Tubed Pre match with a Spectron Musician IIISE?

Hello Steve,

" I know Simon likes the BAT gear to with the Spectron and now I see (hear) why"

Indeed, for a long time, REX by BAT was my most favorite preamp.
However, now, I am trying to assist Jud Barber of Joule-Electra to build, that I believe, will be "the best" preamplifier in the world. He builds it in the memory of his late wife Marianne What Jud is trying to achieve is that you will not notice if preamp edgy or not, smooth, showing this or that - only that you will have emotional connection to the music.

When I first time heard the prototype (with pair of Spectron monoblocks) we placed Mozart Requiem and I am rather mature if not old, nor sentimental for sure, person - I felt the tears were coming from my eyes. So at first I was ashamed a bit by showing emotional side of me but later on I understood (again and again) that the true music is all about emotions - you simple do not notice if high are silky or not, if bass is fleshed out etc. What you should have is only feelings and being unable to stop listening to music. Familiar tracks, now grab you and don't let go.

To show this and yet be as much accurate in representation of real acoustic music is the true challenge for the audio designer (the same challenge I had when we moved from standard Musician III (when I joint the company) to Signature and later to Mk2) and its outside of the scope of this thread.

Thank you
Simon

FYI. I sent Joule an email (standard address from their website) asking about availability and pricing, etc. Simon responded. :) He works for/with Joule. He said it's being debuted at CES, as he mentioned already here. Just an FYI.
Ted

FYI -- The Marianne preamp is listed on their site now: http://www.joule-electra.com/ (follow products link), and a price around $10k was mentioned by Signature Sound on their blog (http://sigsound.blogspot.com/search/label/Joule-Electra). No doubt more to be revealed at CES.....

Enjoy The Music's pre-CES show report is saying it is $14,800:
"Joule Electra is introducing a new preamplifier, the Marianne Electra Memorial Preamplifier LA-300ME ($14,800). The LA-300ME incorporates all the features that have made the LA series of preamplifiers and is named in memoriam to the co-founder of Joule Electra, Marianne Electra Barber who passed away after a long illness in May a year ago. This new unit is a highly refined version of the LA-150, which incorporates exotic capacitors through out and signal wiring designed specifically for Joule Electra by David Elrod of Elrod Power Systems. The signal wiring combines a combination of six nines silver and copper in a unique transmission line configuration. The capacitors are a mix of V-Caps and Mundorf silver, gold and oil that represents the very best capacitors available to the high-end audio community. According to Joule Electra, "The bass line of the preamp has always been one of it's major assets, but now the bass is crisper and cleaner with improved dynamics and extension. The midrange, one of the outstanding features of the LA-150 is now wonderfully fleshed out with a highly organic nature that must be experienced to fully appreciate. The improvement in treble extension and clarity is immediately noticeable with silky highs possessing the gloss and crispness of the original performance."

I'll check it out Fri or Sat and report back whatever I can.
Ted

First review of Marianne Electra Preamp is already here, courtesy of Isanchez:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?rprea&1231441747&read&3&4&

I agree fully - the best preamp I ever auditioned too!

All The Best
Rafael