Preamp Deal of the Century

Rmml, why would you want an additional potentiometer (output level adjustment knob) in the signal path?

I like the way my Ayre K-3x works for output level adjustment. If you need more or less output/gain, Ayre will mail you the specific resistor that you install in your preamp. I told them I needed 6db less gain and they emailed me the resistor.

KF

It would be interesting to see what device this is. If it is a knob (analogue knob), it should be a potentiometer of sorts. If it were say a stepped knob, it could be a path of resistors. Anyway, you might want to ask Mick and see what he has to say.

KF

OK, Bwhite you are making me jealous. So, I think it is necessary fir ne to stick up for digital, heh heh...

I think most of the problems that many digital components have is with AC cords. They are so AC sensitive and most people do not see the value in putting some serious $$$ into a great AC cord. I know I did not up until a few months ago. I have heard a Dodson 217mk2 DAC with numerous AC cords, and I really did not like it one bit until I mated it with a Kimber Palladium PK10 AC cord and a ML transport with an Elrod 3 Sig. This combo was STELLAR. I thought I was listening to totally different digital. All I can say is if you have a nice CDP or Transport, try out an Elrod 3 Signature on it. Unless you are using an amazing AC cord to begin with, you will be AMAZED at how good the Elrod will make your digital sound. OK... it still does not hold up that much to analogue... But it still can come very close. VERY CLOSE. I recently heard a reference system with MBL's top of the line Transport and DAC, and the sound was INSANELY good. It sounded like fine vinyl. I was in total awe. Of corse that front end is $37k or so retail and the rest of the system was about $130k or so... But this digital sound could rival much of the best analogue I have ever heard.

Also for all you folks you have the Supratek Syrah preamp... One of my friends just got one, and I will tell you AC cords can make a serious difference with piece. I have not tried an Elrod with it, but we did try a Kimber Palladium PK10, and this combination was very very good. I love the Kimber Palladium cords, they are about as neutral of an AC cord I have tried across the entire frequency band.

My theory with digital is that I have an Ayre CDP with an Elrod 3 sig AC cord plugged into a PS audio P300 plugged into the wall with a Kimber Palladium cord. This combo is about as much money as I will sink into digital, and I got every piece at very good prices. And truthfully, I am just way too lazy to switch 100% vinyl, heh heh.

KF

Eminents, I had never heard of the Croft until your post. So I looked up the piece. The Croft may cost about half of the Supratek, but it DOES NOT have a phono stage. The phono stage of the Supratek itself justifies the $2500 price tag. The Supratek may not be the end all line stage (though I think it is pretty darn amazing), but it does have a world class phono stage.

There are a whole lot of preamps that cost much more than the Supratek that are not nearly as versatile or have as high of sound quality as the SUpratek does.

KF

Theaudiotweak,

I find your argument a bit funny considering your Audiogon name... heh heh.

Anyway, you have to remember that all audio components aimed at the retail market (in general) are designed to be sold at a particular price point. Even Mick's preamps. Also, you need to remember that all tubes are not equal. Different tubes (of the same tube type), sound different. Now, many times tube designers will use some of the least expensive tubes they can for their stock product (to get the price down ofc... excellent tubes can really inflate the price of a particular component).

I would be the last to say that any tube sounds better than the stock tubes of tube gear. I would also not say that more expensive tubes will always sound better than less expensive tubes. I have a tube DAC that sounds better with $50 Siemans Falcon 6922 tubes than $150 Amperex 7308 premium quality white label tubes. However, both of those sets of tubes completely blows away (sonically) the Russian stock tubes the DAC comes with.

The inherent thing about tubes which is both their advantage and their bane is that they do add distortion to the signal. The more tubes a signal is run through, the more distortion that is added. No way around that, that I know of. The great thing about tubes is that in general they add mostly 2nd order and 4th order distortion (mostly 4th order). This distortion is picked up by our ear as more of musical qualities than anything else. Solid state on the other hand adds mostly 3rd order distortion. 3rd order distortion is picked up by our ears as not musical at all.

The problem, Theaudiotweak, is that tubes are funky devices. Saying that a tube piece must be 'heard as it really is' is like saying the best time to take a picture of a race car is while it is going 220MPH. No matter what tubes you use in a piece of audio gear (be them stock or some of the best you can buy), the sound of the tubes is constantly changing from second 1 they are installed and the devices is turned on. It is a type of performance curve they follow during their lifetime which is constantly changing and eventually ends in the tube not able to function. And after your stock tubes need replacing, what are you going to do? Get some more of the same tubes? You can... but you will not be guarenteed the same performance of your original stock tubes. Because, in general no two sets of tubes (even the same make and model) will necessarily perform the same.

Thus, people tube roll because their is a distict possibility they can achieve better performance from different tubes then their stock ones, OR their stock ones have gone kaput and they need new tubes (thinking that different tubes might work better than stock or maybe their stock ones are not available on the open market).

Theaudiotweak, you sound like a solid state guy.

Gotta run.

KF