The Steve McCormack VRE-1 Preamp $20K

No clue,

I was fishing for firsthand experience here. The video review was glowing though.
 
Best they've heard? Sure. Best ever? Hmm...

Now, if we're talking best preamp for the money - I would say the Classe CP800 is right up there.

Best preamp I've heard? D'Agostino.

But I own both - so I'm biased! :)
 
LoL

So no one has heard it?

The best ever thing is clearly a teaser, but being so bold it may warrant a listen...if you can find it!
 
Well that was an easy one - it's paired with the "best loudspeaker ever" in that second vid. Seems like there's a pattern forming.
 
From a few people that I trust and have vested interest in other more highly touted brands agrees that the SMc preamp beats his reference. I believe that this preamp is one of those game changers. I hope to hear it sometime.
 
This is worth watching:



I had to chuckle about the ARC preamp comment (I'm not ripping on ARC, I'm a big fan, but they have that habit of coming out with a product and then the Mk2 or SE or whatever shortly after). This reference to that made me chuckle.

What he fails to reference is that it is all about system synergy. This preamp might be marvelous in his system, but only average in another.
 
Mike said:
This is worth watching:



I had to chuckle about the ARC preamp comment (I'm not ripping on ARC, I'm a big fan, but they have that habit of coming out with a product and then the Mk2 or SE or whatever shortly after). This reference to that made me chuckle.

What he fails to reference is that it is all about system synergy. This preamp might be marvelous in his system, but only average in another.
Click to expand...

Of course, there's always the qualifier IMS. :) But everyone should be able to hear the Smc's (or a reviewed products attributes) qualities in their system. Whether it works for you since no product does it all, is another question.

In the end, isn't that the reason readers tend to latch onto reviewers whom they generally agree with? I know I did in my formative years reading TAS. Every reviewer has their biases, maybe in part dictated by their equipment choice and music listened to; what made someone like John Nork a great reviewer was his ability to disassociate the product's sound from his biases. Same for Dave Wilson when he reviewed for TAS. Two of the best ever at their job.
 
Glareskin said:
Hi Norman,
That is an easy claim. Anyone here actually listened to it?
Also do they think Tube amps are better?
Hans
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Hans:

Why do you say that's an easy claim?


For purposes of disclosure, I do work with Peter on special projects.
 
Could just the mic on the camera or whatever he used to record the audio but I found those tracks hard to listen to the midrange is way forward.
I watch few other video reviews that others have posted that sound much better.
 
I do like his popcorn machine off his right shoulder ! …….:snicker: other than that he's a drama 'queen'
 
I have not listened to the SMC preamplifier but sometime ago I got a FlexConnect from Steve McCormack. I can assure you that this step down transformer, previously known as Interocitor can improve significantly some preamplfiers. I think it uses transformers similar to those used in the preamp. Recently we used it to connect a ML380s to a cj premier 350 and it was a fantastic match - the energy and definition of the ML in balanced mode could be perfectly matched with the air and voice beauty of the cj!
 
Myles B. Astor said:
In the end, isn't that the reason readers tend to latch onto reviewers whom they generally agree with? I know I did in my formative years reading TAS. Every reviewer has their biases, maybe in part dictated by their equipment choice and music listened to; what made someone like John Nork a great reviewer was his ability to disassociate the product's sound from his biases. Same for Dave Wilson when he reviewed for TAS. Two of the best ever at their job.
Click to expand...

+1 John Nork was great, but Dave Wilson as a reviewer was in a league of his own.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Hans:

Why do you say that's an easy claim?


For purposes of disclosure, I do work with Peter on special projects.
Click to expand...

Because it is. I am not saying it isn't the best. It might be. But before I get interested I want to read more people who have a good opinion.

It reminds me a bit of this:
 
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