Dth31
New member
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- #1
I mentioned under the Sale thread that I purchased the STP SE stage 2 preamp. This was a brand new preamp, so I can't say what the upgrade brings to the table vs the base version. What I can say is that this is a seriously good preamp and a musical joy to listen to.
The system I'm using the STP in is my "play" system. I love SET amps and love building them. Speakers are Audio Note Kits 04 speakers (basically AN/E Js with both drivers having silver voice coils and alnico magnets), Bottlehead Paramount 2A3 and DIYHifiSupply Lux91 MonoMax 300B amps, Metric Halo LIO-8 Dac, Mac Mini running Pure Music, Triode Wire Labs interconnects and speaker cables, Synergistic Research PowerCell 10SE conditioner.
The preamp I've been using is the DIYHifiSupply Tram Mk2 which uses an EML45 DHT. That preamp brings the characteristics of a good 45 amp: very musical, very detailed, very good transients, beautiful midrange, LOTS of air, and in retrospect, a bit light in the bass.
The first thing that was easy to notice is that the STP has much more of a balanced sound from top to bottom. Music is much more grounded because the relatively increased bass and mid bass create a firm foundation. There is more body to the music. Instruments are more dense. A significant improvement that was easy to hear immediately. Even more so than the very good Tram2, instruments are better sorted and separated. It's easier to follow individual instruments. Instruments sound more natural. You hear somewhat more of the violin and cello "woody" sound while still preserving the natural string sound, and without harshness. Leading edge transients are very good. Decay is very good, but not quite as good as the Tram2 (which is as good as anything I have heard).
The other thing that is immediately noticeable is that the STP does not convey "air" or the sense of being in the recording venue, to the degree that the Tram2 does. But again, that is something the Tram2 does extremely well. The STP is good, just not as good as the 45 DHT preamp.
What took longer to appreciate is how transparent the STP is. Not quite as transparent as the Tram2, which is HIGHLY transparent, but 90% of the transparency. The Tram2 also has colorations typical of a 45 tube that it brings to all recordings to some degree. Not so the STP. Different recordings and different amps sound much more different from each other thru the STP than thru the Tram2. In the music chain from source to speakers, my sense is that the STP is by far the least colored component in the chain.
I don't know how well my enthusiasm for the STP comes thru from what I've written above, so let me say it more plainly: the STP SE2 is an outstanding preamp and I REALLY like it. It not only does the audiophile things very well, it does the musical things very well. In the 3 weeks I've had the STP SE2 in my 2nd system, I've not listened to my main system once. Before I had the STP, I occasionally (every 3-4 months) listened to the 2nd system to indulge my DIY/SET hobby, but for real musical enjoyment, it was always back to the VAC/Magico system. With the STP SE2 in the 2nd system, I've been so drawn into the enjoying the music, I really haven't missed the main system. If I didn't have the other system, I could happily live with the 2nd system (with the STP in it) and not feel I was missing all that much (and VERY little of the musical enjoyment). I would NEVER have said that before the STP SE2 was in the system.
HIGHLY recommended and not not just "for the price".
Dave
The system I'm using the STP in is my "play" system. I love SET amps and love building them. Speakers are Audio Note Kits 04 speakers (basically AN/E Js with both drivers having silver voice coils and alnico magnets), Bottlehead Paramount 2A3 and DIYHifiSupply Lux91 MonoMax 300B amps, Metric Halo LIO-8 Dac, Mac Mini running Pure Music, Triode Wire Labs interconnects and speaker cables, Synergistic Research PowerCell 10SE conditioner.
The preamp I've been using is the DIYHifiSupply Tram Mk2 which uses an EML45 DHT. That preamp brings the characteristics of a good 45 amp: very musical, very detailed, very good transients, beautiful midrange, LOTS of air, and in retrospect, a bit light in the bass.
The first thing that was easy to notice is that the STP has much more of a balanced sound from top to bottom. Music is much more grounded because the relatively increased bass and mid bass create a firm foundation. There is more body to the music. Instruments are more dense. A significant improvement that was easy to hear immediately. Even more so than the very good Tram2, instruments are better sorted and separated. It's easier to follow individual instruments. Instruments sound more natural. You hear somewhat more of the violin and cello "woody" sound while still preserving the natural string sound, and without harshness. Leading edge transients are very good. Decay is very good, but not quite as good as the Tram2 (which is as good as anything I have heard).
The other thing that is immediately noticeable is that the STP does not convey "air" or the sense of being in the recording venue, to the degree that the Tram2 does. But again, that is something the Tram2 does extremely well. The STP is good, just not as good as the 45 DHT preamp.
What took longer to appreciate is how transparent the STP is. Not quite as transparent as the Tram2, which is HIGHLY transparent, but 90% of the transparency. The Tram2 also has colorations typical of a 45 tube that it brings to all recordings to some degree. Not so the STP. Different recordings and different amps sound much more different from each other thru the STP than thru the Tram2. In the music chain from source to speakers, my sense is that the STP is by far the least colored component in the chain.
I don't know how well my enthusiasm for the STP comes thru from what I've written above, so let me say it more plainly: the STP SE2 is an outstanding preamp and I REALLY like it. It not only does the audiophile things very well, it does the musical things very well. In the 3 weeks I've had the STP SE2 in my 2nd system, I've not listened to my main system once. Before I had the STP, I occasionally (every 3-4 months) listened to the 2nd system to indulge my DIY/SET hobby, but for real musical enjoyment, it was always back to the VAC/Magico system. With the STP SE2 in the 2nd system, I've been so drawn into the enjoying the music, I really haven't missed the main system. If I didn't have the other system, I could happily live with the 2nd system (with the STP in it) and not feel I was missing all that much (and VERY little of the musical enjoyment). I would NEVER have said that before the STP SE2 was in the system.
HIGHLY recommended and not not just "for the price".
Dave
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