Re: Okay I listened to the Foreplay and wasn't impressed.

209.42.40.139

Don't get me wrong. I didn't think it was bad. I just didn't think it was much better than the Adcom preamp I was using. I also would need a separate phono stage which would add considerable $$ to the cost. Also it was not as "user friendly" as the Adcom which was important to me as my girlfriend has to operate it. It also lacked tape loops. So for me it wasn't that great pricewise nor sonically.

I have since moved to vintage tube stuff and feel that better value can be had in that route. I also found that for me a tube amp with a SS preamp sounded better than a tube preamp with a SS amp. Of course YMMV and it all depends on equipment.

I had another interesting experience recently. I was at a friends house who buys/sells lots of stereo eqipment. We both have a love for vintage Marantz SS equipment and have both recently decided to go the tube route. So as we were listening to an old Sherwood amp that he had just restored and remarking on how much less fatiguing the tube stuff was we decided to fire up this Marantz collection that he was putting together for a collector. Marantz 250 power amp and matching 3800??preamp played through JBL 100's. We were both floored at how much brighter and more detailed the tube stuff, after proper restoring, was. The SS Marantz was warmer sounding. However we both knew from prior experience that one can listen to tubes for hours on end but eventually that Marantz SS sound starts to grind on you. And that I think is the big difference. Personally I find records and CD's to be about the same. No way I can enjoy listening to a SS amp and CD's for as long as I can a decent tube and turntable setup. But again this is just me and you may feel very differently. No doubt fine enjoyable SS amps and CD players are out there. But not at the same price level as far as I am concerned. This is not intended to knock anyone's choice in equipment nor claim that any particular technology is "better".

Happy listening,
Russ

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Foreplay fans and detractors, $1500 preamp fans, A question to you all! - mg1.6 10:38:44 07/31/02 (29)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - Steve Culton 08:02:30 08/01/02 (0)

Re: Don't it suck when people tell ya what you don't wanna hear? - Russ57 07:36:58 08/01/02 (1)

Re: Don't it suck when people tell ya what you don't wanna hear? - mg1.6 11:59:24 08/01/02 (0)

In all fairness, I will try to be as "neutral" as possible - Quest 22:15:51 07/31/02 (0)

Re: Foreplay fans and detractors, $1500 preamp fans, A question to you all! - Bob Samuelson 21:45:29 07/31/02 (0)

Re: Foreplay fans and detractors, $1500 preamp fans, A question to you all! - Eli Duttman 18:15:25 07/31/02 (2)

Re: Foreplay fans and detractors, $1500 preamp fans, A question to you all! - dvb 18:11:13 08/01/02 (1)

Re: Foreplay fans and detractors, $1500 preamp fans, A question to you all! - Eli Duttman 21:47:17 08/01/02 (0)

Go to radio shack and buy..... - Till E. 17:40:36 07/31/02 (0)

How about... - zarniwoop 16:53:52 07/31/02 (0)

Re: Okay I listened to the Foreplay and wasn't impressed. - Russ57 12:48:16 07/31/02 (1)

I agree with much of your post - airtime 13:06:06 07/31/02 (0)

Irrelevant - Tom §. 11:08:40 07/31/02 (13)

Go to ebay and get a Luxman CDP - airtime 18:14:55 07/31/02 (0)

Re: Irrelevant - mg1.6 11:20:06 07/31/02 (11)

Re: Irrelevant - Tom §. 12:02:11 07/31/02 (10)

Re: Irrelevant - mg1.6 12:17:01 07/31/02 (9)

You want my "easy answer"? - Tom §. 14:54:37 07/31/02 (7)

hmm - RGA 16:07:22 07/31/02 (6)

Re: hmm - Tuber 17:31:54 07/31/02 (2)

and - RGA 21:48:21 07/31/02 (1)

Re: and - Tuber 08:57:21 08/01/02 (0)

Re: hmm - Ozzy 17:09:04 07/31/02 (2)

You - RGA 22:04:56 07/31/02 (0)

Yep. - Tom §. 18:47:59 07/31/02 (0)

Re: If CD's are all you intend to play than perhaps it is best to forego preamp - Russ57 12:29:12 07/31/02 (0)

foreplay - efrede 11:05:26 07/31/02 (2)

Re: foreplay - mg1.6 11:26:32 07/31/02 (1)

Re: foreplay - rockcrk 12:17:35 07/31/02 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Okay I listened to the Foreplay and wasn't impressed. - Russ57 12:48:16 07/31/02 (1)

I agree with much of your post - airtime 13:06:06 07/31/02 (0)

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