Rowland preamps??????

Thanks for your feedback, all. I checked out your thread from last year on the Capri vs. the Ref3. Sounds like th Capri outperforms most of the older JRDG preamps. I took some notes while shopping over the past week, and there was a Capri for sale. It must've sold cause I can't find it.....go figure:))

I owned an LS-2mkii a long time ago, and was very happy with it also, Guido. They went for around $850.00 back then. Hrd to believe this old tech is actually going up in value. I understand the LS-5 is also a tremendous pre, but the one on A'gon is listed for $2300.00!! These are almost 20 year old designs!?

I guess I'll just keep my eyes open. I got very excited about the Capri. The BAT "house" sound has always seemed like something to suit my tastes....liquid, lush, and dynamic. Perhaps a VK-31se if I could find one in my price range. There's a VK3ix-se listed, but ZI can't find much info on it. Does anyone know if this was well recieved in the press? Has anyone heard it?

Trank, VK52SE is the only BAT linestage I am familiar with. It sounded to me on the more classic side of tube sound, with bass extension that was warmer and a little less defined than Ref 3, and with treble that would get stressed on orchestral fff. Yet, an incredibly captivating sound in its own right. . . it is really a matter of what one prefers. . .'Romantic' or 'neutral'. . . there is no right nor wrong. My preference is for neutrality with 'heart', hence my happiness with Capri. You are right about Capris having disappeared on Agon. . . or almost. . . there is one being offered in combination with 201 monos. . perhaps you can persuade the seller to let go of Capri alone. . . but I am positive that within a couple of weeks you will see a Capri or 2 for sale once again. Guido

Thanks again, Guido. I appreciate your insight. And thanks for the heads-up on the Rowland ad. Maybe that guy will sell the Capri separately.

Fwiw-- I am the guy listing the LS-5 for nearly 2300 dollars. That's because about a year ago I paid about 2450.00 for it! That's what they go for-- or at least did. I figure 2250 then aint half bad as i have seen them for 2300 and 2400 in the past year or so (mine was 2600 but I bargained with the guy a bit).
Just for your comment though I will lower the price to say, 2195.00 and set a new precedent on audiogon. BTW-- it is a SUPER pre-- I preferred it by far to the LS-17 I owned which for me, was too clinical and sterile. It was essentially a 'pretty good' solid-state pre -- but it happens to have a tube or two in it.
There is NO TUBE in the sound. You might say 'good'- but I say-- then what the heck am I buying a tube pre for? Might as well buy a Bryston and be done with it. Measures perfectly dont ya know!
The LS-5 Mk. 3 adds a touch of tube warmth without sacrificing the detail - it doesnt get all old-school-conrad-johnson on ya. The Mk. 2 is a bit tubier (and maybe somewhat cheaper on audiogon used) but that might have been too much for me to deal with as I only like a touch of golden glow in my music- not a huge helping.

Between the Coherence One and later Coherence Two I do not have information on a head to head comparison. I can though totaly recommend the Coherence One. Find it and buy it, if I don't get to it first.