Heard? Conrad Johnson Premiere or Sonic Frontiers. I am afraid that was the last time I spent a lot of time really listening to preamps.
I have heard the Ayre and they are pretty excellent, as are the pass labs, but neither had enormous sense of scale in their imaging the best tubes can do.
What I'm very curious about now is PrimaLuna’s and do a little cap swapping. :) Unbeatable price and rather easy to roll coupling caps with.
Best,
Erik
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Cary SPL05 . Properly priced,stunning sonics. Even the SPL03 is stunning and can be tube rolled to make it sound just the way you like. I'm tube pre / ss power amp kinda guy. |
Thoress tube preamp is a top choice. |
Coincident Statement Preamp with the 102D tubes. |
I used to have a CAT Legend then a friend brought over his Ypsilon and I now own an Ypsilon. I recently heard an Ypsilon Silver which was better. Too bad it is out of my price range 70K. |
Even though I Voted #1 with my wallet for Spectral 30SV recently. #2 would be CAT heard at Axpona in April |
No preamp sound best to me. |
The Ayre K-1xe I just purchased. |
To directly answer the op.....
Disagree |
Again, I hear about Ypsilon apparently remarkable electronics. They now have a modest $25k hybrid integrated, going price could be somewhat lower. Greek know music, right? |
Since this since this thread has been resurected I will put in my 2 cents. Unlike the OP I have not heard that particular preamp but I have the Linear Tube Audio ZOTL Micro 2 and it is also a Berning design. This $1100 headphone amp is the best preamp I've ever used in my system. It blew away a 4K preamp I have. This is a no frills, not a lot to look at pre but under the hood it's something to behold. I bought this as a headphone amp and it was months later when just for kicks I tried the preamp function. There is a new highly regarded review in TAS on this one.
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All Spectral system with MIT cables and Avalon speakers. |
Great query-
until I can audition the Conrad Johnson ART3, I would say it is a toss up, for my ears, between the CJ Act2 Series2 pre-amp or ARC Ref5 SE. |
I am going to put the single best preamplifier I ever heard on sale. I am getting rid of my entire system due to a recent change in my financial situation. I love my system dearly. But I will miss my preamp the most.
This is a Melody P2688 preamp. Not many people has heard it. But whoever has, would probably agree that it is one of the best preamp you can buy without expending a LOT of money! |
It rarely gets mentioned but the messenger preamp is a contender. |
The Placette Passive Pre-Amp is pretty spectacular if you can live with a passive. It is the most transparent I have ever heard in my system. A good friend of mine also has one. I borrowed it from him and it ruined me for life. Immediately started looking for one. |
Rogue Audio Perseus for me and forever. |
Without a doubt H- Cat.
H-Cat is a new technology that
addresses distortion, it eliminates it.
Music takes on the most organic
natural quality, whereby the room is fild
with sound.
No longer does one need to sit between the speakers for full gratification.
The room is filed with sound a flood
light effect vs a spotlight effect.
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Bat Rex 2 followed by the ARC 40th Aniversary. |
Cary Audio Design SLP 03 for the money and SLP05 for all the money!!! |
