Pre-Amp Shopping

Devg said:
I had Cary slp-05. If you like very intimate presentation, this is the preamp to get. Lots of NOS 6SN7 tube options to choose from to tailor the sound. In used market, $4k sounds about right.
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By intimate....do you mean more like bringing the musicians to you...opposed to sitting in a venue or listening to a recording?
 
Try Perrotta Consulting just across the line in CT. I was kind of surprised that Terry London preferred the LTA over both of the Backerts he reviewed but that could be his system and not yours though Joe loves his.
 
I absolutely do. Killer preamp and a mere pittance in today’s market.

Jack said:
Try Perrotta Consulting just across the line in CT. I was kind of surprised that Terry London preferred the LTA over both of the Backerts he reviewed but that could be his system and not yours though Joe loves his.
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Joe I would love to try it and it would work fine with the DAC and Phono Preamp. I am just afraid I would run into the same problem Fremmer and a couple of others ran into trying to run SE cables into the BHK amp. In each case they had to run "cheater" plugs and bypass the ground which is not a good idea in Florida. I ran into that when I first got the BHK and tried to run the Modwright with SE cables that were already in place with the Kismet. When I switched to balanced cables the problem went away which is why I know the Backert would work.
 
I totally understand. I went to dig out my Jensen transformer but realized it was the wrong way around. It’s xlr in and rca out, bought mainly to try on my Triodes. I’m actually thinking of trying one rca in and xlr out. I actually think that might be an interesting experiment.

Jack said:
Joe I would love to try it and it would work fine with the DAC and Phono Preamp. I am just afraid I would run into the same problem Fremmer and a couple of others ran into trying to run SE cables into the BHK amp. In each case they had to run "cheater" plugs and bypass the ground which is not a good idea in Florida. I ran into that when I first got the BHK and tried to run the Modwright with SE cables that were already in place with the Kismet. When I switched to balanced cables the problem went away which is why I know the Backert would work.
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I would have got an LTA by now (and considering the price) if they had a balanced design. The DS just sounds better on the balanced output (and so are many many DACs these days).
 
I'd also like the chassis a little bigger...and maybe just a preamp...not an integrated...
 
modwright 36.5 , brilliant pre amp . great vfm , superb service and support from dan . i ungraded to the 2 box a year ago and its still sounding beautiful and definately an arc ref5 competitor which i have owned in the past
 
I actually agree with this. I wish it were a straight pre... even though the Integrated section is minimal is sort or degrades the Pre in my eyes. I am sure it is just me, but it is a feeling I get.

Arnoldhasmail said:
I'd also like the chassis a little bigger...and maybe just a preamp...not an integrated...
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Randy

I think the speaker terminals evolved over time as somebody asked for them. It is mainly a preamp with a great headphone section though it started out as a headphone amp first and evolved over the last decade to the preamp being the predominate reason for purchase. I wouldn't hesitate in your situation to try it as it could kill two birds with one stone in your setup.
 
Thanks for the input Jack. It certainly sounds intriguing. I am happy with the Bryston headphone amp. Both of my headphones, the HD800S and the Ether I use semi-expensive XLR cables. But this pre does sounding interesting. If I made the move I would simply move the input cables from the 225 to the Bryston (simply thing really). The sources can all run on SE or Balanced (except the tuner is only SE) so that is not really an issue.

I am considering either this or upgrading the sub to the matching R400b. Either way, either choice depends on moving the ARC. And even that is not a huge deal because it really sounds excellent and a good alternative to switch in when in mood for different sound :)...
 
Had the opportunity to hear a well broken in CJ ET3 pre last week...was surprised how big and open it was. Listening to an ET3SE right now with about 100 hrs on it...it's slow, and closed in...was expecting the exact opposite...how long till it opens? Will it?

Can I run it overnight with the amp off...will it continue to break in while the amp is powered down?
 
Yes, it's ok to keep the amp off and preamp on with signal running through it. They take hundreds of hours to break in. I would suspect 300 or more hours for break in.
 
Yes it will continue to break-in that way. One of the things about the SE units in all of their line is those Teflon caps are supposed to take many hundred hours to break-in. From reviews of that series of upgrades it will open up but maybe not during your in home trial period. Jeff at Tone raved about it as the "Baby GAT" but found it to take 500 hours. So this one may take a leap of faith on your part.

http://www.tonepublications.com/review/conrad-johnsons-et3se-preamplifier/
 
I think their own preamps have gain numbers above 15 db so should be fine and Mc doesn't list input sensitivity on their website. So if no tube rush with volume down all good.
 
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