I thought a lot about posting this one here. We are so used to positive, glowing reviewes of audio equipment, that it sometimes feels odd to think of a truly critical one.
I've owned 2 srp by now- the first one had an annoying tendency to shut itself off, so it was replaced. The second one had no technical problems. I think, that this qualifies as a higher than avarage experience with this particular preamp.
This preamp is a visually impressive, full featured device and was a great bang for the little sum of money I've paid for it. At least at first, the soundstage is impressive and dramatic. In addition, Sunfires customer service was more then OK.
So much for compliments....However, SRP preamps have a very noticeable high frequency roll off, and severe image smearing, to the point where it was hard to locate each instrument. That defnintly wasn't a speaker placement issue.
The SRP was so dominant in the overall sound of the system, to the point where I felt there replacing any other element wouldn't make much of a difference...and that's a problem.
It really felt as if the SRP was an unsuccessful SS go at tube sound..
After several months, I tried to sell my mint SRP in Audiogon, succeeded, but just couldn't do it to a fellow audiogoner....cancelled the deal and traded it for something else (older and MUCH better) at a vintage audio shop.
Compared to the classic tube preamp, the SRP was quickly withdrawan from the market. Maybe it is associated with some of my impressions here
