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Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage

112.198.223.72
Posted on November 3, 2020 at 20:45:17
mondial
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Posts: 891
Location: S.E. ASIA
Joined: January 14, 2007



Inspired by Gsquared post requesting pictures of your amps thread . I'm requesting pictures of your preamps/linestage /phonostage . Post your pride and joy . Thanks in advance and stay safe .

 

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I love equipment pics, (a.k.a. audio porn), posted on November 4, 2020 at 04:25:04
Feanor
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  Since: March 12, 2004
 Mondial, your system is very handsome. For my part I haven't listened to vinyl in more than 15 years.

My preamp looks like this ...








Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: I love equipment pics, (a.k.a. audio porn), posted on November 4, 2020 at 06:00:13
mondial
Audiophile

Posts: 891
Location: S.E. ASIA
Joined: January 14, 2007
 Thanks for the nice words Feanor . Your Freya looks nice and I bet it sounds awesome as well . Thanks for posting and stay safe .

 

Herron Audio, posted on November 4, 2020 at 08:21:40
Vinyl Valet
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Before folks start screaming foul play because I'm a dealer, consider that between The Vinyl Valet and Big Ear Stereo when I was an audio civilian (2005 - 2019), Herron gear was always in my main system and when Big Ear is gone will still be.

Open up your mind, in pours the trash. - Meat Puppets, 1987

 

Just plain black boxes here., posted on November 4, 2020 at 09:19:53
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 32596
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 Hafler and MS Phonomena II+. Nothing to see here, nothing to see.



The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

 

More black boxes, posted on November 4, 2020 at 09:43:25
E-Stat
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Phono stage included in preamp.

 

Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 4, 2020 at 10:45:54
AbeCollins
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 Cary SLP-05: Best I have ever owned. Robust, dynamic, and transparent. Sounds especially nice driving a good solid-state amp like the Pass Labs X150.5 that I once had in my system. I've owned a handful of tube linestages and many of them got some things right but most were slightly rolled off at the freq extremes or less than hugely dynamic (too polite) or a tiny bit veiled, or missing midrange "tube magic". Not this Cary, it gets everything right - which is hard to do in a tube linestage.

Pass Labs X-10: A nice sounding smooth SS linestage. And Pass finally fixed their convoluted "Rube Goldberg" remote control in this generation and beyond. The previous gen remote was a real nightmare for the typical user but an engineer's wet dream.

P.S. As for phono stages I thought the Aesthetix Rhea was overrated. Sounds a little dull to me. On the other hand, the more reasonably priced (but less fancy) Rogue Audio Ares was fantastic. Might have something to do with their SUT based input stage. I liked my Cinemag SUTs a lot including the Bob's Devices Cinemag Blue. The Graham Slee Era Gold V was excellent. The very pretty all chrome EAR 834P was fantastic - for a short while - and then I got tired of the warm syrupy mids and lack of good resolution and detail. Surprisingly, using the EAR 834P with an external Bob's Devices SUT was much better than whatever SUT they have inside. Much better! Audibly ess distortion. But regardless, the EAR wasn't a long term keeper but fun to experience. Oh, it did make crappy LPs sound better with that syrupy warm coating over everything.



 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 4, 2020 at 10:52:08
rivervalley817
 I'm thinking that the outboard PS for the SLP-05 has a major impact on it's presentation ... they usually do

with regards,

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 4, 2020 at 12:34:02
immatthewj
 Abe, I note that your "tape/monitor" switch on the Cary is selecting "monitor"?

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 4, 2020 at 12:49:47
AbeCollins
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 I have no idea about the Tape/Monitor capability of this linestage as I never used them. I owned the Cary over 10 years ago. I no longer have it. From the manual:

"TAPE/MONITOR: In the UP position this bat handle switch will activate the input jack on the rear panel labeled tape-in. This may be used for a tape recorder or for any other line level input.





