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Posts: 1118
Location: No. California
Joined: January 24, 2001
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Sure seems like a damn fine preamp. Sort of like my 'old' McIntosh C220 but without tone controls. The remote control of balance is 'essential' to me now. This has a mono switch too which to me certainly helps set the balance, at least in 'one manner of speaking' - or at least as a starting point. $3500 isn't cheap. I got my C220 back when it retailed for $3800, I bought the floor sample (-15%) on a 'we pay sales tax' weekend, so it was $2805 out the door. I always looked at the C220 as something like a Rogue Perseus with more bells and whistles (without hearing either one). I liked the C220 but now like my Parasound P 7 SS pre better. The P 7 has remote control of everything including tone, but is lacking the mono button. IF I was looking for a tube pre again, I'd certainly look at this one. (Edit: Actually I'd look at a used McIntosh C2300 too ... which may be more $$$ tho). I haven't seen if the phono section is totally SS or if the tubes are in the circuit. I assume the gain/RIAA is SS and maybe then runs thru the tube stage(s)? Maybe one set of tubes is a ~unity gain buffer? or something. IN the C220 one set of tubes was for MM Phono (no MC) and one set had variable gain for use as a line section. Then there were SS buffer section(s) as well, it was a hybrid. Interesting to find out what the circuits are in this pre. Edit/PPS: hmmmm ... does it sounds as good/better than the SP17 ???? that is the question! I also drooled over the SP16/17 but decided to go with the 'more bells and whistles' C220. (I also liked the ~55dB gain available in the phono section, good enough for HOMC thru hi output MM carts.) I'll always wonder, of course, what an SP16/17 would sound like in my system. I am of the opinion now that a SS pre is a good thing, as someone explained their theory - low level signals get the cleanest amplification, then use tubes in the amp to get the 'sound'. The Rogue Atlas Magnum is on my very short list if I want to upgrade/change my amp (along with Parasound's A21 if I decide to go SS, with an amp that could comfortably drive any speaker I'd likely want to use ...).
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