Concert Fidelity CF-080 LSX2 Hybrid Line Stage Preamplifier?

At $4k, I think it is a good buy.

I have sold the Concert Fidelity SPA4C MC ($14k in retail) for $3300. And that was a mint demo. Someone got a sweet deal.
 
joeinid said:
So far, after only a few minutes, the KXR20 is working beautifully with the adapters. Dead silent on its own and no clicking other than the usual internal relays of the preamp. Very happy. The other piece is definitely quirky. :(
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Joe, you've got the KXR20? Wow.
 
hi joe, just wondering if you gave the concert fidelity cf-080 lsx2 a listening to? if you did i would like to hear your thought on how it sounded to you and how it compared to other preamp you have listened to. i really like mine but i have only compared it to a couple of preamps. thanks, john.
 
Hi John,

I have not. I plan on talking to another friend next week re: the preamp. What really bothers me is how low the value drops after purchase. As much as I promise myself that I plan on keeping something, for no other reason than wanting to try something else, I move on. So unless I find a used one, the new investment will be a deal killer.

Between my KXR-20 and PS Audio BHK preamp, I am all set really. The Ayre is superb and the BHK outstanding. So much gear swimming through my head. :(



johni b said:
hi joe, just wondering if you gave the concert fidelity cf-080 lsx2 a listening to? if you did i would like to hear your thought on how it sounded to you and how it compared to other preamp you have listened to. i really like mine but i have only compared it to a couple of preamps. thanks, john.
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i agree joe, i would never buy one new it just sounded like you were borrowing one for a listen. if you are ever in niagara falls canada you are welcome to come by my place and listen to mine. john
 
Thank you so much.

Actually, I am still thinking about trying one. I am afraid that if I get hooked, I'll be in trouble. :)



johni b said:
i agree joe, i would never buy one new it just sounded like you were borrowing one for a listen. if you are ever in niagara falls canada you are welcome to come by my place and listen to mine. john
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There are no real specifications from the link you posted, but I assume this preamp inverts phase. Also, I'm not personally wild about having a pair of tubes sticking out the backside of my preamp/line stage. Plenty of air inside the box, but I assume the main circuit board is mounted on the back of the preamp chassis and they chose to mount the line stage tubes out the back of the preamp. I don't know if this was a gimmick or a necessity. The internal tube is mounted on the power supply board and it is a rectifier tube.
 
I never did try the CF preamp. What scared me a little was seeing the high retail price and then seeing them sell at ridiculously low prices on the used market. I was never able to get one quickly enough before they sold, and I wasn’t keen on paying retail so I gave up.

i have a few great preamps now that I love. My fever has broken :)

I have no doubt that the CF is awesome and am sorry I missed a few great opportunities.
 
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