Tape In/Outs: 3, 4, 6, 7


 

Ceci n'est pas une ARC, posted on November 4, 2020 at 14:06:31
triode3
Manufacturer

Posts: 357
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 Interestingly I used to own an ARC SP6-C1, and thought it was a great preamp. In a strange twist, I picked up this ARC chassis that had been gutted with the intention of sticking a TubeCad Aikido in it for testing. Alas, there was no way to fit the Aikido and a phono... but then I thought, I always wanted to compare the PAS vs the TubeCad buffers.

This ARC contains:

Boozhound labs phono pre
Boozhound labs buffer pre
Pas Labs buffer, from pass labs DIY
John Broksies TubeCAD tube buffer

My own power supplies, one for the tube cad, one for the rest. You can switch between preamps on the fly for testing, and direct out works too.
It is not in the rack at the moment as I am moving to a different (read more modern) input selector.









 

My Passive and my Phono, posted on November 4, 2020 at 14:20:52
bare
Audiophile

Posts: 1879
Joined: April 14, 2009



All diy tho..
Passive is a 1$ shop wooden box with a Dact stepped attenuator .. period.
Phono is My DIY build of a Le Pacifique Phono stage with 1% stryene capacitors and Matched Jfets. In a candy tin (faraday cage ;-)
All into My Firstwatt F6 and Tannoy Golds.
Sounds? best I've heard yet..and I was experimenting with building DIY speakers in 1967.
Long ago learned to not waste $$ on glitzy packagings.. when it was the circuitry and most importantly the strategic Lack of it..that was the essential ingredient.

 

My Passive and my Phono Pix # 2, posted on November 4, 2020 at 14:22:06
bare
Audiophile

Posts: 1879
Joined: April 14, 2009



seemingly only 1 pix per post Phono stage then

 

RE: My Passive and my Phono Pix # 2, posted on November 4, 2020 at 14:41:48
triode3
Manufacturer

Posts: 357
Location: Midwest
Joined: August 23, 2005
 Nice. Did you ever consider separating the L/R grounds? I see them connected... On almost all of my phonos, the grounds are combined, but long ago, in a galaxy far away, I had a setup that was completely separate all the way to the speakers. Just not sure if it make any difference :)

Again, I like your copper board and layout there.

 

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was..., posted on November 4, 2020 at 16:08:04
musetap
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 A once in a lifetime opportunity purchase.




o
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 16:12:23
B. Scarpia



DIY Cinemag 6440 AH SUT

(Steve) Brown Amplifier Co. Tube Voltage Regulated Caravaggio Phono Stage

DIY JE Labs 76 Line Stage (Steve Brown designed power supply)

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 16:13:13
Sondek
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 Very nice setup you have. Very.

Here's my CAT






Here's the CATs guts






 

That's very handsome. Nice. ~nt~, posted on November 4, 2020 at 16:15:37
Sondek
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  Since: April 5, 2002

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 16:17:20
HoosierAudio
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Posts: 377
Location: MidWest, USA
Joined: November 28, 2005



Oldies but still truckin along!

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 16:40:27
mondial
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Posts: 891
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 Love your preamps fellow inmates , thank you very much for posting . To are other fellow inmates please post .

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 18:10:52
triode3
Manufacturer

Posts: 357
Location: Midwest
Joined: August 23, 2005
 Is that the monster ARC D250 on the right?

Is that the D52B or the D100 in the middle?

I love the vintage ARC gear...Nice preamp.

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 18:17:24
mondial
Audiophile

Posts: 891
Location: S.E. ASIA
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 Triode 3 the one on the right is a D79 all tube power amp it's very rare . The preamp is the SP10 w/ the control unit on top and the lowermost is the separate power supply . The one in between is the EC 21 all tube electronic crossover network .

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 19:08:58
John Elison
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  Since: January 29, 2004
 Here's one of my previous systems:


 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 4, 2020 at 19:22:06
John Elison
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 The "Monitor" position should have been labeled "Source". You certainly wouldn't want it in the "Tape" position unless you wanted to listen to the tape player regardless of what input was selected.

