[jimdgoulding]

Me, too, Doug.  For new product I would head for the Mystere CA21 but for analog playback you gotta add a step-up device.  Hate it when that happens.   

Sutherland has a sweet battery powered phono pre for a grand.  I'd very much like to audition that puppy mated to the Mystere.  Just thinking out loud.  I had a Van Alstine modified Dyna in the late 70's.  A Precision Fidelity after that.  I'm a card carrying tube pre member to this day, too.   

[drjjpdc]

Jim, I know about the advantages of battery power, but the thing that always gets me is how they continually discharge and change the sound over time. I mean tubes change too but not like batteries.

[smargo]

Hello,
 I swapped the Creek out with a vintage Dynaco PAS 3 rebuilt for me by our moderator.  The difference was startling.  The music became full bodied and had more depth.  It was like comparing AM to FM or something like that.  I read a lot of discussion here about people wandering what this type of change might do for their system.  It sure made a difference for me.  The amp is an APA 150 from Parts Express.
 
Howard Stever
Ste. Genevieve, Mo.

totally get what you are doing - im currently enjoying an original dynaco amp (modified of course) -which is running thru my arcam preamp - i know it sounds paradoxical but the  solid state preamp running thru the tube vintage amp sounds marvellous


of course in 3 months or so ill make a switch to an all tube setup followed by another 3 months of an all solid state setup - but its ok i dont have to have one system to satisfy me anymore for a lifetime

[jimdgoulding]

Jim, I know about the advantages of battery power, but the thing that always gets me is how they continually discharge and change the sound over time. I mean tubes change too but not like batteries.

Oh, that doesn't sound very cool.  Hadn't even thought about it.  Thanks.

[S Clark]

I've had a battery operated tube preamp for nearly 3+ years and have never notice a difference in sound as the battery discharges.  I also have a battery tube buffer/passive pre, which also shows no change until the unit simply stops playing.  With a battery powered dac, I can hear distortion as the battery gets weak... but the topic here is pre-amps.