Tubes Asylum: REVIEW: Diyhifisupply Basie Kit Preamplifier (Tube) by Mike C

Model:	Basie Kit
Category:	Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$323 or $482 with all upgrades
Description:	Line preamp, 12AU7, valve rectified.
Manufacturer URL:	Diyhifisupply
Model Picture:	View

Review by Mike C on February 13, 2002 at 03:46:45
IP Address: 136.8.159.11

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for the Basie Kit

First, a proviso.
I have to admit to having a limited frame of reference so I cannot give
comprehensive
comparisons. My main comparison is to my previous good quality hybrid
kit preamp
(which itself slaughtered my previous preamp - a big-name UK product).
However, I regularly hear other high-end systems and none of them come
close to the sound I now enjoy.
And note ... I attend about a dozen or more classical concerts every year,
and this is a better comparator than most hifi systems.
When I put the first (near standard) Basie into my system, in place of
an excellent hybrid valve/FET kit unit, I got an immediate improvement in
just about everything - and most importantly, none of the 'minuses' that
one so often gets when attempting to upgrade.
I particularly noticed a a significant improvement to detail and resolution,
while at the same time presenting it with more fluidity and smoothness.
Not 'smooth' in terms of smoothing things over or adding artificial warmth,
rather a natural flowing presentation without harshness.
I also noticed it was lively, articulate and musical. Bass was a touch deeper
but more particularly was tight, well defined, fast, rhythmic, well timed and
tuneful.
Transparency and realism were substantially improved.
I found a well balanced mixture of everything; detail *and* liquidity;
drive *and* delicacy; deeper bass *and* better, tight fast bass.
All this from the near standard unit, not even run in.
Here's more about the kit and my upgrades.
First off, it's a neat unit, with space to work inside it and space for
upgrade components; this is very useful as top quality caps can be big.
I'd say it's a tweaker's dream.
About building it:
It's hard wired, mostly on the valve bases. To anyone who has not done
this before, the Basie is a great place to start as there is quite a
lot of space to work, and the instructions are *excellent*. I found no
problem building it; I'm not a total novice, but I'm not an expert.
Brian was helpful with info about one or two changes (which I think
are now included in the standard kit).
The many sketches and photos are useful and give a lot of confidence.
About my upgrades:
In fact, I built 3 versions! All of them sounded really good. I'd say
that 80% of the quality I have was in my original version, I could live
quite happily with that level. The final mods gave a useful improvement
though, and at this level improvements can be hard to find and
expensive; so the mods were very good value.
Initially I built it with a few capacitor and resistor upgrades.
Coupling caps are Auricap (instead of the supplied Solens); the final
power supply cap and the cap across the regulator are both Ansar.
Main PSU caps remained original. Resistors are mostly Kiwame with
Caddocks on the cathodes. In this form, very near standard and with the
Alps pot, it was *fine* - see the above comments.
Next, I added a pair of attenuators (shunt type, with Holco resistors
and a Rhopoint series resistor). This gave more detail but be warned,
it sounded thin until it had run in (about 3 days); also, a bit of
tube rolling helped get the sound 'right'. It's now superb.
I used a pair of mono attenuators to give a balance facility; if you are
interested, mail me for details.
Finally, I wired up the last pair of inputs, using high grade phono
sockets and the special wire from Diyhifisupply; also, I replaced
the PSU cap (after the choke) with a Black Gate. This all gave a noticeable
improvement to low level detail, imaging, and general sound quality.
Low level detail in particular is very substantially better than the
previous preamp - the difference here is not in the least subtle.
Some specifics about the sound come to mind. Orchestral music has its
natural 'colour', tonality; I hear now that it was a bit greyed out with
the previous pre (and *very* greyed out, by comparison, by every SS pre
I've heard).
A record of south american guitar music, always very natural on my system
(no compressors or limiters I guess!) has become spookily transparent and
dynamic.
Carol Laula's CD 'Precious Little Victories' has more realism due to me
hearing a lot more low level subtle details, while having more drive,
'life', etc ... and sounding simply *gorgeous*. (Go buy it!).
Rickie Lee Jones 'Girl at her Volcano' - at a good volume, this simply
has a *lot* more than I've heard from it before; the sheer bloody energy
of 'Under the Boardwalk', but with so much subtle detail in there that
I've never heard before. And the ability to startle me even more.
Oh, and the vocals of Loreena McKennitt, or Frederica von Stade singing
Mozart, bring me almost to tears. Wide musical tastes?
By the way, it performs at very low volume without losing all the extra
low level detail, and doesn't sound muffled or subdued. Good dynamics, I
think?
Considering the above, I'd say it can be virtually all things to all men.
If cost is a concern, build it as standard or with a very few parts
upgrades and I know it'll sound excellent - phenomenal value. True
high quality hifi for very low cost.
Put in a few more parts upgrades, fit a stepped attenuator, use the
best passive parts and this seems to take an already great unit right
into the high end.
By the way, I have no connection with diyhifisupply, I have received (and
expect) no favours or considerations of any kind.

Product Weakness: No balance control. But see above, there's space to put in dual
mono volume controls as a DIY mod, for a 'no compromise' solution.
No tape output. I don't find this a problem, and if it contributes
to the sound quality then it's a positive asset.
Product Strengths: Liquid, flowing sound but with drive and dynamics; excellent
bass both quantity and quality; superb female vocals (mmm!);
excellent detail and transparency, especially with the stepped
attenuator. Overall superb sound quality. Amazing value.
Very 'tweakable' if you feel like it.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Assemblage ST-40 'Upgrade', triode mode, good valves.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Basie
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Linn LP12, Morch arm, Lyra Evolve, SFP-1; Sony XA2ES CD
Speakers:	IPL S3TL transmission line kits
Cables/Interconnects:	Belden 89259 DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, folk, jazz, mainly LP.
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 14 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	4 months
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	No balance control. But see above, there's space to put in dual mono volume controls as a DIY mod, for a 'no compromise' solution. No tape output. I don't find this a problem, and if it contributes to the sound quality then it's a positive asset.
Product Strengths:	Liquid, flowing sound but with drive and dynamics; excellent bass both quantity and quality; superb female vocals (mmm!); excellent detail and transparency, especially with the stepped attenuator. Overall superb sound quality. Amazing value. Very 'tweakable' if you feel like it.