thanks for the fast replies. To clarify Ejlif's point, I am interested in tube preamps, but added the Ayre V-1x (which i know is SS) to that mix because it has some tube like qualities, and would presumably mate up well with the Ayre amp.
I think I'll bring home a few of these and let my ears be the judge. Unfortunately, no Lamm dealers locally. |
wait a second - to quote my old friend, Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" As the person who initiated the thread, I appreciate there are many opinions on gear, and that opinions clash frequently. I was interested in hearing what others had expereinced with the preamps I was/am considering. I did not throw out the Lamm b/c one guy did not like it, not did I go out and mmediately buy a BAT, Rowland or Audio Note pre b/c others loved them. This is a hobby boys, please treat it as such.
OK, enough of that s#&t. I'm auditioning an ARC LS25 MKII and Ayre K-1x (and hopefully a BAT 51SE) this weekend, and will report back.
SPEAKERDUDE, dont go away permanently..... |
Im listening to an ARC LS25 MK II - I LOVE IT! I finally understand what all the fuss (tubes) is about: micro dynamics, notes that have a beginning, a middle and an end, the sweet, resonant tones within Lucinda Wiliams' voice. Yes!
I definitely could live with this. I'll listen to this thing a few days - then onto the BAT 31SE (I think the 51 is a bit out of my $ range). |
upon further review, this quest is far from over. Now that Ive had a nice taste for what a good tube preamp would do in my stystem, its now time to check out a few GREAT tube preamps: VTL-7.5, VAC Renaissance, Atma-Sphere MP1, and the Audio Research Ref II. Lam L2 also an option, though I want a pre with balanced in and out, and the L2 only has balanced out....
Oh yeah, I also updated the speakers: gone are the Dynaudio Contour 3.0's, in are the Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage (well sort of, they are in transit)
more to come. |
Thanks for the additional recommendations - there are a TON of good preamps out there - all you need is money. I had read great things abou the First Sound gear, and was considering it, but I have two requirements it (and a few others like CJ, Hovland, LAMM) does not meet 1) XLR in/out 2) remote.
Im also considering the VAC Renaissance II. we'll see. I'm convinced that some of the fun in this hobby is the chase - you know repressed hunting instincts.... |
Rayhall-
I full appreciate that the First Sound might be as good or better than some of the other preamps on my list, but my source (Levinson 390S) and amp (Ayre V-5x) both perform *much* better when run in full balanced mode. This is a simple fact, so conceptually its hard to look at preamps that put both the thing feeding it and the thing it feeds at relative disadvantage.....
Im still learing about this stuff, and my gear is in flux as of late, so tell me, do you think Im being unecessarily limiting in my approach? |
thanks again, Rayhall. I concur and would agree with your philophy of listening to as much gear as possible, it's just not always practical. I do have local BAT, Atma-Sphere, VTL, Audio Research, and Ayre dealers, and they do allow for take-home auditions, but I feel unethical doing this knowing there is no way I'd pay anywhere close to retail new on any of these items given the HUGE used market out there......
As for synergy, The V1 is actually the higher powered version of the V5. the V1x and V5x are upgrades to the original V1/V5 products, much as the K1x is an upgrade to the K1. If what you heard was the non-x version of that set-up, you'd be suprised how much better the 'x' version sounded (better bass, wider soundstage, more dynamic).
I'm all hell-bent on a tubed preamp mostly because I audiotined a mid-level tubed preamp (AR LS25 MK2)and loved what it did for the sound. Following that logic, I thought - what about even better preamps, which leaves me where I am.
Funny thing about the FS gear, I have a LOCAL guy selling a Paramount for $4K, which by all accounts sounds like a crazy steal. I almost bought it on reputation, but then I had a (fortunately brief) financial scare a month ago and backed out of the deal. anyway, all's clear on the $ front, but Im resistting the single ended, non-remote option. I guess I could buy and try, with the intent to resell if things are not to my liking. at these prices, it shouldn't be that hard to resell at close to purchase price..... |
Update: after some listening, I decided to go with the Ayre K-1xe. Overall imaging and transparency champ, with some admirable tube-like qualities, yet no tube hassles. Obviously mates well with the Ayre Amp, and the combo of Ayre and Sonus Faber (i got the Guarneri Homage - an unbeleivable speaker) sound GREAT. Down the line I may add a sub, for for now, Im in audio nirvana.
