What's after Supratek

Maybe a sot in the dark, but I have heard nothing but silly praie for the VTL 7.5 Ref, which used is still probably a but higher than $5K.. Hmmm, you have a damn nice preamp already...

This thread has been interesting and lead to some reflection on my part. We all have our STRONG biases, based on our own personal financial and emotional investements in this hobby - others because they know the designer, sell competitors or whatever. What one guy trades "out of" - another considers a trade "up to."

For example, I have owned excellent preamps from Ayre (K-1x), then moved on to tubes. I only heard maybe three different pres in my system before making a purchase decision (in my case a First Sound Presence Deluxe MK II), which I really love. As others, I used press reviews and traded emails with people WHO OWNED THEM before ordering a brand new one, unheard (maybe a little risky)

It's natural for me to spread the word on this excellent product. I have posted as much on several threads, and then it occurred to me, would someone think I'm a shill? I do try to temper my enthusiasm by constantly adding other well-established preamps to my list of "you should try the..." recommendations: VTL, CAT, Aesthetix, Supratek and so on. Still, we are inherently biased by our expereiecnes, there's no getting around it.

Similarly, Rackon has posted in other places that he preferred his beloved Herron over the FS (granted he admits its was an older version, and does not mention the tube set), and over a Joule Electra LA100. Of course he's biased, and he has a right to be, it's his expereience and opinion. OTOH, if we were to find out that he sells these (or that I sell First Sound), then it throws all this into another, more negative light.....

Here's how I sift through this stuff: get a critical mass of REAL customer testimonials here (i.e., find the "cult" products) and give them a listen. Real buzz, real word of mouth is sustainable and will lead to long lines of people to buy your product (e.g., Berning amps, First Sound and Supratek preamps). Hyped up products which do not really make the grade are thrown on the trash heap in a matter of months, and you will see them sold here in droves. Time and track record do matter.

Ok, done philosophizing here. pardon my soap box display! (Also, Rackon, i didnt mean to single you out, just an illustrative example)

rackon, i hope you didnt think i was laying into you for not liking the FS - far from it, I was following up on the "shilling" and"salehacking"; discussion what was on-going here, commenting on how we all have our *system and taste dependent* expeiences which lead to bias, but that that bias is the normal/healthy one we can all learn from - which is starkly contrasted to the bias from people who sell a particular item or have some other vested interest in sharing their opinions.

If anything, I wish I had auditioned a Herron for all the reasons you state! Maybe I'll hear one in the future.

Finally, excuse me for referring to you as he. We need more die-hard female audiophiles.