Preamp suggestion for Coincedent M300B Frankenstein mk2

You won't be disappointed! Going from MkI to MkII with extra upgrade of Amtrans rotary selectors was so worthwhile!

DHT pre's really special, natural synergy with SET amps, all the wonderful aspects of these circuits and tubes are holistic with DHT in both pre and amps. My take is why diminish those special aspects with different topology in pre.

Statement pre not near it's potential with stock 101D tubes, no color, low level of transparency, resolution, I'd not think much of it in that configuration. An analog to it would be like comparing run of the mill Shuguang 300B vs any of the top flight 300B tubes in 300B amp, you'd not have really heard your 300B amp with the Shuguang.

Any component running tubes can only be properly considered in the context of running top flight tubes in it, anything less cannot be considered a full accounting.

Coincident Statement linestage is perfect match for the Frankenstein's, certainly not tubey sounding, far more about transparency, resolution. But then it delivers on the things tubes, especially DHT does best, harmonic development, immediacy, micro dynamics, all the things that make it seem as if performers in room.

I have modified MkII version, I can only think of one pre I'd consider as contender or replacement, the Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature DHT.

The Coincident line seems so under appreciated IMO what with it's direct sales model. This pre would sell for far more with different business model, the power supply of Statement is simply massive for a pre and the build quality is beyond reproach.

Very interesting, didn't know there was a MkIII version! Israel also changed heater resistor values from .22uf to .33uf in latest versions of Statement. This change made to insure greater reliability, life from the few quality 101D tubes available today. Present production 101D tubes are somewhat fragile, this should help.

For those with Statement really only two present production 101D  top notch, those being Psvane WE and Linalai Elite Solid plate, the mesh plate version had some mid range glare in my setup. All other present production 101D not in same league with transparency, resolution. I may try NOS Western Electric at some point, one needs adapter for these, original 101 used four short equal size pins, new 101 longer pins and two larger diameter.

@charles1dad I was prepared to go route of NOS WE at point I was having issues with 101D reliability. I had experienced failures of recently purchased Psvane WE and Linlai Elite, one WE and one Elite failed at about 75 hours in Statement, and two DOA failures of each type purchased direct from Chinese sellers. One of my Linali Elite failures (75 hour failures) was Grant Fidelity purchase so easy warranty coverage.

 So, while Grant Fidelity purchase was warrantied, I received refund rather than replacement. One may ask why refund rather than replacement? This due to poor quality/excessive failures of Linlai Elite. I was told production has temporarily ceased while Linlai gets 101 quality under control, Rachel not selling these at the moment. Israel also mentioned to me poorer quality of Chinese 101D tubes since pandemic. This due directly to pandemic, or is it change in operations of both Psvane and Linlai since founders of Linlai left Psvane?

Anyway, thought I should mention my recent experiences with 101 tubes in this thread. I should also mention since I changed out heater resistors to .33uf 1/% tolerance not a single peep of noise from my Linlai's that were previously noisy with .22uf 5% tolerance resistors. Recall, newer production Statements all use .33uf, insuring durability of 101 reason for this change.

Charles, on side note, don't want to hijack thread,but I believe you've been using Duelund Cast PIO in some of your components to good effect. Recently went from Audyn True Copper Max and Miflex KPCU  to Duelund Cast tinned copper in custom build 300B's. Wow, Cast relegates all other audiophile film caps I've tried to distant second place!

In many other tube pre's changing out tubes may not have as great effect as 101 in Statement. Statement tube is analogous to power tube in amp, being only tube in circuit it has large effect on sound quality, especially the more transparent, resolving one's system is. With Statement I've easily heard the differences between MkI and II, addition of Amtrans rotary selector, Audio Note vs. Nichicon electrolytics, Takman carbon film vs metal oxide resistors, and Shuguang and Psvane stock tubes, Psvane WE, Linlai Elite Mesh and Solid plate tubes. Not to speak of power cords, fuses, power conditioners.