Having done SS w/ the Ayre, I must say I also loved the tubed gear i auditioned. I just got a good deal on the Ayre, and this timeless piece will always be resellable in the future, should I decide to go nuts again. to review the recent wholesale changes to the system:
The "Old" System:
Amp: McCormack DNA-1
Source: Levinson 390S
preamp: NONE, I Used the 390S direct into the DNA
Speakers: Dynaudio Contour 3.0
Cables: Audince AU24 speaker, Cardas Golden Cross IC
New System:
Amp: Ayre V-5x
Source: Levinson 390S (i kept it)
Preamp: Ayre K-1xe
Speakers: Sonus Faber Guarneri's
Cables: Cardas Golden Reference all around.
Other: PS AUDIO P300 Power plant on the source and pre
THANKS GAIN for all the helpful opinions and advice. This is a very enjoyable forum to have for all us audio nuts.
Art |
Hey Kurt, i have yet to use the preamp WITHOUT the P300, but i will try it. I think this is a little different than a conditioner (which I know Ayre poo poo's), it's a power regererator. It just makes grade A current (vs filtering or modifying it), and I will say it made a big difference w/ the Levinson CDP. Il l try it and see what happens straight into the wall....
One last thing. Look into the "evolution" upgrade for this preamp, it runs $500, and accrording to the AYre people its a HUGE diffference. I will be doing it in a month or two, once I recover financially from all this spending! |
WHOA - what was I thinking, the Ayre preamp sounds much better running directly into the wall (vs into the P300 multiwave). More dyamic, richer, though perhaps a little noisier. I'll take it! |
Kurttank - Please tell us all how you like your dedicated power line. |
ok, so not that anybody here cares what I'm doign with the system, but today I joined the 'dark side' - I replaced my beloved Ayre V-5x with an audio research VT100 MK III. Lovely sparkle added to the system, albeit with slightly less resolution that the Ayre. The tubed amp mates very nicely with thew SF Guarneri Homage and the Ayre K-1xe preamp! |
Not that anybody cares what the "big reviewers" do, but Michael Fremer of stereophile, a devout tube nut, uses the Ayre K-1x as his reference preamp. Most people like having tubed preamps to drive their ss amps, but if you can afford the power, or dont need as much of it, a tubed amp does very nicely. In your case, I think there are plenty of high powered tubed amps worth considereing. VTL, Audio Research and Manlley Labs come to mind. At a more ridiculous price point, the Lamm hybrids would definitely meet your power needs as well.
I would not try to send you into another buying frenzy, but you owe it to your self to at least AUDITION a tubed amp (maybe an Audio Research VT200), or VTL monos - just to see how where the other half is coming from. I may end up with other gear in the future, but as of now, there will be tubes in some form or another.
Remind me what amp you're using now with the Revel's, and what kind of music you're into these days....
|
A funny (yet predictable) thing happened when my wife found out how much I paid for that ARC VT100 (new)...... 1) I had some splainin' to do, 2) i slept on the couch, 3) I returned to that dealer, tail between my legs and apologetically asked for my money back :(
Oh, well i loved the combination so i will eventually own SOME tube amp to go with the K-1x! Maybve after I sell the V-5x. |
More trading of gear - things moving very much into tubes. I sold both the Ayre V-5x and K-1x.
My new amp is a Berning ZH270, which is simply astounding! It is by far the best thing I have every heard in my system. I've also upgraded cables to Valhalla biwired and RCA's. On the preamp end, I ended up getting a First Sound Presence Deluxe which will be arriving in the next 2 weeks. So really, only the digital source (Levinson 390S) and spkrs remain (Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage + Rel Sub). I will say to SF owners - they LOVE the Berning amp! |
