Upgrading pre amp advice.
I am thinking about upgrading my pre amp (Bryston BP 25) for a pre amp which is also neutral but more musical/fluid and even more reveaIing. Also I want more 'depth' and better placing of instruments and voices. It's always hard to describe in words ; )
At the moment I have a dual mono (dual power supply) Nilai power amp, a Metrum Onyx ladder/NOS Dac (with the latest DAC3 modules) fed by an Auralic G1 streamer (upgraded with Hoerwege PSU) using semi open baffle Qualio IQ speakers.
Budget would be around 2000 Euros / 2350 US dollars.
When possible xlr (balanced) in and outputs.
I am listening to very different styles of music (Classical music, Rock, Jazz, Blues, World Music, etcetera)
@vip428 : thx for your exhaustive answer. I take it from you that the BAT amp is the best for you, but which of the brands you owned came the closest to the sound? Pass Labs, Bryston, Conrad Johnson, Accuphase, Yamaha, Audio Research, Benchmark, Krell? By the way I did a search on BAT pre amps and found this one : some found BAT rather dry and suggested 'warmer' combination??? |
Has anyone considered an Audible Illusions tube preamp? Tons of inputs, seperate power supply and dynamic as any preamp I’ve heard. I have gone through a few preamp myself, Aufio Research and other well known names but the Audible Illusions remains in my system to this day. |
Quite the contrary. The Upgraded BAT preamp is far from dry. It is just musical and effortless. All the instrument just flow with pace, rhythm, texture, timbral accuracy that I just have not found elsewhere. The Pass Labs XO.2 was very neutral as well but it was a little veiled as if a sheer chiffon curtain was placed in front of it. The Boulder was slightly on the analytical side and was definitely more towards what you term "Dry". Typically a tube based preamp mated with a Solid state amp gave the most appealingly accurate and musical combination. The while the solid state preamps I have owned mated very well with the SET amps that I have owned, like the Wavac 833 and NAT Magma New to name 2. Like I said synergy of the system is important. At your price point and value for the dollar an VCap ODAM upgraded vk32se or vk51se would definitely be in your wheelhouse. Remember that the most important person to listen to is "You" and your own ears. I am just giving you insight into what I have had and what has sounded best to me. Steve Bednarski of BAT came to visit and spent 5hours listening. Here are his words: "your system has the best bass I have heard - and the balance of the sound is way up there as well" Having owned the Benchmark amp/preamp after reading all the hype about its great measured performance, I immediately found the sound engaging but after an hour fatigue set in. It was very analytical and lacked the texture a flow that I am now look for. The Benchmark amp sounded better with the stock BAT Vk32se I had as a backup at the time than with the Benchmark preamp in my system. Just like the Benchmark pre did better with the Stock BAT vk55se monos I had at the time. here is a list of all the amps I have personally owned. I have also audtioned many many more. My list of Speakers and preamps is also long just so you get an idea. My Amps My Amps Adcom GFA 555 Amps that I have owned! I know you currently seek a preamp, I just have not compiled a list yet. I am sure I missed a couple. Just trying to help with your decision. |
Here is a link for a VK52se with Gen3 boards for $3500 US. You never know what he would take as an offer.The Gen3 board alone is a $1200 ad. Those are 8 Dueland Caps. The upgraded the six packs with Oil caps don't know which but you could still do VCap Odams later! https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650276796-bat-vk52se-preamp-upgraded/ |
