To hear music on the BC3.1 preamp with tube amps is to hear music, rather than the speakers.

No remote

The first characteristic to note was the wealth of detail it can deliver. In chamber music, it was more than usually easy to follow the viola line as each instrument was fully explored: deep bass was firm on direct sound the recording venue ambience, and attrack was impressive transients were sharply reproduced and treble was well extended betraying no hint of glare. No compression, no squashing, no wheezing, but with a silent, smooth and precise control. With NOS Mullard tubes installed, their warmth is benefical to vocals, but also provide a delicous sheen to clarinet and sax, and a rich woodiness to piano. Excellent hand wring and hand soldering, with an overall build quality which make others an embarrassment.

Similar Products Used:

BAT VK-5i, Audio Note M7, Audio Research LS15 and LS25.

Adds beauty and life to music. Beautiful stainless steel chassis/solid hardwood knobs. Hand-made craftmanship.

No remote

This preamp (along with the BC22 power amp) has brought the beauty of music back into my life. I used to own a Bryston BP25 and 4B-ST which was very impressive at first. But over time I found myself listening to music less often until I finally decided this audiophile stuff was bogus and sold the Brystons. Then I heard Blue Circle electronics at an Audio Show and the flame was lit again! The BC3 & BC22 together make beautiful music. Whenever I listen to my stereo now, the last thing on my mind is the gear - I'm absorbed in the music. And this is true whether it's a Reference Recording or an old mono recording of Casals playing the Cello Suites! If you ever talk to the Blue Circle guys at an audio show, you'll see they're very down to earth. No BS black magic talk with these guys. They make quality hand-built gear with great attention to detail and let the sound of the components speak for themselves because they know how good it is already! When you pay this much for high-end components, customer service is also important and Blue Circle's is second to none. A few times I've called to ask questions and the President Gilbert Yeung answered the phone! Emails are always answered within a day, even on weekends! Those guys are workaholics. But I guess it's because they love what they're doing - and it shows!

Similar Products Used:

Bryston BP25. Adcom GFP-565

Preamps have always been problematic for me. Typically they act as "choke points" that colour, compress or confuse the source. This one doesnt. After a year & a half of steady use, I still cant identify any colourations & am so sated with glorious music that I cant even summon up the usual neurotic anxieties about tube-rolling, cable swaps, 'footers' etc. The designer, Gilbert Yeung, has obviously got everything right with this one & if you get a chance to hear favourite violin performances on the BC2/3 combo, you'll appreciate that he has raised the bar for competitors!

This has got to be the absolute best buy in preamps in the known world. For $3300 (w/external power suppy) it's as good as everything I've heard for
up to two times the price. It's made in Ontario, Canada by a small but
increasingly well-know company, whose founder has what must be nearly perfect
ears and an audio engineer's brains to go with them. Not to mention great
and funky taste in aesthetics. Wood and stainless steel, the former to reduce
resonance but also to add, well funk. Sound: smooth, airey, spacious, highly
resolved -- and with enough on the bottom to make all but a few of you very
happy. It mates well with either tube or solid state amps, so you can
additional balls if you like. Works equally well for Tom Petty and Handel.
They also make hybrid (ss/tube) power amps, mono blocks and single unit
stereo. And a higher priced preamp if you're embarrassed to spend as little
as $3300. My guess is this is a C-J Premier 14 with bass and higher resolution.
Would that be a Premier 16S? Haven't heard it yet. ART? Couldn't be, could
it? Nah. But this baby's crying to be compared with the 16S and also probably
the new ARC LS25. My guess is that it's better. I'm afraid to hear its big
brother, the BC3000 for $6250. Heads up Ref One and ART.

If you're looking for a trendy, highly gizmo laden unit this preamp is most likely not your cup of tea.
However for individuals whose motivation is more intent on pure musical reproduction this line stage is well worth consideration. Never have I found
such a high quality, hand-built, dual mono line stage anywhere near this price range (in today's market). It is hard to say equipment in the audiophile world is a bargain but this preamp is truly an exception. This unit incorporates features & attention to detail indicative of devices easily twice its retail price.

My opinionated ramblings in a nutshell....

Sound Quality: Excellent, superb response throughout the entire frequency range.
Quickly responds to the needs of the recording, without unnatural coloration.

Features: No nonsense, line stage. Simplicity at it's finest.

Build Quality: Superb construction from the Stainless Steel chassis to hand-assembled matched attentuators.

Value: Overall an excellent deal when compared to similar offerings.
In addition it can easily be upgraded to the BC3 Galatea. This simply requires replacing the 'stock' external power supply (BCG3) with the BCG3.1. This provides the BC3 with a Hexfed, dual toroid power supply complete with an integrated pillow ac line conditioner. For those with the finances this upgrade is well worth the investment (1350 USD w/trade-in).

Prestige Factor: Sadly enough some individuals would overlook this product purely for sake of name recognition. Trust your ears on this one!