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Preamp Recommendations Lamm, Ayre K-1x, BAT 31SE

Curent System:
Ayre V-5x amp
Levinson 390S CDP directly driving the Ayre
Dynaudio Contour 3.0 Speakers
Au24 speaker cables, Audience Power Cord, PS Audio P300 for CDP, Cardas Golden Cross XLR IC

As much as I like the transparency of the CDP directly driving the amp, the system is begging for a high quality preamp. I've never owned tube gear, but am interesting in trying a good one. I like what I have read about the Lamm LL2, the Ayre-1x, and the BAT 31SE. Of course there are so many other offerings from Hovland, Sonic Fronteirs, ARC, C-J, CAT, and so on.....

I listen to a lot of vocals (Joni Mitchell, Nora Jones, Lucinda Williams, Ella Fitzgerald) and simple jazz arrangements, and occasionaly rock (Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, dave mathews).

As lazy as it sounds, I also want/need a remote (which eliminates many). Also, for some perhaps stupid reason, I want it to handle XLR in/out since that's what I currently have.

Your thoughts and expereinces (especially Ayre or other good SS amp owners) GREATLY appreciated.
artg
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
Artg,
I'd be cautious before adding a Lamm w/o hearing it in your system. Recently, a friend was auditioning many preamps, and in his Classe Omega/Eggleston Andra/Wadia rig, the Lamm was a poor sounding match to all who heard it.
From all the great feedback I've read here on Lamm, it is probably just a synergy thing, but that's the point! Cheers,
Spencer
cytocycle
1,043 posts
 
The Lamm is incredible but I also ruled it out of my system because it doesn't have a remote (plus it has a volumn knob for each channel because it is , also it only has 1 XLR in and out I believe, and I don't know whether it is truely full differencially balanced. You can rule out the CJ equipment as it is not balanced.

I run a Rowland Synergy IIi on battery that you should consider if you are looking for a fully balanced design. The other ARC's to look at are the LS5 MKIII, LS 25 MKII, of course the Reference 2.
feigore9c2f
11 posts
 
If you really wants a high quality tube preamp, Audio Note M6 phono is the one. It smokes any other preamp out there. Only its bigger brother M8 and M10 can beat it. The phono stage is absolutely gorgeous. The output transformer is copper winding in the primary and silver with high content of nickle in the secondary winding. It also uses expensive caps such as high gate. All the internal wiring is silver.
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Artg, if you are interested in a high quality tube linestage with remote, I encourage you to add the Aesthetix Calypso to your short list to consider. It offers many of the sonic virtues of its more expensive sibling, the Aesthetix Callisto, with the addition of a very flexible/functional remote and a single chassis.
http://www.musicalsurroundings.com/aesthetix.html

I will echo Sbank's comments about the experience with the Lamm in that particular system. I was there also and heard exactly what he described. We were all puzzled by the result, but it was unequivocal.
.
speakerdude13f8
18 posts
 
"We were all puzzled by the result, but it was unequivocal."

I'm not. The Lamm is not a tone control. It allowed you to experience the Classe gear in all its glorious crapulence. If the owner wants to keep the Classe Omega, he'll want a non-transparent tone control of a linestage. Then he can play synergy games and end up with a system that doesn't do anything very well. If he wants a good sounding system, he'll re-think the Omega, explore alternative front-end options and buy a preamp like the Lamm that allows him to experience the superior sound of his vastly improved electronics. I'm always amazed when I see threads like this which demonstrate that something so simple can be made so complex. I will not be re-visiting this thread for this reason. There's just not enough hours in the day.
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