Wyetech Labs Ruby Std preamp - any views?

Yes, that's where I became aware of it. Just interested in actual user comments. Currently running a 2006 vintage Hovland HP200 pre with NOS Telefunken tubes that I love, but my curiosity is a little piqued by this component, and the price is in the right ball park. The company seem to be v. proud of a proprietary circuit design they claim makes the Ruby Std the fastest tube preamp on the market

Thanx F1a. I've just stepped up to SET monoblocks (Audion Black Shadows) that I'm really happy with. These are coming off my current pre, tube Hovland Hp-200 w. NOS 50's Telefunken valves.
I'd say my current sound is pretty transparent and dynamic, but a change of preamp might be interesting, hence the enquiry.
Do you know much about this proprietary circuit that Roger says makes the Ruby Std the fastest tube preamp out there? Can you describe in a little more detail it's flavour, maybe wrt certain albums/tracks?
Thanx in advance.

Pavpet, can you describe in a bit more detail the difference btwn the Hovland HP200 and Ruby Std?

Hi Pav. I'm surprised you felt the Hovland was prone to fatigue. It has shortcomings, but I wouldn't have accused it of that (neither did any reviews. YMMV, I guess), over the 7-8 years I've owned it.
I guess the Ruby would be an improvement if it's not guilty of this.

F1a, you state the Ruby is transparent, but on the warm side of neutral. I've actually found v.few components to be warm AND neutral, often these conflict, can you describe the sound a little further to illustrate how it pulls off what can be conflicting qualities?

F1a,that sounds like the ideal balance of attributes. I'm actually pretty happy with my Hovland HP200 tube pre, but with a change in the balance of my system with 8kVA balanced power and grounding changes, there may be a bit of accusation of leaness to be made against the Hov.
So, no rush to audition the Ruby, and it's fairly difficult with me being in the UK and no dealer network, but it'll happen. And fortunately it's in the "sweet spot" of sub $10k that I'm happy to pay.

Interesting Charles. Are you at all familiar with the Hovland HP200, my current pre? I think it does tick the right boxes, providing a good balance btwn natural tone/warmth, and so called transparency/accuracy.
My move to SETs has been really instructive, and the synergy btwn tonally full Audion Black Shadows and my full range driver/xoverless Zu Definitions 4 which major on density of tone has been fantastic. Feel I'm getting warmth AND transparency. Enhanced by a stabilising in the soundstage via Entreq grounding, and an opening of the whole bass foundation of the music with Westwick 8kVA balanced power.
I was actually not looking at changing pre amp since nothing interesting has entered my view, but was intrigued to read about the Wyetech Ruby Std, and it's fans' view that it has the perfect balance of tonal virtues with no so called transparency deficit.
I don't want to return to the days a few years ago where the choice was between warm, fat and congested (BAT phono amp that I bought) to counterbalance my Lyra Skala cart (neutral, thin and screechy). This is my fear in the warm v transparent argument, even though in most cases since, I seem to have a good balance.

Sure Charles. That's why I was so surprised to hear Pavpet dismiss it so comprehensively. I may take a punt on a home trial. But the Hov pushes so many of the right buttons for me, this is not the priority it might have been in the past.
What do you consider Wyetech labs pedigree to be? Bob Hovland is surely up there too.

Don't I know it. 8 years on since I bought my Hovland HP200 tube pre and Radia SS power amp, it still rankles with me that this fantastic company, with brilliantly engineered products, and a design aesthetic years ahead of the competition, went to the wall.
I won't let you on fully to the details of which I know plenty, but the pressure for disproportionately higher markups of European distributors wrt US ones really did it for the company.
Once you have to keep raising prices to satisfy middlemen margins, your market will shrink. And magnified by the hugher prices needing to be charged to produce the high quality of their hand built products.
No wonder Wyetech labs go for direct sales model.
Eight years on, I haven't found a pre to displace the HP200 (the Ruby Std may be v.interesting), and my Radia is still in use, as my rear spkrs AV duty, while SET monoblocks have taken over music duties.
What I'm even more amazed by is that Hovland seem to be one of the few, if maybe only, high end companies with a 5 star reputation, that went to the wall. If Hovland died, how come eg BAT, Ayre etc managed to survive?

+1. Love my Hovland, but interested in your impressions.

Pavpet, your comments are interesting, but a little too brief for me to get a clear picture. Can you set aside a fuller description as to how the Ruby Std beats the Hovland HP200. Esp in terms of transparency/soundstage, bass extension, treble air, rhythm and timing.
A big practical issue is that here in the UK, it's going to be really difficult setting up a trial.