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 19:23:59
mondial
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Posts: 891
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 Thank you John for posting your tube preamp . How I wish that you assembled the tube power amp that you were planning in building . Stay safe .

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 4, 2020 at 19:34:04
John Elison
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 Yeah, I never quite got to it! However, I recently bought a couple of 1200-watt PS Audio monoblock amplifiers to drive my Thiel's. Wow! This is the way to go! ;-)


 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 4, 2020 at 20:32:41
immatthewj
 John, I am totally confused at this point. I posted this question a few days ago:

https://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=amp&m=237649

A quick recap: I have an SLP90 with a similar front panel, & when I have my selector in monitor, it does not play as loud & I also get a hum.

 

RE: Same as it ever was, same as it ever was..., posted on November 5, 2020 at 03:54:46
triode3
Manufacturer

Posts: 357
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 The EVS or the ARC or both? Did you purchase them? :)

I often wonder if the hype is real on the ARC SP-3. I lost out in a bidding war once on one, but have owned at least 4 other ARC preamps. I still miss my rebuilt SP-6 with all new power supply. Great phono on that one.

 

You can get a steal on, posted on November 5, 2020 at 06:45:51
E-Stat
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 a pair of used amps that are later versions of Mondial's for only $29k! ;)

 

RE: My Passive and my Phono, posted on November 5, 2020 at 06:50:00
E-Stat
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 Passive is a 1$ shop wooden box with a Dact stepped attenuator .. period.

I went a bit fancier on the case with a DIY model I made almost twenty years ago using DACT CT-2s. Yes, the Mark Levinson JC-2 was a favorite of mine back in the day...



Still have it, but not currently in use.

 

what a bargain !!, posted on November 5, 2020 at 06:52:02
Story
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 nt



 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 5, 2020 at 07:26:46
John Elison
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 Well, if I told you to leave it in the tape position because it didn't hum, perhaps I was confused. Normally, the Tape Monitor switch has two positions, Tape and Source. If its in the Tape position, you will hear only the tape recorder regardless of where the Input Selector is pointing. If you want to hear your CD player, the Tape Monitor switch has to be in the Source position. In other words, it can't be in the Tape position unless you've got something else in the tape loop such as an equalizer or dynamic range expander or something like that.

Anyway, if you're still confused, you'll have to study this subject and/or talk to someone else. I don't know how to explain it differently.

Sorry!
John Elison

 

Pass Labs, posted on November 5, 2020 at 08:51:57
lochrider
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  Since: March 17, 2002



XP-30

 

Pass Labs XP-25, posted on November 5, 2020 at 08:59:30
lochrider
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XP-25

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 5, 2020 at 08:59:37
immatthewj
 "If you want to hear your CD player, the Tape Monitor switch has to be in the Source position. In other words, it can't be in the Tape position unless you've got something else in the tape loop such as an equalizer or dynamic range expander or something like that."

I'm not being argumentative, but the only thing I have plugged into my pre is my CD player, & when the tape/monitor switch is in "tape" the preamp plays louder. In "monitor", not only does it not play as loud, there is a slight hum.

 

RE: Marantz 3600, posted on November 5, 2020 at 09:06:02
jaynemo
Audiophile

Posts: 1881
Location: Connecticut
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Vintage 70's

 

ML26, posted on November 5, 2020 at 09:09:26
jaynemo
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vintage late 80's early 90's. Of course being powered by the matching PLS-226.

 

DeHavilland UV3 & Foz Signature, posted on November 5, 2020 at 09:11:38
jaynemo
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Posts: 1881
Location: Connecticut
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main system -sorry for the multiple postings.

 

hmmm.., posted on November 5, 2020 at 09:18:04
bare
Audiophile

Posts: 1879
Joined: April 14, 2009
 Thanx ! wasn't sure if a goofy DIY build was appropriate in A.A.
To be honest I didn't experiment at all.. once powered up. As I was Happily surprised at how good it sounded.
Also (finally) learned to try to avoid fixin' what ain't broke :-) albeit only semi successfully.
However it Is a simple experiment.. thanks ?
I've only now, after 2 years, pulled the lid off to take this Pix.

