Aesthetic Calypso
- Thread starter Tbadder
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nc42acc
New member
Where are you located? I have an Aesthetix dealer in my area I could send you his info. I have heard they are very nice preamps. I considered one before I landed a REF5SE. I am also in the fully balanced camp.
I really like my Aesthetix Calypso Signature preamp. It's got beautiful tone and dynamics with an accurate and wide sound stage. Extremely fun to listen to without any fatigue and the midrange can be as liquid as you like depending on tube choice. The choice between balanced and unbalanced for all inputs and outputs is an added bonus.
Currently mine has 1950's Swedish Military NOS 5751 Sylvania Triple Mica Black Plate & Russian 6H23P-EB / 6922's installed. A few months ago I picked up some ARC branded W. German ECC-88's from 1983 and will roll them in at some point. The ARC branded W. German ECC-88's were what I ran in my old ARC SP-11 for several years and they were fantastic in the SP-11. Hoping they perform similarly in the Calypso.
Currently mine has 1950's Swedish Military NOS 5751 Sylvania Triple Mica Black Plate & Russian 6H23P-EB / 6922's installed. A few months ago I picked up some ARC branded W. German ECC-88's from 1983 and will roll them in at some point. The ARC branded W. German ECC-88's were what I ran in my old ARC SP-11 for several years and they were fantastic in the SP-11. Hoping they perform similarly in the Calypso.
nc42acc
New member
Those Russian 6H23 are amazing. I have them in several pieces of gear in place of the 6DJ8. Not terrible expensive either if you shop diligently.
They really are Marty, I agree. Should be interesting to see how the ARC branded W. German ECC-88's compare :thumbsup:
nc42acc
New member
Mike please post a thread once you have a chance to try them. I have never heard of those.
Will do. I got them from a fellow on Agon that had/has NOS tube stock. Here's some of his pictures:
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Everyone's got the Signature version. Of more humble means I'll have to go with the standard version. Thanks for the info though. Nobody's said a bad word so far, either here or pm-I got me.
Ive always believed a person should have a least one tube in their system. Right now that resides in my DAC, but that's gotta go in my ongoing switched to an all balanced system.
Ive always believed a person should have a least one tube in their system. Right now that resides in my DAC, but that's gotta go in my ongoing switched to an all balanced system.
The Aesthetix Calypso is a very fine preamp at its price point. I've heard it many times teamed up with the Aesthetix Atlas monoblocks and the combo punches way beyond its price. However, in the last year or two, my dealer started using more expensive ARC preamps with the Atlas monoblocks and has achieved better sound. First with the Ref 5SE and now with the Ref 6. But please keep in mind, these preamps cost a LOT more than the Calypso.
Best,
Ken
Best,
Ken
I WANT Atlas Mono amps!!!
Mike,
They are some of my favorite monoblocks regardless of price. Just the right amount of warmth with their tube gain stage combined with the balls of solid state in their output stage.
Ken
Randy Myers
Well-known member
The Aesthetix Calypso looks very nice. The only thing that I think would drive me crazy is that I like having a nice Volume knob on my pre-amp.
jadedavid
New member
I had a Calypso. I was satisfied with it for a while, until a friend came over and asked me if the noise it produced bothered me. I was puzzled and asked what he meant? He said that he had one and tried swapping tubes, power conditioners ETC but could never get rid of the, shall we say, background noise. I had not really noticed it myself. He then offered to bring over his preamp to demonstrate what he was referring to. His pre at that time was an Audio Horizons. After hooking it up in my system and firing it up, it was VERY apparent after the first several notes what he was talking about. In audiophile jargon, a black silent background with great clarity. Until you hear the difference in you're own system you will not know what I am referring to. I ended up buying his pre when he upgraded to an Alnic. The Alnic is superior in this manner also. Don't be fooled by the magazine hype. When is the last time that you read a bad review? If you have an opportunity to hear the Calypso side by side with either of the pre's mentioned or some of the other more notable pre's (Cary 05, The Dude, Music First ETC) you will understand. Audition if you can and trust your ears. Good luck. Dave
Randy Myers
Well-known member
I know the warmth and richness of tubes and back in the day I had a few difference tube pieces. At this time I do have a preference for SS mainly because of the background. With high level digital recordings you get pure "black". But more important is I got to have my big volume knob! I will stack the volume section in the Wyred 4 Sound pre-amp (STP-SE) against most any pre-amp out there....
jadedavid
New member
I'm glad that you are happy with your Wyred with the BIG knob. It's rare that in this hobby we are ever satisfied with a piece of gear. Not ever hearing the Wyred gear I can't comment on it's performance but I know it has a good reputation. I like the warmth and ambiance field that tubes produce. I have a VERY VERY large collection of tubes that I can roll through the equipment in my search for a well balanced (to my ear) sound. If it is clean and clear that you are looking for I have found the AUM Acoustics/Tortuga Audio LDR Pre to be the best I have heard in those parameters. However it is too sterile for my taste.
In this thread, I personally feel that there are several tube preamps that are far superior to the Calypso for the same dollar value. Tubes can be very quiet, and clean. A lot has to do with the equipment implementation.
In this thread, I personally feel that there are several tube preamps that are far superior to the Calypso for the same dollar value. Tubes can be very quiet, and clean. A lot has to do with the equipment implementation.
Randy Myers
Well-known member
I love hearing people's impressions on various gear. Even though I know the chances a slim in being able to actually hear, let alone own most of the equipment discussed. I do really like quite, "black" if you will, backgrounds and open spacious sound stage.
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- #18
I know what David is saying I had an amp I really loved, mainly because it was really ballsy, and in those days I rocked out. Well after a while I noticed a slight, thin haze. Eventually it bothered the crap outta me even though once the needle hit....Well, now I'm blacker than black and loving it. That background offers lots of detail but also lots of peace of mind.
jadedavid
New member
Have you found a preamp that you like or are you still looking? If looking, perhaps you could add some detail about your requirements. I.E. Price range, music type, associated equipment, tubes or S.S. ETC.
Please do the same David RE: detail, wondering what context you had the Calypso within that it performed so poorly?
p.s. Regular or Signature Calypso?