redsun, btw, thanks for the input. i think i'm a diehard all-tube person so i'm leaning away from the other counterpoint models at this time. tubeg, thanks also. i'll look for that thread. believe it or not i did find an sa-11. it's expensivo though: $2500 plus $780 for the new tubes the guy just got. ay chihuahua.
Counterpoint and Mike Elliot
Hey! Does anyone have first hand knowledge of Elliot's upgrades for Counterpoint preamps? Specifically the SA-2000, SA-3000, SA-5000 and the 5.1 all tube phono/line pre. I'm wondering if the rather high cost of let's say, modding a 5.1 would bring the preamp to a performance level equal or greater than a similarly priced piece. For example, the 5.1 modified by Elliot would cost, all together, a bit more than an ARC Ref-1 preamp ($3500 approx). (Of course the ref-1 doesn't have a phono stage so the Elliot might be a tad more thrifty). ew. sorry, i dont usually write things like 'a tad more thrifty' and i wont do it again.
Anyway, I'd love to get responses from people who have owned or heard these or can send me in the right direction to find out more info.
For those of you who don't know, Counterpoint made ss, hybrid and tube amps, preamps and dacs but went out of business in '96. Mike Elliot was the chief designer and continues to upgrade Counterpoint stuff but for big $$. His site is www.altavistaaudio.com
thanks in advance.
Anyway, I'd love to get responses from people who have owned or heard these or can send me in the right direction to find out more info.
For those of you who don't know, Counterpoint made ss, hybrid and tube amps, preamps and dacs but went out of business in '96. Mike Elliot was the chief designer and continues to upgrade Counterpoint stuff but for big $$. His site is www.altavistaaudio.com
thanks in advance.