What's your tube pre doing?


This is a very special weekend for me. I have had the chance to listen to what I think is one of the best bang for the buck preamps out there. Let me start from the begining. I sent my current LS7 to a dealer friend of mine to have some paper in oil caps installed(jensen). While this is being done a friend of mine let me borrow his AE3 for the weekend. This unit has the oil in paper caps,kimber upgrade,etc. I also have a AI S120 amp that prior to the AE3 sounded ok with the LS7. Holy soundstage batman! This triode thing is what my amp really needed. How can something so small sound so great? Sweet spot-doesn't exist. Music is EVERYWHERE. The owner to whom this great pre belongs could not sit still. He walked around my listening room like he was on fire. As I write this I'm listening to Miles live around the world and I can tell you this cd NEVER sounded like this with the LS7. I'm not knocking AR but you AE3 owners know what I'm talking about. I should have my pre back on Mon and I will see what my caps do. But to be honest the AE3 is on my short list. Dennis Had if you read this I want to thank you for a very well designed piece of gear. And all for less than a grand! Wow I said enough- thanks for letting me preach. What's your pre doing?
south43

Showing 1 response by danner

I thought I would be selling my AE3 when I purchased a Tact RCS 2.0 with internal DAC and volume/pan control. I expected to go straight to my SET amp. Wrong - without the AE3 the sound took a giant step in the direction of SS sound. Put the AE3 back in the chain and I was back in SET heaven. (YMMV)