My retreat from a streamer to a basic preamp

[Feanor]

I tried an Eversolo DMP-A6 streamer which worked as advertised and sounded fine. My conclusion is that if I were to subscribe from streaming service -- which I'm not a present -- I try the service's browser or Windows app before resorting to a streamer device.

So I'm back to my Foobar2000 on my Windows 11 computer running Equalizer APO applying FIR filters created by Gsonic. My PC feeds my one or the other of my preamps. (See my post on FIR filters, EqAPO, and Gsoni HERE.)

• My latest preamp is a Schiit Kara F with the 'Forkbeard' remote control via the Android version of the Schiit app.
• However I expect to alternate with my Sonic Frontiers Line 1 tube preamp with "SE+" upgrades by Parts ConneXion.

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[Bones13]

There are many ways to achieve the preferred sound from a system. For me, the use of a nice, tubed, pre-amp fills most of my needs.

Figuring out what you actually like, and getting your system to produce that, despite all the industry, and interweb, static, and be a challenge.

That is. Nice looking pre-amp, with some quality part improvements.

 

[Michaels HiFi]

There are many ways to achieve the preferred sound from a system. For me, the use of a nice, tubed, pre-amp fills most of my needs.

Figuring out what you actually like, and getting your system to produce that, despite all the industry, and interweb, static, and be a challenge.

That is. Nice looking pre-amp, with some quality part improvements.

Tubes are the magic Elixir of life.

 

[Feanor]

Tubes are the magic Elixir of life.

Well perhaps, but what I like about my Sonic Frontiers Line 1 is that it is a good deal less "tubey" than most tube preamps. So for a minor example, the SF Line 1 has a good deal more detail and transparency than the Schiit Freya I briefly owned a couple of years ago.

 

[Michaels HiFi]

Well perhaps, but what I like about my Sonic Frontiers Line 1 is that it is a good deal less "tubey" than most tube preamps. So for a minor example, the SF Line 1 has a good deal more detail and transparency than the Schiit Freya I briefly owned a couple of years ago.

And that's what makes this hobby so great - we can all enjoy different sounds.

 

[2FarGone]

So for a minor example, the SF Line 1 has a good deal more detail and transparency than the Schiit Freya I briefly owned a couple of years ago.

I’d expect that, actually. Unless I’m completely mistaken, the SF was a quite a bit more expensive than the Freya.

At this point, I’ve owned five tube preamps, and two tube power amps. All of them sounded different. Most of the time, I’ve found it to my advantage to have tubes somewhere in the system, but not always. In any case, anything that sounded syrupy would be gone pretty quickly.

A well focused and transparent sonic hologram with good transient attack is my goal (i.e. it sounds “real”), so any component that moves me closer to that kind of realistic presentation stays. The stuff that doesn’t moves on. Interestingly, there have been things I’ve sold to others who have told me afterwards that the component I sold to them did exactly that for them when it didn’t work well in my rig. Different strokes or different factors at work in the system? Who knows. It would be pretty boring if everyone liked the same stuff.

 

[Feanor]

I’d expect that, actually. Unless I’m completely mistaken, the SF was a quite a bit more expensive than the Freya.

At this point, I’ve owned five tube preamps, and two tube power amps. All of them sounded different. Most of the time, I’ve found it to my advantage to have tubes somewhere in the system, but not always. In any case, anything that sounded syrupy would be gone pretty quickly.

A well focused and transparent sonic hologram with good transient attack is my goal (i.e. it sounds “real”), so any component that moves me closer to that kind of realistic presentation stays. The stuff that doesn’t moves on. Interestingly, there have been things I’ve sold to others who have told me afterwards that the component I sold to them did exactly that for them when it didn’t work well in my rig. Different strokes or different factors at work in the system? Who knows. It would be pretty boring if everyone liked the same stuff.

Well yes, the Sonic Frontiers LIne 1 when out of production circa 2000 at a price of at least US$3000 which would be close to $6000 today, so much more expensive than the $800 Kara F.

But the Used market for SF models in general has been slim. Sonic Frontiers were distained by my many tube fans for not being "tubey" enough. I've owned TWO SF LIne 1's; the first around 2011 that I sold 2-3 years later, (unfortunately), the second abou 2021 which is the one I have now. IN BOTH CASES I paid US$900 -- a bargain both times. About 4 years ago I had Parts ConneXion upgrade the 2nd to "SE+" status; this upgrade was worth about US$1100, (in itself more than a Kara).

I've had 3 tube preamps and only really like the SF Line 1 which has near solid-state detail & transparency but still a little tube warmth.

 

[2FarGone]

A friend of mine had that preamp. It was a good sounding unit as I recall, especially after I talked him into horizontally biamping those stratus golds instead of bridging the 4B SSTs..