I want one of these...

Jack said:
Rob

You might want to look at the upgraded version.

Vincent Audio - SA-31MK Hybrid Stereo Preamplifier-Audio Advisor

Vincent Audio SA-31MK Hybrid Linestage Preamplifier & SP-331MK Hybrid Power Amplifier (TAS 208) | The Absolute Sound
Click to expand...

I did...sweet unit...no bass and treble...Now, my Marantz has a direct button (defeats all tone and is direct music) and it sounds good..but I like to kick my bass and treble up slightly ..thus my dilemma ...

EDIT - Whoops...just looked again...it DOES have bass and treble...yeayyyyy
 
No bass and treble control but why don't you look used. I was just looking at a manley jumbo shrimp pre and a BAT vk5i both for $1900 both really great tube preamps on agon .Just a thought.
 
Well..not shopping yet...just window shopping...LOL

BAss and treble introduce distortion > I don't agree (please don't convince me) ...because since I could open my eyes and see (1960) units had bass and treble...short of an equalizer (which I hate ) , they adapt to rooms, speaker type, etc. and for me I like a bit of extra bass and a tad bit extra treble..not a lot but above flat...

I don't discount that some folks LIKE direct ..that's fine...I dont
 
NorthStar said:
* Some high-end preamps don't even include a Balance control!
Click to expand...

And some like mine have 2 manual volume knobs due to completely dual mono.

I do have an older Hafler 945 that has a Tone In-Out switch along with Bass-Trebble-Balance. For some reason, just leaving the knobs at a neutral position, but setting the Tone to On sounds a little better.
 
NorthStar said:
Bass and Treble controls introduce distortion.

* Some high-end preamps don't even include a Balance control!
Click to expand...

Bob
That is a blanket statement that is not universally correct. On the high end systems that have tone controls, when they are turned off they are out of the loop with no power to them.
 
still-one said:
Bob
That is a blanket statement that is not universally correct. On the high end systems that have tone controls, when they are turned off they are out of the loop with no power to them.
Click to expand...

Like the D'Agostino preamp.
 
still-one said:
Bob
That is a blanket statement that is not universally correct. On the high end systems that have tone controls, when they are turned off they are out of the loop with no power to them.
Click to expand...

But you knew exactly what I meant Jim.

Personally, for a pure preamp, I want one without tone controls (path or no path).
But I want my balance control, as a separate volume control for each channel.

A Mono switch? Nah.
A Phase switch? Nah.
 
Shadowfax said:
And some like mine have 2 manual volume knobs due to completely dual mono.
Click to expand...

My Denon pre-main amp is exactly configured that way. ...No balance, the dual volume is the balance.

I do have an older Hafler 945 that has a Tone In-Out switch along with Bass-Trebble-Balance. For some reason, just leaving the knobs at a neutral position, but setting the Tone to On sounds a little better.
Click to expand...

Yeah, many preamps have a Tone Defeat switch, or an Input Direct. ...For the shortest audio path possible, and without any interference.
The less the better.

What sounds better is what only our own set of ears tells us. And that, comes only from personal listening experience; music playing to our ears in our own room with our own electronic gear and AC power outlets and AC power cords and interconnects and speaker wires and trigger cables and all our own favorite jazz.
 
Nope...give me my good old Bass and Treble controls...LOL

I am considering the Vincent (down the road). My issue - will it really give me a difference compared to my Marantz SR4023. The Marantz is a true modern day stereo receiver/pre (not an AVR) and works flawlessly. No noise, very flexible, many inputs.

I would hate to spend the money, hook things up and say "ummm..no difference"

Marantz Spec Sheet
http://us.marantz.com/DocumentMaster/US/SR4023SpecSheet.pdf
 
A bass and treble control would certainly simplify things, but you may be able to do a few things passively to accomplish much of the same effect. Like moving speakers closer to the wall/corner to increase the bass, or if you are handy, reduce the tweeter padding resistor by .5 ohms in the crossover to spike the treble a bit.

I know, not optimal solutions, but an alternative perhaps.
 
NorthStar said:
Bass and Treble controls introduce distortion.
Click to expand...

Not so unless there is something wrong with them. Now on the other hand your old single transistor graphic EQs were notorious for introducing distortion and other anomalies whether the user knew what they were doing or not. That said, I like having tone controls just in case, but I also find that even with todays mid-fi gear, one doesn't really need to touch them much, if at all. I do need to fiddle with them on occasion on my vintage system, but on my main system I've never touched them. Still, I would not want something like a preamp or receiver or what have you without at least basic tone controls available to me whether I feel I need to touch them or not. Perhaps a part of that is my oldschool DNA?
 
About one of these... Audio Note M10 Line Signature - Reference Line Level Preamplifier - $128,000 & power supplies

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* For $128,000 you don't have Bass and Treble Tone controls, and you don't have a Balance control either.
But you do have two separate mono power supplies (for each channel). ...Not shown here (just twin regular power supply boxes; silver color).
=> You even might be able to plug a turntable! ...Not sure though; but don't really matter, just add a phono line stage.
 
Re: About one of these... Audio Note M10 Line Signature - Reference Line Level Preamplifier - $128,000 & power supp

The notion of distortion is not universal. I have the Vincent preamp SA -TI which has bass and treble controls. And I also have the Vincent amp SP-331 MK. Running a pair of Canton Vento's. No distortion at all. Both pieces are hybrids running NOS. Absolutely love it. And BTW...I never use the controls...no need to.
 
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