2. amps-preamps
  3. 1116098096

Attention Minneapolis Audiophiles

I am in the process of a 30-day in home audition of a deHavilland mercury 2 tubed linestage, which is a new product showing amazing promise. Here's a link to the item.

http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/MERCURY_PRE.htm

Problem is I dont have another preamp (preferrable a tubed linestage) to compare it to. Making matters worse, I dont even have speakers at the moment - having just sold me Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage's (though i am expecting a set of Verity Audio Parsifal Encores next week).

If you are game, I would love to meet up for a little preamp head-to-head. I'd be happy to go to your place with the Merc 2 for a run, if anyone is interested.....
artg

Showing 5 responses by artg

artg OP
362 posts
 
Rade - Thank you so much for the wonderful offer. Right now I dont have speakers yet, so another preamp would not do me much good. Thanks once again!
artg OP
362 posts
 
Update: Thanks for the offer Jeff. I am meeting up with Jafox tonight. He has a BAT 31SE AND an Aesthtix Callisto Signature. We'll spin vinyl on his system and compre the three.

I also have tentative plans to hook up with Bob (USblues) to drop the Merc it into his counterpoint-Merlin system.

Update to follow.
artg OP
362 posts
 
Round 1 goes (rather handily) to either or both the BAT 31SE and Aesthetix. To be fair, the deHavilland is brand spanking new and has not seen more than 20 mins of play time (though it was powered up for maybe 1-2 days). In jafox's system (CAT signature monos, clear audio analog source, Sound Lab spkrs) it was no contest.

Rather than make any serious sweeping conclusions, more listening is needed, esp once this thing has been played more. That's only fair. more to come.

Once I get the parsifals next week, i would love to have Peter and anyone else over....
artg OP
362 posts
 
Rade (lateguestnomore) I understand you were only trying to help me out - I hope you didnt think i was appreciative of your offer, becuase I certainly was/am. I just dont have speakers at the moment, like i said in my prior note.....
artg OP
362 posts
 
Thanks again for the offers. I ended up purchasing a CAT SL-1 Ultimate for the system, so the search (for now) is over.
More to discover