carl11529

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $8500.00 from Taipei, Taiwan

Summary:
Upon moving to a smaller apartment, I sold most components of my previous system except Linn CD-12 (including Gryphon Sonata Preamp/Mark Levinson 336 amp and Krell FPB 300 amp/Apogee Diva with DAX) and go for an all Cello System. The current configuration is: Linn CD-12/Cello Suite/Cello Encore 150 mono-mono amps/ Cello Premiere. Power cords are NBS, interconnects are Lieder pure silver cable or Cello String, speaker cables are tri-wire NBS Statement/Pro (bass), MIT MH-750 (mid) and Cello String 2 for treble.

For the Diva system, I have tried Cello Encore Pre and Palette single as preamp. But the results were not successful. The sound is to hot and bright. Bur the all Cello system is not hot and bright at all.

For the current system, I originally just plan to use Encore Pre. The sound was dynamic and delicate.

In the past month, I tried Cello Palette (not MIV, multiple input version) as a preamp, and Cello Audio Suit. My conclusions are that (1) Palette as a preamp does not sound as good as Encore Pre; (2) Suite is much better than Encore and Palette as an amp; (3) the combination of Suite/Palette is THE SUPREMA!

Thus I decide to upgrade to Suite and add a Palette in the future.

Suite has an indescribable magic. Switching the preamp from Encore Pre to Suite enhance the musicality of the whole system immensely. I experience similar kind of magic in Forsell transport/DAC, Linn CD-12, and Ensemble Reference/Profundo (not dynamic enough thought).

This should be my last Preamp, though I said this before for Gryphon Sonata, and feel the same for Accuphase 290 and Mark Levinson 26S.

Strengths:
One of several best if not THE BEST solid-state preamp. Sheer musicality, liquid, balance, magical....

Weaknesses:
Expensive and perhaps Fischer connectors.

Similar Products Used:
Accuphase 290, Mark Levinson 26S, Gryphon Sonata, Cello Encore Pre.

Price Paid:  $8000.00 from private sale

Summary:
Having listened to the Encore and the RMC phono unit for about 3 years I started listening to the Suite with already some Cello experience. I have experienced that the Suite is not so much better compared a/b then some may suggest.. My suite has serialno. # 0897 with very late serials for all premium modules. After having listened to a CAT preamp, the Encore was nothing short of a revelation. period. When listening to any Cello pre-amp you just start realising how euphonic and colored most pre-amplifiers are. ( except some..) The Audiosuite is so refined and so revealing that it is like an cameleon when listening for longer time. I could not describe in technical talk what kind of 'signature' the Suite has. After changing to another element or another arm you just start to realise this is a perfect reviewing tool. If anyone has experienced a typical AudioSuite as edgy, metallic, or plain SS sound, then you only experienced what garbage in - out means. The Suite demands optimal surrounding gear. The AudioSuite is here to stay, It is my last pre-amp. period. About the Fischer connectors. I see this as merely a political topic. I have modified both the Encore and the AudioSuite to Neutrik XLR connectors, and don't let anybody tell you the Fischers 'sound' better. The modification is simple, and means you can now use real cables ! The Cello strings are crap indeed. ( to quote another Cello reviewer ) I agree fully. You have not heard a Cello when still using Strings. Now the Fischers are truly superb connectors by all means, but the guys at Cello made one mistake: they opted for the small ( Fischer 015 ) model instead of the bigger 018 model which can accept up to 15mm cables. Now maybe the idea was to sell miles of Cello String cable I don't know. But I really suggest to modify to Neutrik XLR.(leave your phonolink with the Fischers) The option to connect real good cables will lift your Cello to another level. anyone who considers the modification can get information from me on particular technical tips regarding this. preamps to consider besides the Suite: LAMM / Atma-Sphere / Audionote Kondo / FM Acoustics.

Strengths:
Perfect reviewing tool, smooooth, bandwith, naturallness, build quality, Viola Audiolab upgrades and support, the linearity of the volume control, I'm so in love with it.

Weaknesses:
the too small Fischers.

Similar Products Used:
CAT SL-1 ,PASS, Cello Encore. others.

Summary:
I have used this pre-amp for six years. The Suite (using premium modules) is almost completely neutral. One tends to forget the pre-amp is there -- until or unless it is replaced by anything else, and one wonders "what happened?" Cello is known for open, dynamic, sweet, revealing sound:- you will hear what you put into it. Instruments are before you, in space, in three dimensions, with people playing them - the combination of speed, dynamics, and transparency help one hear how the musicians are playing their instruments in a way that is almost impossible to describe. For example, on violin, there is a violin, a bow, and the energy that the musician applies to the instrument is perfectly communicated. The Suite transmits the emotional connection between musician and the music. There is nothing forgiving in this preamp - a very high-resolution tool. Bass is tight and well-defined, there is no "bloom" and no "warming" -- which can be mistaken for a lack of bass energy. A pre-amp for those willing to forego user-friendly operations and configuration in pursuit of the music.

Strengths:
Neutral, open, holographic, dynamic - a real disappearing act. Transparent and high-resolution.

Weaknesses:
Uses Fischer balanced connectors (even for phono), retro operations:- no remote, no bypass, modules insert with screws, separate power supply with multi-link, color-coded, spade-terminated cable. Quite costly.

Similar Products Used:
LS2, LS2B

Summary:
I am a audio designer for a european based company and have worked with virtually all high-end audio equipment.I can fill this site with a truckload of information but will limit it to equipment that really deserves reconmendation or to be slammed.I haven't got the time to put all my experiences in writing anyway.The core audio equipment setup at our lab contains Cello,Krell,Mark Levinson,Wadia and Spectral solid state, Audio research, Jadis and Audio Note tube components.Let me start with a review of the Cello Audio Suite.It is a rather expensive preamp but is one of the few that is worth the money.The sound is so fluid, dynamic and clear like nothing else.It blows virtually everything away with ease.The soundstage is exeptional wide and deep.Imaging is almost spooky.Do not use the Cello Strings because these cables are crap.Straightwire is also not reconmended.I am amazed by the on going good reviews of those Straightwire interconnects because it's trash.It sounds veiled and grainy with a Audio Suite.Try using Siltech silver/gold mixed or NBS ic's instead.In any case it's important to use a ic that has good bloom qualities because in that respect the Audio Suite is the best preamplifier in the world.The Suite hookes up perfectly with the Cello Performance II monoblock's.A real synergistic match!You have the power to drive any load and tons of unstraining details.Replacing the Performance II's with the Mark Levinson No33 robbes the sound a bit of it's magic.You have lots of detail and space but it sounds less exciting.It's a very big preamp this Cello Audio Suite, has no remote control, is very expensive but it sounds so good.I like it, this Audio Sweet, I like it a lot!!

Strengths:
A real Mark Levinson no Madrigal

Weaknesses:
high price