2. amps-preamps
  3. 194238-2029

What next for a Volti Lucera based system

Hi All,

I have about 150 hours on a new pair of Volti Lucera speakers 

This is a continuation of my transition to a lower power stereo system. My journey has been Magnepan 1.2, Magnepan 3.6, Thiel CS3.6, Theil CS5i, Tyler Acoustics MM5X, Zu Soul Six, Klipsch Forte iv; along with complementary powered amps for the various speakers 

 

My current Setup is as follows:

PS Audio PWT

Mojo Mystique EVO B4B DAC 

Don Sachs DS2 Preamp

Quicksilver Horn Monos, First Watt F6, First Watt F7, Don Sachs Kootenay 120

Volti Luceras 

 

I honestly liked the Klipsch Forte iv's and thought the First Watt F7 tamed most of the treble edge. The Volti Luceras are a big step up in refinement, bass, clarity, and soundstage. Having said that, the Luceras don't have quite the same "you are live presence" of the Fort iv's. I seem to prefer the First Watt F6 and Quicksilver Horn Monos best with the Luceras.

 

I am thinking that it might be time to upgrade my preamp. I am pursuing better soundstage meaning more depth and width outside of the speakers. I also am looking to maximize musicality and emotion. I am pretty sure that I value accuracy over warmth. My current setup provides sweetness if it is on the recording.

 

As I dig into reviews and blogs I am convincing myself to to stick with a tube preamp even though a Pass pre with separate power supply seems interesting. I am happy with single ended. No long cable runs.

 

I have heard Conrad Johnson preamps most notably a 17LS2, and a couple a of lower end Audio Research preamps over the years.

 

My most current research seems to be leading me to consider the following gear tied to a roughly $7,000 budget:

VAC (used Renaissance mk5)

ARC (used Ref 5, or a stretch to a Ref 6)

LTA (new Micro ZOTL level 3)

Modwright (used LS36.5)

BAT (used ?)

 

Please let me what you think and please share your share your reasoning as I am trying to learn about more expensive preamps.

thanks,

Dsper

dsper
dsper OP
664 posts
 

Thank you for all of your comments and feedback.

Speaker break-in and placement should remain my top priorities right now. Very good advice. You would think I would know better after all of these years.

My room is asymmetrical so my speakers always end up not mirroring one another. Having said that, Greg recommends starting with the speakers close to the back wall equidistant from the listening chair and angled to cross in front of the listening position...

I started there and had walked them out into the room about a foot and experimented with toe on. I am going to start over again and see what i might have missed. The initial recommendation seemed to produce the most bass.

Thanks all!

 

 

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,309 posts
 

I own the DS2 preamp and if you aren’t satisfied with your soundstage, look elsewhere. Speaker and listener placement would reap the best results here.

charles007100
5 posts
 

I have the XP-12, Sit-4 with the Volti Razz…nothing boring about the sound…dead quiet preamp compared to all the tube preamps I had in the past..leave it on and forget the preamp with the display off too..

I see Jon at Refined Audio has a used XP-12 preamp for $3800 on his site under used and demo..a great guy to work with, that’s where I buy all my Pass and First watt…

I love my Pass XP-12 with my system….I have the Forte IVs also at first I would hook them up to compare, good for about two song, then I would go back to the Razz to get that big smile on my face..took a lot of experimenting to get here..

 

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