A difference between First Sound Presence products

Hi Lrsky I know exactly what you speak of, the preamp has a very serious musical ability with a shocking soundstage. I have an nos tube that competes with Emmanuels favorite tube the siemens gold pin. It is the philips 8223/e288cc special quality gold pin tube, it images out of this world in that preamp. When I sold my preamp{ i bought a wadia 15i}it had the same set of tubes in it. The new owner felt that this tube was definitely better than the stock that came with it. When I put this tube in my jaw nearly fell off with size of the soundstage and the pin point imaging. This tube is very neutral in its sound and has a lot of air around things. Well good listening and e-mail if you are interested Dennis

Wow. Thank you for one of the best, non-press related descriptions of the First Sound Presence. It is very hard to find reviews of Emmanuel's products anywhere, except the one glowing Soundstage review of 2 years ago. It seems to be that First Sound products can best those of more known or publicized manufactures (Lamm, or even CAT.) As I have suspected, it will soon enough so that I will be able to save enough for a FS, either upgrade or new. No need to settle for lesser gear and be disappointed.

PAUL

Well, the promised response. This preamp is the real deal. It is a system altering event! Detailed with , micro, macro dynamics, textures and timbres are right on target. That old story about getting out new cd's to hear them for the first time...but its true.
The soundstage is as deep as the Pacific Ocean, with amazing clarity. I have to tell one favorite story.
I personally love some of the old Capitol Recordings from the late '50's and early '60s, you know, the era, when then engineers hadn't discovered all the "knobs" on the control panel.
Dean Martin's Capitol Years, Disc one cut 13, he is singing live in L. A I think, (even though Vegas was is second home then.) The piano, was still far behind him, to his right, but now it has its own exciting personality; it sounds like an older piano, with the middle keys out of tune slightly. The orchestra, as part of Dean's schtick, comes in FFFF, when F is expected, (that's forte, times four) so incredibly disproportionaltely loud. The trumpets are loud, but (much louder than before) but not harsh or blaring, they hold together harmonically. Joey Bishop's laugh is five feet beyond my right speaker, and ten feet back. THIS PREAMP IS NEUTRAL, NATURAL. Voices aren't artificially large to give it more excitement or a sense of smoothness, they are proportionate to scale. This pre, sounds like the world's best pass through, with invisible interconnects, but is not limited dynamically like the Passives are. Quite the contrary it is a dynamic monster.
One other thing. My VS 4HSE's go flat to below 20 hz, my current room, is alcoved behind the speakers, causing a bass bump. Beyond that every other piece of electronics, sounded, uhhh, blumpy. One note ish.(Ogden Nash look out, I'm gaining on you). This pre takes that single note and makes it full register with full textures. Wonderfully tonal bass, and frankly the best I have heard.
Years ago, I sold CJ, Premier 3's with Eagle 2A Amps, (where is John Ivorson??) with great success, and while disproportionate, seemingly, a 595. amp with a 3K Preamp, but it was great. My feeling here is, that an inexpensive Rotel or like amp, with this pre, could be "MAGIC", it's that good. So if you want a great, GREAT preamp, run to Emmanuel Go and order one. Oh, by the way, the sound stage is blacker than Indian ink. Marvelous, in every way. Plus I haven't even tried better tubes, which is supposed to make it better. That, folks is hard to imagine.
Thanks, if you held in there and read all.
Larry R. Staples

Close now. I spoke to Emmanuel last Friday, and he is supposed to ship. Tuesday? I hope.
FYI, I am using the VSA 4's HSE, newest version, and Kimber Select Interconnects Middle Grade (Select) 1020's and Speaker Cables, Copper Foil, with Teflon coating, (similar to Silversmith) but with mono crystal (single crystal) copper. Belles 21A pre, Belles 250 wpc 400 4ohms, which the speakers are.
This is gear I never thought I would own. The Belles is mighty good for the money, and has almost no personality that I can readily detect. The speakers need a little more Dacron in the bass towers, but, I can listen around certain system flaws, and give a full blown characterization of the FS Preamp. I am jazzed about getting it.
If you don't hear from me in three or four days, please remind me. I have a short term memory thing that causes me to lose recent info. (no, not Memento the movie). HA!
Larry

Lrsky,
Please do a follow up on your early experience with the Deluxe MK2 when you can. Info from product owners is scarce. I too have spoken to Mr. Go about his product line. My first introduction to tubes included this preamp in the system. Since that day, I have not heard a deeper and more detailed soundstage. So I am still interested in their products. The only thing I'm concerned with is the fact that they are single ended only and I have gotten used to balanced connections. Ayway, let us know.

Larry, I would appreciate the follow up, if it is convenient to you.

PAUL

I am getting the First Sound Deluxe in this week, or early next week. I will be happy to report of its sound versus several others I have tried if you like.
As the other post indicated, Emmanuel is tops, and unabashedly says his is the best. Also, a manufacturer of Loudspeakers, told me recently, that the First Sound, makes many well respected preamps sound almost 'broken', his word, by comparison.
Let me know if you would like a follow up.
Larry

I upgraded my linestage 1 to a mk11 and the difference was huge both in resolution and dynamics. I think you are better off selling a used preamp and buying a used mk11 since there is a big change between them. Please talk to the source himself(Emmanuel is one of the nicest people that I have delt with). I hope this helps you in your decision, I know that the Presencse competes with the very best out there and has a truth of timber that is uncanny. Take care Dennis