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Model: | Super Merlita |
Category: | Preamplifier (Tube) |
Suggested Retail Price: | $550.00 |
Description: | 3 input,2 output 4 12au7 tubes or your choice of any 12a-- type tube |
Manufacturer URL: | TomCat Audio |
Model Picture: | View |
Review by kkak66 on October 05, 2014 at 21:35:53 IP Address: 50.158.12.17 | Add Your Review for the Super Merlita |
Seen a TomCat Audio pre amp on Ebay and researched more of his designs, on FB. Liked what I saw and contacted John at TomCat Audio in California . Speaking to John was very interesting and John was great with explaining his take on audio. After about 45 minutes on the phone I decided to order his Super Merlita pre amp. After a three week wait I received his hand made pre with premium parts, bye USPS 2 day air. You can choose any color you like and pre has wood sides in walnut or black. I choose silver with the black sides. The pre is only 9 lbs. with volume, bass, balance, treble and midrange controls. Very nice build quality and nice looking with my choice of black knobs. Hooked it up to my VTL ST 85 tube amp and a pair of Apogee Minor Speakers. What I heard out of the box was very open and detailed with good bass. Soundstage was open and huge. Right out of the box this preamp rivaled my VTL 5.5 pre amp costing $ 3,500 . Now I know price has nothing to do with sound. I am not that good at describing the sound but it was as good if not better than the VTL pre amp. If you decide to check out his design , tell him Kenneth sent you. Just go to FaceBook and look up Tomcat Audio. Sounded good with my HRT Streamer, better with CD player.
Product Weakness: | None that I can hear or see. |
Product Strengths: | Open and detailed , gets deep into recording. Tone controls a plus but I did not have to use them for better sound, but you can add if you want. |
Amplifier: | VTL ST 85 4 6ca7 Fatboy Tubes 4 NOS 12at7 WA tubes |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | VTL 5.5 All NOS tubes |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Roksan Caspian CD Player,HRT Music Streamer 2 |
Speakers: | Apogee Minors |
Cables/Interconnects: | Cryo Parts Whiplash I/c, Wire World I/c |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Rock, blues , folk , various 60,s 70,s |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 12x11 x 11 x 7 |
Room Comments/Treatments: | Room treated RG and Aurelex products, Room Tunes, Corner Tunes |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | Only 4 hours, pre not even broke in |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Marigo Power Cord on Amp, Cullen Cable power cord on Pre |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Your System (if other than home audition): | See my system kkak. |
https://www.facebook.com/tomcataudioseems simple, but FB search engine SUCKS ...
sorry about grumbling in other posts, have deleted them.
Thanks for 'turning us on' to John and his endeavor.
Edits: 10/07/14
Thanks for getting this for me, he has nice handmade audio at good prices..
I get some Korean guy, doesn't seem to be the correct one ...
Sorry I may be stupid but do not know how to do this, old man that I am,try again, I did it.
I also don't find them on eBay or via a search engine
ET
Edits: 10/06/14
Sorry he has no web site. Go to Facebook, and look for Tomcat Audio, it will take you to his page, with lots of pictures of his gear.
Thanks! for sharing Kkak.
since you own VTL, very nice gear btw, why are you auditioning another pre-amp?
This pre amp will be my winter pre amp. I will use it with my tube amp. I also have some Odyssey Khartargo Mono Blocks I use in the summer. Since I just retired I will listen more and since the 5.5 is 14 years old and going strong I do not want to use it up. I am sure it will need some caps in the future. So far I am happy with my new pre, really good for the money. And I also owned an Audible Illusions L1 too, nice pre too.
Or a winter amp for that matter? I don't worry about heat from equipment. That's what we have air conditioning for......
Oz
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
Forgot to enter my speaker cable Cardas QuadLink Cold Forged Spades, 6ft. Pair.
I recently acquired some Krell monobloc amps and am considering what pre to add. VTLs were on the list so I read your review of the Super Merlita with interest.
Speakers are Apogee Centaur Majors.
Please let us know of your impressions as the SM breaks in - thanks!
GAR
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