Opportunity to buy the best Preamp... but which?

Hi Downunder, In the world of tubes, the Aesthetix preamps are highly regarded, Einstein has an impressive preamp, we've been making an all tube balanced preamp longer than anyone else...

I guess my point is, why did you go back to CJ after such a limited engagement of other preamps?

There's been no discussion about SE/balanced... in preamps this can be a big deal on account of the interconnect cables.

So- if funds are unlimited for a preamp, what amps do you have? Will they accept either input?

Hi George, we do have a demo program. Give us a call for details 651-690-2246

Are there any new designs that leapfrog all these top machines?

There are certainly preamps that have technology that do represent breakthroughs. In addition a top preamp will have the best coupling caps available and things like that...

So the 'best' does not exist? I have a challenge for you then.

I can easily point out an area where preamp performances differ- and where listening preferences will favor the preamp that measures better: the ability to drive interconnect cables.

I think it is fairly well agreed that interconnect cables affect the sound. But what if you could create a way to eliminate the interaction that the cable has in the system in such a way that the cable would perform even better (this also means that you could use a cheaper cable, BTW)? Now add the ability to drive long distances, such that you can place the front end of the system where you want it, and yet place your monoblocks as close to your speakers so as to keep the speaker cable length down, and you get the idea.

The system for doing all that was created nearly 60 years ago. It was introduced to high end audio about 1989. Most high end preamp manufacturers have not grasped what it is about, and so there is a lot of variance in this area. This is the ability to drive low impedance balanced lines.

Since the high end has had such a problem understanding what the benefits of balanced lines are, the result has been a fair amount of mediocrity, price no object.

So- in the face of that, is the 'best' something that does not exist (and thus denying the meaning of the word)? Or is it simply the case that not everyone has heard everything, and that combined with so much mediocrity has caused none to stand out??

So- if there is no 'best', doesn't it seem that there are a lot of manufacturers *saying* they have the best? I agree they can't all be right :)

Seems to me also that this got covered in another thread.

But still I find myself wondering- if someone in fact had a genuine breakthrough in preamp technology, something that was so much better that it would be obvious to anyone in 5 seconds of listening, what would that look like? Would that be the best then? or is it still subject to the 'versions of vanilla' phenom?

This would appear to allow someone in my position to make all sorts of claims about gear that could not be quantified- or denied. And a manufacturer like say, Sony, for example, could make the identical claims on a preamp that is no-where near the same capability.

So I guess what I am saying is there is no integrity in throwing up one's collective hands and saying there is no 'best'. I think to handle the situation with integrity one would have to admit that there is the *possibility* that this or that preamp is the best, whereas in the same breath there will be other preamps that *cannot possibly* be best.

Would that be a more accurate statement?

We just revamped our MP-1 at the beginning of the year and we do think its the best thing out there. FWIW its turned into our best seller- outselling our cheaper preamp 10:1 and outselling the amps too.

I think its better than anything I've heard, including fm acoustics :), *but-* I found that some people want something darker, especially if they are running bad digital, or they want something simpler (our stuff is fully differential and balanced and although works quite well with single-ended amps, its an uphill battle...), and we don't have any transformers in the circuit and there are actually those who will not accept an audio piece if it has no transformers (which I regard as a filter). Then there are those that want remote control, and are willing to sacrifice sound quality to get it.

And finally- I've not heard everything out there. There would then be the question: would I allow that something else is better, given my predisposed position as a designer and manufacturer? I'm not sure I can answer that, and the fact that I've not heard any better over the years can't be evidenciary, as I could be biased or our gear really could be that much better.

So the bottom line seems to be that even if you *know* in your heart of hearts that you have the best, that the reality of the culture is in fact that the best cannot exist! God could have made the preamp, and there would be those to accuse it of being too dark, too bright, too boomy, too bass shy, etc. The "best" does not exist in that world, it only exists by individual declaration.

It would seem to be a hopeless case, as there is therefore no meaning in making improvements, but I have found that when situations arise that seem to have no meaning, you have to play the game all out so as to be a player rather than a mere occurrence, IOW even if the best does not and cannot exist that I choose to try to make the best and do that best I can anyway. Sort of like Sisyphus...

Jmaldonado, if God made a preamp it wouldn't have transistors in it either :)

Hi Downunder, there are at least 5 other tube preamps I can think of that will do that. If I think about it, I can probably name more. Any reason why you limit yourself to the CJ?

Downunder, I get that. It seems that your situation illustrates the issue that, if there *is* a 'best' preamp, it would be almost impossible to find it, for no other reason than its almost impossible to get your hands on all the possibilities for audition!

I've been told that our distributor in WA is no longer in business; his website is still up but he does not respond to email.