassis models like the HD PREAMP is 438 x 396 x 121 mm per unit.
Some cm short of full size.

What's small is stuff like their phono pre, etc.

Edit: here's a typical pic, you can tell by the turntable.
Some are two-chassis and deep:

 

[JSmith]

I feel that the term toy for a smaller form factor amp is a bit off kilter... matchbox cars (which are more of a toy than a model car) are about 1:64 scale and most model cars are around 1:43 - 1:24 scale.

Do we call a notebook or a laptop a toy, based on size scale, because they're not as big as a desktop or tower, or are those toys because they're not as large as a server?

So how does toy fit in here when this amp compared to a McIntosh MC462 is at a 1:2.5 size scale at most?


JSmith

 

[Theodoros]

I bought a Douk G7amplifier from Amazon.de on the 10th of December and to date I have not noticed any malfunction. It has a very good sound, and in a direct AB comparison between G7 and a Rotel A8 and two Fosi V3 Monos, using a Fosi LC30 amplifier/speaker selector, I did not notice any qualitative sound difference between them. I am very happy with my purchase and now I have it as my reference TPA3255 amplifier, replacing my Fosi V3 Monos which now amplify the center channels in two home cinema setups.

With all due respect, I think the discussion has gone a little off topic! I would like to know if there are another owners of the G7 and their impressions!

 

[VientoB]

Except the measurement issues I personally am disappointed that these Asian devices are almost always smaller than the classic 43cm/17" Hifi components width which makes them look more toyish to me and matching less existing components.

No, the 43cm width seems outdated to me nowadays. It's just unnecessary.