 

I love that flywheel tuning control. nt, posted on November 5, 2020 at 09:19:09
G Squared
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 .
Gsquared

 

pretty piece. that ..., posted on November 5, 2020 at 09:27:02
bare
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Joined: April 14, 2009
 Far more elegant than my cobble up. Thank for your input.
My Passive was simply a get it done .. experiment.
It worked beyond all expectations.. instantly displacing a Bespoke and long Loved George Wright pre ..forever.
Haven't fiddled with it since.. (2 years +) It simply works V well. IMO Dacts are V V good attenuators.
Was intending to fit 2 for balance control.
But as it turned out.. there is no need and even less motivation to mess with it.

 

Some DIY with hints of Pass, Lehmann, Burson and MBL , posted on November 5, 2020 at 09:33:10
jedrider
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Pretty basic preamplifier, all it has is a Source Selector and a Noble Volume Control on it's front panel. Inside is an MBL clone.

Phono stage is sill a Black Box starting from a Lehmann Black Cube and adding some Burson magic to it.

Headphone amplification is a separate Lehmann clone, but I'm waiting to box my Pass Labs clone which should be a lot more dynamic according to my preview listening sessions.

Amplification is the venerable (to me) Anthem Amp-1 with a NOS 12AX7.

 

Classic bottom end of the ARC line. , posted on November 5, 2020 at 10:12:26
G Squared
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It is interesting that I have a SS pre and SS amp made by manufacturers famous for tube equipment.




Gsquared

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 5, 2020 at 10:27:14
Chris Adams
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Posts: 54
Location: Vermont
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 Aric Audio Motherlode II




 

I don't want to thread crap, but, posted on November 5, 2020 at 10:36:42
E-Stat
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 that was actually my second design. I experimented with one built with parts from Radio Shack that cost the princely sum of ten bucks. Ironically, the most expensive pieces were leftover knobs from an ARC preamp faceplate change which ran $60!

After success with that one, I decided to make a higher quality version using JPS Labs wire, Cardas connectors in a Par-Metals case. Used in the main system for about ten years. I did find it useful to have individual level controls which worked great with the detents on the CT-2.

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 5, 2020 at 12:18:38
HoosierAudio
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Posts: 377
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 Hi triode3,
Mondial is right on with a little detail,

Its a D79 alright but its the "b" version, one of 80 built

Sitting on top of the 79 is a SS ARC D200 driving the subs

Which are a pair of RH Labs "The Subwoofer" acoustic suspension in a 4.5 cu. ft enclousure.

The turntable is a Oracle Delphi/Ittok LV II arm holding a Koetsu Black

Regards
HA

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 5, 2020 at 12:27:10
mondial
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 Hi Hoosier , we have the same series of D79 mine is a "B" model as well . Had it recapped last Dec of 2018 and it sounds sublime w/ the Magnepan

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 5, 2020 at 12:40:00
John Elison
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 I guess I don't understand how your preamp works. I know exactly how all the "Tape Monitor" switches work on the preamps I've owned, but yours is apparently different.

Sorry! I can't help you.

Good luck,
John Elison

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 5, 2020 at 12:48:09
immatthewj
 Thanks, John. I just went back to the owner's manual & I think I've got it figured out. I believe it is not a "monitor OR tape" toggle switch, I think it is "monitor the tape" or "don't (monitor the tape)" switch.

When I have the switch in monitor, I think it is picking something up from the open RCA IN.

 

RE: Same as it ever was, same as it ever was..., posted on November 5, 2020 at 12:48:14
musetap
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 That's been the set-up for a while.

The EVS photo bombed!

The SP-3 was bought from Will Vincent years ago.

He brought it up to spec and did some basic mods.

He rebuilt the PS a couple years later.

Not having it in my system for a while just made me realize how much it should be..

