Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Audible Illusions Modulus 3A Preamplifier (Tube) by palorte

Model:	Modulus 3A
Category:	Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$2,295.00
Description:	Line and Phono Stages, External Power Supply, Stepped Attenuators. Add $575.00 for Optional Moving Coil Phono Board.
Manufacturer URL:	Audible Illusions

Review by palorte on January 08, 2014 at 17:44:52
IP Address: 76.110.253.36 Add Your Review
for the Modulus 3A

My good friends the A.I. does not have tubes in its P.S. one thing it does have is a little higher plate voltage on the 6922's and that severely hinders your choices of tubes you can use as most NOS will not live long enough with a 130 V in the plates with the exception of the ruskies 6N23B or 6H23B depending on how you read them, but you understand.
There is a guy down in FL that mods these to quick them up another 2 notches above their paygrade . .. :) .. so if you have an A.I. and can find Wheezer . . ohh boy you're in for a real treat.
once properly modded i would compare it absolutely some of the best preamps out there, wih a few exceptions . . most of them that come to mind cost over $8K some over $12K.
best preamp for the money?? absolutely!!
Good luck
Pal

Product Weakness:	Factory settings for plate voltage are reputed to drive tubes extremely hot and cause them to early destruction, so mod it is a plus and a necessity but pays big dividends as it is a great preamp.
Product Strengths:	crystal clear, pitch definition,timbre, adecuate voltage putput to drive most demanding amps, though it likes higher input impedance amps so over 50K and even better 100K or more.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: KT88 PP tiode strapped
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): AI L-2
Sources (CDP/Turntable): PC audio BM DAC
Speakers: NHT AC-3 with Velodyne D-18
Cables/Interconnects: Kimber Fabulous Kable
Music Used (Genre/Selections): 70's Rock, Fusion, reggae
Room Size (LxWxH): 21 x 17 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: a few animal skins and acoustic foam treatments
Time Period/Length of Audition: few years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Home brewed Isolation transformer Balanced power
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	KT88 PP tiode strapped
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	AI L-2
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	PC audio BM DAC
Speakers:	NHT AC-3 with Velodyne D-18
Cables/Interconnects:	Kimber Fabulous Kable
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	70's Rock, Fusion, reggae
Room Size (LxWxH):	21 x 17 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	a few animal skins and acoustic foam treatments
Time Period/Length of Audition:	few years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Home brewed Isolation transformer Balanced power
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner