mitch4t

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from On the web at Audiog

Summary:
I waited until I had the unit more than a year to write this review. This preamp is extremely neutral and it's sound will be dependent on the equipment that it is used with. A previous reviewer mentioned that this preamp's weakness was that it "could extend the decays a bit". When I first got the preamp, I agreed with that. I don't agree any longer. I upgraded my cables and cd player and the decays were there in spades. I use a power conditioner in my system and that blackened the background even more and increased the air around the instruments. This preamp does it all. Just be ready to surround it with top notch gear all around to get the full benefit of this unit. Wherever you cut corners will be exposed. Every time you improve another part of the system, this preamp will reward you with more clarity, inner detail, broader soundstage and 3 dimensionality. Use balanced interconnects.

Strengths:
I said it all above.

Weaknesses:
Extremely neutral....if you need a preamp with a coloration or warmth, look elswhere. Poorly recorded cd's don't sound very good with this preamp, it is very unforgiving in that vein. Well recorded cd's sound so real...that it's unreal. Basically this preamp will play back whatever it's fed, good or bad. This preamp will make you decide whether or not you really want to be an audiophile or not..it won't tolerate compromises. Because of its extreme neutrality, this preamp is very system dependent and has to be mated with the right components.

Similar Products Used:
Im using this preamp with: Infinty Rennaisance 90 speakers (vertically biamped) Audio Research PH3-SE phono preamp Audio Research CD-2 cd player Signal Cable Silver Resolution Reference XLR Interconnect Signal Cable Silver Resolution Reference Speaker Cable (2) Sunfire Signature amplifers in a vertical biamp configuration. Oracle Delphi Mk-I turntable Grado Platinum cartridge Balanced Power Technologies BP 3.5 Signature Ultra Plus Power Conditioner I plan to upgrade the amps later to further push the performance of this preamp....I can't wait.

Summary:
One of the best pre amps from arc coming in just behind the ref1 (3000 cheaper). This, a solid state product from a well astablished tube component co. brings the gap between these two worlds closer than ever. This preamp will reveal what ever your other components will alow through. So be carful in matching components becouse as it will reveal all the resolution and fine detail you throw at it , it will also reveal your systems flaws....

Strengths:
neutral,revealing , evenhanded over the full bandwidth adding no color of its own...

Weaknesses:
could extend the decays a bit

Similar Products Used:
Vt 100 mk 11 , marantz cd 11 mk 11
B&W m 801