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: You can get a steal on, posted on November 5, 2020 at 16:27:47
mondial
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 That's a real bargain E stat . I was begging my sister whose based in Northern NJ to get these , she's currently using an ARC VS55 & REF 150 and she said no . She ask me whose going to carry them to her music room in her floor townhouse and when it's time to have it retubed it's going to cost her an arm & a leg .

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 6, 2020 at 07:42:01
HiOnFi
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The amp is an EVS 1200, dual mono IcePower AS1200 class D modules that Ric sprinkled all matter of pixie dust upon. I use the Oppo 105 VVC, which eliminates a pre though I still have my Audio Alchemy DPA-1 + PS5 (it's FS) the speakers are Emerald Physics 3.4s 12" concentric speakers with polyester tweeters. Since taking this picture I moved them forward and farther apart 2 more ft. The result shocked me

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 6, 2020 at 10:45:21
Rocket_Powered
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Hi Abe.

Here is my silver faceplate version the SLP05.

 

I need to retube my VTL MB-450s, posted on November 6, 2020 at 11:11:22
E-Stat
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 It will only cost an arm since each has but eight outputs per amp. ;)

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 6, 2020 at 11:34:41
immatthewj
 I bet that is a great preamp.
What amp is behind it?

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 6, 2020 at 12:23:13
Rocket_Powered
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Posts: 439
Location: East Coast
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 Best pre that I've had, although I haven't 'equipment rolled' many before this. But I knew I wanted a tube pre.

The pre is connected to an old Golden Tube 300B amp - and so far it sounds quite good, especially the mids. Just got back to the 'hobby' a little while ago and dug up the amp but decided to upgrade the pre first. Saving to replace the amp next.

 

SLP05, posted on November 6, 2020 at 13:23:14
immatthewj
 The tech service/customer service that Cary provides these days (as opposed to what they used to provide) has gone downhill, & that is almost enough to make me swear off anymore CAD stuff. However, I am still considering scrounging up nickles & dimes (although it would take a whole lot).

 

Like!... N/T, posted on November 6, 2020 at 14:07:13
musetap
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 z
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: I need to retube my VTL MB-450s, posted on November 6, 2020 at 16:50:38
mondial
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 Hi Estat , have you tried an ARC amp in your system . Btw I've auditioned the SP20 and it's excellent sounding . I listened to it w/ an ARC REF 75 and REF610T and they sound sublime .

 

I had a VT-100 MKII prior, posted on November 6, 2020 at 18:09:47
E-Stat
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 After hearing Wotans at Sea Cliff, I bought the MB-450s. I prefer their sound quality, power per buck, the ability to set the bias per output and the fact that they have a B+ fuse.

Over the past twenty years, I've had two SED 6550Cs go supernova on me. Takes out the tube and inhales the fuse. Replace each and you're back in business. With previous ARC designs, you have to send it back to the factory to replace burned out resistors.

 

RE: I had a VT-100 MKII prior, posted on November 6, 2020 at 19:05:53
mondial
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Thanks for the reply Estat , I've learned to leave w/ the replace the resistor when the tube arcs . My vintage ARC has individual bias pots and one can do it DIY , but the new ones don't . We also had the chance to compare the big power amps around 4-5 yrs ago the REF 750 SE vs the VTL Siegfried Series 2 . Both amps were owned by a single owner and he has VTL linestage & phonostage as well as ARC line & phonostage .

 

RE: Classic bottom end of the ARC line. , posted on November 7, 2020 at 05:24:30
triode3
Manufacturer

Posts: 357
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 I used to own that one. I always really liked the sound of it (although I am mostly a tube listener). Of all the gear I sold and regretted that one is probably in the top 10 list.

 

RE: I had a VT-100 MKII prior, posted on November 7, 2020 at 09:10:09
AbeCollins
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No one asked but....

As an aside, I thought the ARC VT100mkII was an excellent sounding amp and I'm generally not a huge ARC fan. I preferred the EL34 based Manley Neo-Classic 250 mono blocks but I still hold the ARC VT100mkII in very high regard.




