New preamplifier - Backert Rhumba Extreme, Aesthetix Calypso Signature, Ayre KX5 Twenty

@eaneverson What speakers are you using?

I’m hoping to do a head to head with Rogue RP9 and the Backert.  
 

I just read some comments about the volume control on the Backert being inferior quality.   Looking forward to the listening.  

I have the LTA under consideration.   One challenge is it’s not available to audition at dealers.  But my primary challenge with the unit is that it does not have a home theater bypass. I sent an email to LTA asking for recommendations for a work around to the HT bypass shortcoming.  Waiting for their response.
 

 If anybody has a recommendation to solve that problem I would like to hear. 
 

@atmasphere Using your HT Bypass workaround is a bandaid but if I recall correctly if you make any volume adjustments while watching a “movie”  the entire system does not stay “in sync”.   I’ll do some research to verify.  thanks for tip.

Regarding equipment based on music.  The equipment does not care what it is producing, but it does give the music being played its sonic signature.  Based on your personal listening preferences or style of music you like or listen to most frequently, you may choose to go with a sonic signature that provides the sound you prefer. 
 

I auditioned a few amplifier candidates today.  Not with my Vandersteen’s but with a speaker that has similar characteristics based on the dealer comments.  After a half dozen songs played on both pieces, I could give each amplifier a sonic signature.   Amp 1, to my ears had more grip and clarity.   With a raspy male blues voice I could taste the cigarette he smoked on break.   The second amp, to my ears, excelled with Allison Krause and Union Station.   The amp pulled me into the performance.  I don’t think a right or wrong, or better or worse.

Now it’s up to me to decide what I want to hear everyday.  We are splitting hairs at this level.   After hearing amp 2 demo, I thought that was the choice.   While driving to my hotel I thought but what about those nights I want to “feel the blues”.  That is amp 1.  

Tomorrow I am planning a similar listening session at a dealer that has Quatro CTs. 

I visited a few dealers last week and auditioned some of the kit on my wish list.  
 

First, I want to say I enjoyed the time I spent at each dealer. We all know the challenges these businesses face to keep the doors open.  Each dealer I visited truly had a customer focused attitude and were extremely accommodating to my visit. 

I listened to the Ayre VX5-20 against an Aesthetix Atlas Signature with some Canton speakers and an Orpheus preamplifier.   I preferred the Atlas over the KX5-20 in this system   The Atlas really gripped the music.  It pushed the sound at me   Especially on a few of the blues tracks I played.   The Ayre amp did draw me into the music.   I just preferred the Atlas.   I did not have the chance to listen to the matching Calypso preamp or the Ayre KX5-20 preamp.

Next up was the Aesthetix Mimas integrated with the Vandersteen Quatro CTs. I liked this system but was not blown away.   It would be the economical and dare I say the sensible winner.   In the future I would like to check out the Aesthetix Pallene and Dione.  Thinking about the Mimas after audition I would rather go the separates route than make the sensible choice on this integrated. Provides more flexibility, IMHO.  

The third session consisted of the Ayre VX5-20 amplifier with the Quatro CTs. This session matched the Ayre KX5-20 preamplifier against the Backert Labs Rythm preamplifier.   The Ayre combination brought a smile to my face and the music just hung in the “air”.  I could easily live with that combination. But….after swapping in the Backert and running back through the playlist I preferred the Backert Rythm.  Yes, the Ayre was magical, but to me the Backert and Ayre combo sounded more natural.  It’s hair splitting and personal preference at this level.  

A Backert Rhumba Extreme was not available for audition.

A few takeaways from these sessions.   I was thrilled I could pick out the changes each of these pieces brought to the overall system.  It’s been a number of years since I did listening like this.  Audio shows do not provide this clarity. My sessions were all digital based using streamers and DACs currently out of my price range. A few months ago I had no intention of considering gear in the price range of the components above, but here I am.  When auditioning gear you need to mirror your system as much as possible.  I my case I’m going upstream since I have the Quatro CTs.  And my sonic preference would be soft of neutral.   The Ayre combo just seemed to have as I read in a review after my listening almost a “halo” effect on the sound.   I have fear of growing tired of that. 

I do want to hear some of the gear that may not have been available on this round.  The Aesthetix Atlas and Calypso, Atlas with the Pallene,  Backert and Ayre preamplifiers with the Vandersteen mono blocks.  

Enjoy the music!

Has anybody else checked out the newer BAT VK-85 or BAT VK-90 preamplifiers? They seem to have limited reviews but positive.