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Esoteric C03 preamp or Mark Levinson 326S preamp- ANY and ALL FEEDBACK / HELP PLEASE

Esoteric C03 preamp or Mark Levinson 326S preamp 

ANY FEEDBACK - THOUGHTS - IDEAS would be so appreciated.

I am in the middle of total system re-fit and have made many changes - I am sure too many but I am quite happy now and now have my preamp choice down to these 2-preamps.

Can you guys provide any feedback about either of these. I like to hear from you guys. I read all the reviews on both and those are all well and good but I always get the real ho-down low-down from you guys - good or bad.

                                                ** Back Ground info**

** Room is 
14 x 24 w/Cathedral Ceilings - 16 Foot a peak

** Music likes:
Assorted Music no metal or loud hard rock anymore really - not much Large Scale classical either but everything else.

** Likes / Priority: 
Transparency - Delicate - Linear - High resolution - microscope but not sterile not etched or lifeless - I know there is a fine Line here but I'm looking to walk the line as close as I can - real see through into the music - transparent to the source because I love my DAC - extended and to remove as many layers without being clinical - image and sound stage lover - tight bass - hate flab - like speed and transparency but needs to be musical. 

** Perspetive
Just had a BAT VK32SE brand new tubes / certified pre-owned, mint same as new preamp. Wrong match. Just looking to go total other way. Not what I am looking for.

** More Perspective - I have been running my Bricasti Direct M1SE to my Pass Labs X350.5 amps and really starting to love it. I want to expand on this sound a bit. Little more depth, width of stage, bass, dynamics but don't want to add veils or give up a lot in transparency - I know I will give up some vs direct in doing so. That is why I am looking for the very best SS preamp I can get in my range and have come up with these two choices and wanted to know your thoughts. 

System: 
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5160

Magico S5 Loud Speakers

Bricasti M1 Special Edition DSD DAC 

Pass Labs X350.5 Balanced Stereo Amplifier 

PS Audio P10 Power Plant Regenerator 

Kubala-Sosna Emotion 2.5M Speaker Cables 

Assorted IC's Balanced and Single ended.

Digital PC based front end that I have been tweaking and evolving:

Transport: microRendu 1.4 and Full Suite of UpTone Audio Premium Power Supplies (2)x LPS-1 and (1) JS2 LPS - (2) Regens - the new ISO and an Amber and all powered with premium/custom Canare / Oyide DC cables for all power supplies plus the great Tellurium Q Black Diamond Reference USB cable and a Curious Regen Link USB Cable.   

Really appreciate any help you can provide on these 2-preamps. If you would like more info please let me know - all comments and feedback are most welcome and deeply appreciated :)


Thanks guys/gals 

Fsmithjack 



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caphill
666 posts
 
Go for the ARC Ref 10 linestage preamp. It will probably have better synergy with your Pass amp and Magico S3.

I had this ARC Ref 10 linestage pre paired with 2 pairs of D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps driving the Wilson Audio Alexx before in my setup and was wonderful overall.
But I have since changed and upgraded my setup and system altogether.

I highly recommend the ARC Ref 10 linestage pre. PSU is in separate compartment. Outstanding linestage pre and I think it will pair well with the rest of your equipments. Better than the Simaudio Evolution P8 preamp IMO.

However. I'm still using the ARC Ref 10 phonostage pre for my Kronos Pro turntable. One of my favorite phonostsge pre for my Kronos Pro turntable. 
fsmithjack's avatar
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
Soundsrealaudio 
Have you ever heard the S5 MKII?
In my opinion they are amazing - expensive and heavy but an absolute amazing speaker - just need to save my pennies. 

Sold my Pass LabsX350.5 amp and bought a new pair of GamuT M250i mono blocks. The dealer top me they are the only unsold pair in the US. They don’t ship many over but I’m pretty excited. I find GamuT much like Pass but quicker and more transparent and dynamic with more air and space but warm and rich as well. Can’t wait! 
phillyb's avatar
phillyb
395 posts
 
The Mark Levinson is a very natural sounding preamp with Ultra-low noise and in fact, any power conditioner messes the sound up. Not hi-fi'ish and in your face, but once you listen for a while it sounds like how real music sounds, forceful when called on, bass and its dynamics the same. Once you get what it's doing it is hard to listen to in your face preamps while sounding flashy at 1sy wears thin as time goes on.

The 326S is a masterpiece when 2 channel audio was still king and the preamp was so important for 2 channel sound. The late '80s and '90s were the golden eras of 2 channels and companies really focused on getting the best out of it. Still, be class "A" today. 
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
Yup I ended up buying and owning both. Not sure which one I preferred. I liked the Simaudio P8 better then both. Now using Ypsilon Phaethon Integrated which I’ll never switch. Well shouldn’t say never but highly doubt it as I have never no found other component by anyone I know of that nails just enough tube love with solid state precision and slam. 
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