 

Certainly, posted on November 7, 2020 at 09:35:42
E-Stat
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 I preferred the EL34 based Manley Neo-Classic 250 mono blocks but I still hold the ARC VT100mkII in very high regard.

We're on the same page as the MB-450s are cousins to that Manley product. The late David Manley's son Luke and his wife Bea run VTL.

Your well documented procedure for adjusting bias on the VT100 is like a Rube Goldberg puzzle requiring all manner of dismantling the chassis, using two VOMs with a single setting for an entire quad.

While the current MB-450 incorporates auto bias, setting it for my older ones is a quick and easy process. Connect the leads on the top of the chassis and set the value to 270 mV for each of the eight tubes. You're done.

I'm not a one-brand-stack kind of guy. Match what sounds best as each component tends to have a personality. The VTLs have a slightly dark character but partners well with the SP20 using 6H30s which some find a bit lean. I've spoken before of their wonderful ability to convey the emotion of music. And they drive the Sound Lab stats beautifully with 300 watts each.

As my mentor HP used to put it, the Yin and the Yang. Those two go well together like peanut butter and chocolate. :)

 

Following in a grand old tradition, posted on November 7, 2020 at 18:13:57
LtMandella



of kit built hifi. Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid preamp. Touted by engineer Bruce Rozenblitz as the best value in hifi. And no argument from me.
Liquid, super fast, transparent, perfectly balanced response.
And in that grand tradition, functional looking, without bells and whistles.

And happpily, I recently gave the wife the boot! so no more concerns about WAF!

 

OK, I'll play..., posted on November 7, 2020 at 18:22:50
dogwan
Audiophile

Posts: 871
Joined: December 16, 2004
 Living Room



Listening Room



 

My attempt of build one of those was a fail, posted on November 8, 2020 at 08:18:53
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9881
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 My own ineptitude since it's not a particularly difficult DIY. Pity though; maybe I'll get back to it one of these days.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: My attempt of build one of those was a fail, posted on November 8, 2020 at 09:07:01
LtMandella
 Does take patience and care if you are not an EE.

I took the approach that I was _certain_ to make wiring errors, and double checked each hour or so of work, always _knowing_ that there were mistakes and I simply had to find them.

that approach helped I think.

 

RE: SLP05, posted on November 8, 2020 at 20:22:30
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46306
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 I haven't had any Cary gear in years but I loved that SLP-05 !!



 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 8, 2020 at 20:23:34
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46306
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
I think I like silver better. Yours is also a lot newer than the one I had. I can tell by the modern Cary logo.


 

RE: SLP05, posted on November 9, 2020 at 06:12:45
Rocket_Powered
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: East Coast
Joined: May 15, 2020
 Cary is definitely not as it used to be in the days of Dennis Had and Kirk Owens. Besides talk to sales, the only way to contact their technical/service staff is through email.

There is a bit of a story for the SLP05 that I have. When first received it didn't work (!) - brand spanking new no less. The plate voltage and current were a bit off nominal, and there was no power to the first 6 tubes (headphone tubes were powered but didn't really check if the output works as I won't use it for that purpose). Back to Cary it went, and they diagnosed as faulty cable between power supply and main unit and faulty plate current meter. Got the unit(s) back, and the main unit was missing 8 screws....

It's a good thing that pre sounds good.

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 9, 2020 at 13:29:55
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 My Pre-amp








 

RE: SLP05, posted on November 9, 2020 at 18:47:39
immatthewj
 Kirk Owens was great!
I read on another audio site that he opened up his own shop, but I cannot find anything about it anywhere, so I assume he must have retired.

Anyway, after reading your report on your preamp: wow!!
Talk about bad quality control on an expensive preamp!

 

Not currently in the system, but love my LS-3b!, posted on November 10, 2020 at 06:15:49
David S.
Audiophile

Posts: 3552
Location: Mountains of WNC
Joined: August 31, 2000
 Yeah, I like the sound of my VTL Ultimate in the shop system quite a bit better, but don't often have the chance to listen to it.

