Anyone heard the Audible Illusions L2?

To: Jimmymac

In answer to you question regarding the remote. To be honest I programmed the functions into my Marantz RC2000. What little time I spent with the AI remote was positive. It seems to work from quite far away and from extreme angles. It's a very basic unit volume an mute which is all I need.

As for sound comparisons, I haven't heard the Rogue, but I have compared it to AR, Conrad Johnson, Krell and Levinson and I wouldn't trade it for any of them. I bought my first AI in around 85. It was an affordable entry in to tubes. A this point in my life price is less an object. Frankly I would have paid 3 times the $2495. It's that good. I have very reveling system, AR VT-100 MKIII, Martin Logan SL3s and Meridian 508/28. None of the other pre-amps I tried could bring the music to life like the AI L2 does. If by some miracle you can find a dealer that will loan you one I promise you'll never bring it back.

The L2 is a brand new product that just started shipping in late February of 03. I know this because I waited just about a year to get mine and have one of the first 10 production units. Any frustration I may have had getting my unit was forgotten after 15 minutes of listening. If you haven't heard this unit you need to. I am a long time AI owner going back to the M2. The new L2 is so far superior to the M3a it's scary. If you remember, the Modulas 3a has been on the Stereophile A list for years. In addition virtually every reviewer worth his salt has designated it as reference class.

The detail, bass extension and sound stage will rock your world. Female vocals are heaven; strings are so detailed you’ll have to look down at your hands to make sure you’re not the one playing. Of course the L2 does not have a built in phono section but if a line stage amp is what you're after I challenge anyone at any price to show me a better sounding pre-amp.