AricAudio's new Jackpot 5751 tube-rectified truly balanced preamplifier
AricAudio has just come out with its brand new preamplifier design called the Jackpot. It only uses one 5751, you can roll any version of 12AU7s, 12aX7s, or 12AT7s, as the signal tube and one 12AU7 as a buffer tube. It is tube rectified and is truly balanced from input to output, and it sells for $5600. I put the Jackpot on the 2025 "Most Wanted Components" list for Stereo Times and bought the review demo. It is a phenomenal musical line-stage and a tube rollers delight. Because you do not have to have a matched pair of signal tubes, it uses both plates of one, and there is only one buffer tube you can experiment with many different combinations to get exactly what sonic signature you want to match your personal taste. I finally ended up with using a NOS Mazda 1950’s silver plate triple mica (signal tube) and a NOS Bugle Boy 1950’s long plate (buffer tube) to get exactly what I wanted in my system! Last year I reviewed two other great preamplifiers that were at least double the price, but the Jackpot was at least their equal and exceeded them in purity of tonality and spatial qualities. My full review will come out in the next couple of months. You can go to AricAudio’s website for more details.
Not quite as fast as a Tesla Plaid, but that is pretty quick. @aricaudio Are you able to elaborate about your decision to use the 12au7 over the 6sn7, 6sl7 or other options for this new Jackpot pre? |
@mclinnguy I already have several preamps that can use the 6SN7 or 6SL7 and they have their own sound to them. The Noval tubes sound a bit faster, whereas the SN and SL sound more full bodied, so this gives the unit a different flavor in presentation. Additionally, since you can roll a 12AU7, 12AT7, 5751 or 12AX7 into the front slot, you are able to tailor the sound a bit further due to the large selection of these types of tubes. |
@teajay While this preamp has a balanced output, its incorrect to describe it in the title of this thread as 'truly balanced' and isn't truly balanced from input to output (which is not a claim from their website). You may wish to revise this if that is something that found its way into your review. The output is truly balanced, but the internals are single-ended (like the venerable Ampex 351 electronics). Since it uses an output transformer, its capable of supporting AES48 (the balanced line standard). As such is one of the few vacuum tube balanced preamps in high end audio that can make that claim. I think one of the Bachert Labs preamps also uses an output transformer to drive balanced lines. Our preamps use a direct-coupled circuit that also supports AES48. So that makes three I know of. There's likely more but they are rare. Its frightening to see how many tube preamps have a balanced output but don't support the standard.
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That is correct that the unit is not fully balanced throughout the entire signal path but rather that it has balanced inputs and balanced outputs, while the tube circuitry remains single-ended. The differential input’s full signal swing is utilized and terminated with equal impedances at the primary of a Jensen input transformer, and the secondary sends a single ended signal to the input amp stage, which is DC coupled to the cathode follower output, and then split back to differential via the output transformers after the coupling caps. I do this to maintain the single-ended harmonics and not cancel them in the tube circuitry. Additionally it does support AES48 by not utilizing signal ground for any shields or PIN 1, and the RCA outputs are not tied directly to the transformer balanced outs, but rather branches off directly after the output coupling caps. Best, Aric |
@jaymark Very interesting. I am currently using in both my very revealing systems Benchmark LA-4 Line pre amp, Balanced throughout. I am into strictly rock and roll ONLY. 90db or so. My speakers in my larger system are Tekton specialty Encores upgraded, and with beryllium tweeters. Coda 8 V1 and a Bricasti M1 SE DAC, dual subs, etc. Just wondering about your experience staying with the SS amp , but, going with a tube pre amp, specifically, the ARIC unit? My system sounds wonderful, just have been very nervous about tubes. My system is very dynamic and musical and yet very revealing! What can I expect? I realize it's somewhat subjective? Robert TN thank you! |