The Parasound JC-2 in my main/home system is nicer than the LS-3, but that ARC really doesn't do anything terribly wrong, and does a lot of things REALLY right! :)

ARC LS-3 is VERY hard to beat for the prices they sell at these days.

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 10, 2020 at 11:23:35
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3365
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000



Shindo Aurieges MM with an A23 SUT lurking in the background.

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 11, 2020 at 05:15:20
bullethead



I try to stay away from Vinyl as I grew up with digital, here's my preamp.

 

It's a beaut, posted on November 11, 2020 at 05:49:15
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9881
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 Were I looking for pure tube preamp, the Don Sacks would be what I aspire to.

Right now, (per my post below), I' using a Schiit Freya +, and in fact, I use it mostly in Passive mode.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: I love equipment pics, (a.k.a. audio porn), posted on November 11, 2020 at 06:05:45
bullethead
 How that is is a few months with it? What do you think?

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 11, 2020 at 06:26:47
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10459
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 my CJ 2a phono conversion. It was a blah preamp so I made it into a 2 tube phono only (nice big tranny) many years ago with occasional cap changes. It comes in very handy for playing the vinyl thing which is oh so outdated nowadays. Funny, that.










 

!!!!, posted on November 11, 2020 at 08:12:21
Todd A.
 I still have one of those PSE Studio One preamps taking up space in my basement as a backup. It replaced an Apt Holman and was an excellent preamp as I recall, especially considering what I paid for it. As I recall, I paid $250 for that, a Studio Two power amp and a pilot tuner. Then again, this was way back in about 1990. Damn, I'm getting old...

 

RE: !!!!, posted on November 11, 2020 at 08:35:46
dogwan
Audiophile

Posts: 871
Joined: December 16, 2004
 Yeah, it's a great preamp! Mine has the rarely seen optional MC phono stage installed. So, you can run a MC on phono 1 and a MM on phono 2. Paid $65 for it last year.

I also have a 2 Studio II's that I have rebuilt and a 3rd Studio II that is a parts unit. AND, I have 2 Studio IV's that I am slowly working on.

Still on the lookout for a Studio III tuner, and hopefully a pair of the Studio V mono-blocks. Keep getting outbid on Studio SL preamps when they turn up.







 

I spy.., posted on November 11, 2020 at 09:28:02
DKL
Audiophile

Posts: 1046
Location: Deland, FL
Joined: November 20, 2001
 the Aja album from Steely Dan - my favorite from them. Memories of high school come floating back :)

 

RE: My attempt of build one of those was a fail, posted on November 11, 2020 at 13:45:10
morricab
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 9181
Location: switzerland
Joined: April 1, 2005
 I built three of them...and a pair of The Beast OTL monos!

 

RE: Following in a grand old tradition, posted on November 11, 2020 at 14:15:13
rivervalley817
 'Liquid, super fast, transparent, perfectly balanced response'

that sounds more like a liquor review than audio

either way, cheers!

your ex left with only a boot?

that's some prenup agreement there!

wish I'd of had your lawyer

with regards,

 

RE: Following in a grand old tradition, posted on November 11, 2020 at 14:30:14
LtMandella
 "your ex left with only a boot?that's some prenup agreement there!"


I had dirt on her (arrest for domestic against me) and some CPS investigations which were not very flattering about her...

 

RE: Following in a grand old tradition, posted on November 11, 2020 at 16:24:54
rivervalley817
 I'm sorry

often the better it is at first

the worse it goes at the last

with regards,

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 11, 2020 at 17:20:46
tamule
Audiophile

Posts: 194
Joined: December 5, 2009
 Very happy after CJ, BAT, Bryston.

 

Prima Luna EVO 300 , posted on November 11, 2020 at 17:26:30
tamule
Audiophile

Posts: 194
Joined: December 5, 2009



I went with DIY install phono-stage. No upgradeitis after 2 yrs.

