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David Berning preamp..looking for suggestions

I am on a look out for a good tube preamp with preferably a reference grade phono stage inbuilt. I am moving from a tube amplification to solid state amplification primarily to feed my Tannoy Prestige with all the power it needs. In the process I dont want to end up in an all SS system which will be too much of a deviation. So I would love to have at least a tube preamp and if possible a tube phono too. I know it may ultimately involve using a SUT but I can take that much of a compromise (if at all). 

I am considering the Berning ZOTL-One preamp with in-built phono stage. There are many reviews of his power amp but not much about his preamp. Has anyone heard his preamp, any impressions (even second hand) would be very helpful.
pani

Showing 3 responses by geoch

geoch's avatar
geoch
354 posts
 
Dear Pani
If its not too late for your purchase, give a chance to :
Audion silver night (300B push-pull 24w)
Side by side is way better than the amp you mention and miles ahead than Cary 845 anv. 
Speakers under test was Tannoy GRF
Proceed to change all the signal caps with Russian PIO (K-40Y)
and ask for review the Physic Harmonic speaker cables. (Andreas Pollakis Facebook)

PS: Way better with no preamp at all, as Audion have a carbon pot as attenuator.
You only need a selector for the source of choice.
Be aware that tube preamps tend to steal transparency from the big Tannoy woofers.
Valve phono is a very tough question. 
Regards

geoch's avatar
geoch
354 posts
 
A fellow using the Westminster has substitute the Audio Note P4 (16w PSE) for a 50w FET single ended and one other change the Cary 805 ANV in favor of Audion silver night (24W PP).

 While both of them want to have a SET, It seems their Tannoys  have different taste.
I was present on the auditions and it was very clear that SET were too much over emphasize bodies against speed, delicacy and fine details.
So what if ...  you have too choose between SET & Tannoys? 

Mind you I'm a dedicated SET person and when I've had to choose, 25 years back, I sold the huge Goldmund mono blocks for the humble Border Patrol. I've had the Proac Response 5 which were barely OK for a 10w SET, so from these days till now I practice the tailoring to build an acceptable speaker.

I wish you to overcome the restrictions and enjoy the trip.
Regards

geoch's avatar
geoch
354 posts
 
Harmonic Audio Labs SE100 by Kostas Kourkounis.
See : 15 Feb 2014 Monthly Meeting ACA at Christos Simopoulos.
You can see the first order version before final production (the big black chassis at the lower shelf).
I can't find any recent activity of this company, (anyway my point is about Tannoy/SET matching) but if you want I can ask and tell you.

The other system with GRF owned by another member of aca.gr,  my  friend Manos Kontos.
Aca's director hasn't updated his page yet, but Manos has past the Cary 845 ANV after many years of darkness, in favor of Audion Silver Night. I was present in the progress which involves countless cables and signal caps under test but the most audible difference for the better was the passive preamp. - a simple carbon pot. attenuator - (actually we've tested over 20 brands).

Good Luck




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