H-CAT Model 12-P Preamp, Fact or Fiction??

Actually I have the first one. Or rather I should say the 1st then the 2nd and now the 3rd. I feel somewhat like a beta tester, but boy was it worth it! The first version had too low input impedance. The second had problems with thermo-run away. The third is perfect.

I would not pretend to say I fully understand what is going on with this unit, but what you hear is the most immediate presentation you will ever hear. It makes all other preamps sound decidedly slow and unresolving. But its forte is sound staging. Performers and instrument voices are real size rather than exaggerated, and as a result you are there!

You know my excitement has nothing to do with making anything off the H-Cat, but is just that after 35 years of audio with slight improvements, I now know what a quantum improvement is. Run don't walk to get one. I have already order a phono stage, which might well be awesome in the true meaning of this word. The amp will take me longer as I have never heard a solidstate amp I liked and I need mono blocks.

Tbg - can you give us a Supratek / CAT comparison?

Tbg - Thanks for the info.
Have you any more tech info on the preamp?
My monoblocks have balanced inputs so I'd prefer balanced outputs from the preamp - also you mentioned a phono stage?
What is in the rest of your system, and what preamps have you previously tried?

Hi, I thought that semi-review would get some reaction. Bwhite, how did you know I had had a Supratek Syrah? I have had four exceptional preamps in my system, actually five. The Syrah was the first two. First I had a stock unit which sounded great, especially the phono, but ultimately one chanel went bad. It was too costly to return it to Mick, so I sent it to John Tucker at Exemplar. He had already built several amps for me which were parafeed using the 6N1P. He repaired my Syrah and ultimately convinced me to converting it to parafeed with an active load on the 6N1Ps substituted for the 6SN7s. It was startlingly better, more dynamic and quieter. The phono remains as was and was still the best phono I have heard.

Number three was Tucker's full blown Exemplar line stage which was identical to that installed in my Syrah except with the exceptional ss power supply John has developed. It had a better sound stage and better bass extention. You can see it at http://www.exemplaraudio.com/EA-1.ht

Next came version one of the H-Cat P12, which had the sound staging advantage in spades, but the Exemplar, while sounding more like tubes, was more musical or pleasing. But this H-Cat did not like my tube dac. It was called back as was the Exemplar for changes. During this period I tried the Seamless Big Dog passive transformer/pot. After extensive breakin, it was more dynamic than any prior passive unit I have tried, including the Silver Rock, and of course was neutral in sound.

Then the H-Cat returned in triumph. After about two weeks, it was king of the hill as I wrote. The Exemplar is back and breaking in, but I really have no expectation that it can outperform the H-Cat.

I use an Accustic Arts transport, a Zanden 5000 dac, a Marantz SA-1 sacd player, Siltech G5 cables, Omega Mikro ac cords plus some Elrod EPS3s, a Sound Application EX12S, and Beauhorns. The amps are 2A3 parafeed, active loaded Exemplar mono blocks using the TJ300B 2.5 v. tubes. I also have Epps 7' tall subs driven by a Citation 7.1 amp.

Tbg - Me again. Could you be more specific about the H-Cat specs:
- Does it have XLR outs or just single ended RCA
- What inputs can it accept (How many, what type..)

Also, apart from imaging, how does it sound: treble / mid / bass?

Lastly, have you considered getting the H-Cat power amp, if the preamp is so good?