 

Audio Note M6 Phono Balanced is on its way, posted on November 11, 2020 at 20:34:06
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

They have to build it but I have ordered one.

The Tomei Kensei 211 Power amp might be next as the mating power amp section.

A nice review of the combination is in the link.

It's great living in a place where I don't need a car - I can put a lot more cash to the stereo as a result.

 

RE: My attempt of build one of those was a fail, posted on November 12, 2020 at 10:54:30
LtMandella
 Beast Monos! The ultimate OTL!

What speakers do you use with them?

I drive Ref3A DeCapos with my T8-LN (stereo, 25wpc version, factory assembled)

 

RE: Posting Cary & Pass Labs, but I've owned many others..., posted on November 13, 2020 at 09:39:52
Akolegov88
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Joined: January 7, 2014
 Did you buy your preamp new? It seems to have some schematic error or something was mixed up during its "upgrade" or servicing...

 

RE: Audio Note M6 Phono Balanced is on its way, posted on November 13, 2020 at 09:56:28
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37673
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 It's great living in a place where I don't need a car...

Unless you are a driving/riding enthusiast! Wifey and I have enjoyed the fall colors on multiple outings.

 

It seems to be a thing than AN packs ..., posted on November 13, 2020 at 11:00:18
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9881
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 ... As many exotic and expensive components into a product as they can manage.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

An old friend that has served me well...., posted on November 13, 2020 at 17:13:12
Regg
Audiophile

Posts: 106
Joined: June 3, 2009



This.

 

Not really much to it., posted on November 13, 2020 at 18:02:41
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

I think it is more the size of the stuff than the quantity of the stuff.

If you look at the schematic it is quite simple. The left side of the amp is the phono stage - the center has two sections that are the same - each one is for each channel as there is a separate stepped resister volume attenuator for each - rather than a balance knob.

It looks like there is a lot there because of the size of the transformers and the fact that take up space - but the schematic shows little.

If you ever get a chance to listen to an M3, M5, M6, M8 they are all the same design with upgraded parts. Listen level matched and blind and then you can hear the differences parts quality can make - even if you don't like the AN sound - that is irrelevent - just hearing that gee a capacitor or silver wired versus copper wound transformer can actually change the sound of something - who woulda thunk it. It's also cool to then compare it to a few passive preamps - after all in theory a passive preamp is straight wire with gain and maybe to a SS preamp. I had Rotel's flagship preamp for a time to compare.

But not all is about sound quality considerations - when I move back to Canada I can have the voltage changed over to US/Canada voltage which is a big deal. You would be surprised how many products do not allow for this. And of course resale value. I traded in my TT2 turntable and got more than I paid for it several years ago and I got 100% of what I paid on my M3 preamp because the brand is highly sought after here.

This is one consideration that places the Parasound A23+ over some of the competition for my SS system build. The A23+ has a handy little voltage switch on the back.

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 16, 2020 at 17:59:47
rodge827
Audiophile

Posts: 354
Location: South Jersey
Joined: October 1, 2004



Audio Note Kits L3 upgraded to L4-L5 level with BG Caps, Jupiter Caps, K&K Large CCS, and AN Silver/Copper output transformers. I bought this from a guy on the Gon a couple of years ago and modified it to a single input. When I have the time I'm going to require with AN wire and volume control.

 

RE: Please post pictures of your Preamps/ linestage and phono stage , posted on November 16, 2020 at 22:11:41
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010



My humble Yamaha CX-1, bought NOS and entirely recapped and upgraded by yours truly.
Not really comparable with a stock unit ;-)

I'm surprised at hob bad it looks on picture!!! :-O

 

I'm liking it very well, posted on November 17, 2020 at 07:42:46
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9881
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 I use 'Passive' mode mostly because of the type of my favorite music, Classical, and my associated components.

'Tube' mode is very nice too though. It is a bit understated compared with many tube preamps I would guess, though it has adequate of the "holographic" effect. I enjoy the tubes listening to Jazz and various popular genres.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

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