2. amps-preamps
  3. 1397501648

Preamp for Aesthetix / Atma-sphere

Hi

I have the Aesthetix Io Eclipse with volume and dual power supplies, Atma-sphere MA-1 monoblocs (140 watts) and Audiokinesis Dream Maker (93 db sensitive) speakers. These are great components. My question is about system synergy, how to make them play together.

I have been running the Io direct to my amps since I first bought the Mk2 version back in 2004. At the time, I had a Krell FPB600, and in that context, it was a blessing, and a great step up from the Krell KAV 250p preamp. I'll never forget my first impression with the Io - it was like going from the wooded hills up into the mountains. There was no going back.

With volume, the Io functions as a preamp. It looks like a preamp. Someone here on A-gon said going direct is best - which I interpreted as: it IS a preamp! So I thought, OK I have a combined phono and preamp - problem fixed. But it wasn't.

From recent testing I have finally become convinced that the Io does benefit from a separarate preamp. Even if clarity and detail is better going direct from the Io to the amps, the punch and "here-ness" of the music is clearly better with a preamp in the chain, at least in my system.

Trouble is, which preamp? I am testing a small solid state Musical Innovation preamp, which helps with the punch but veils the music. An optimal solution might be the Aesthetix Callisto, preferably with dual power - but I don't have the space, and I already have a lot of tubes and tube heat. I have space for one or possibly two boxes.

From what I have heard so far, a solid state might do the job well (in my tube-rich context), however it should not impart any s-state artifacts or reduce the resolution from the Io Eclipse.

The ideal would be to test a few tube and s-state preamps, and then decide. However, this is difficult where I live, so advice is welcome.

My question relates to my own setup of course, but is relevant for everyone with a top phono stage on the one hand and amps on the other. What is best in the middle?

From recent testing I have learned that problems that I thought were related to the speakers, the phono pre, the pickup and so on, were in fact related to the preamp issue. For example, the Dream Makers straight from the Io may sound a bit lazy and washed out in the bass, very clear in mid and treble but not fully embodied. Plugging in the solid state pre, the situation becomes dramatically different, now the speakers are driving, propulsive. Very enjoyable, but some detail is lost and some transistor things added that I don't want.

So I am looking for a solution with most of the plusses, and not much of the minuses. The preamp must be fully balanced with XLR in / out.
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o_holter

Showing 2 responses by audioquest4life

audioquest4life
778 posts
 
Not sure if you heard about the German brand Octave. I had the HP500 SE for a while than sold that and purchased the Octave Jubilee preamp. Before I purchased the Octave Jubilee, I tested the Einstein preamp. Though it was good, and bass was articulate, I feel the Octave Jubilee is better due to its ability to create uncanny realism with music. I use a pair of Mcintosh MC2301 300 watt tube amps with the Jubilee. Previously, I had Octave MRE 130's which I used with all three preamps. The Einstein was better than the HP500 SE, however not the Jubilee.
Good luck
Audioquest4life
audioquest4life
778 posts
 
O_holter,

Yes, I am using the Aesthetix IO Signature analog source with the Octave Jubilee along with the Mcintosh MVP 891 3D Blu Ray SACD player for digital. The amps are Mcintosh MC2301 and work beautifully with this combination.

I have experimented with ECC82 Siemens, RFT, RCA, Telefunken, and Jan-Phillips with the Jubilee and find them all pretty good, with the RFT and Siemens having a slightly better top end and midrange compared to the others. The Jubilee requires matched tubes within 5% tolerance of each other to function correctly. When I tested the Einstein years ago, it also used Siemens tubes, if I recall correctly.
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