Gentlemen, or Gentlewomen, if that should apply, these are all very useful comments. I appreciate them. I remember a review by Martin DeWulf in Bound for Sound five or more years ago. He then made mention of the SAS 10A, and still does. I’ve had that preamp on my mind ever since. I looked at the SAS website about a month ago and the most recent version of just the 10A is above $1.5K, if I remember correctly – plus no remote. (Correct me if I am wrong.) Still, this unit appeals to me, but not my wallet, and I don’t think I have ever seen one used on ‘gon. I also have wondered… how far away is Morton IL (Steve Sammet) from Kewanee IL (Martin DeWulf)?
Mr. DeWulf has possibly influenced my audio purchasing habits more than any other writer. He has had good things to say about the AI 3A. I could well consider this unit. It certainly has a proven track record, though it is also known for gobbling tubes. Again, no remote, but if push came to shove, this is a sacrifice I could make if the sonic benefits truly merited it. (I suspect my wife would be afraid to touch it though, due to the dual controls. And in case it crosses your mind that that could be a good thing, my experience has been that my domestic tranquility is greatly served by keeping my wife involved in this “hobby.”)
I am afraid of anything Melos. My apologies, duggie. My concern is where would I have it serviced, or get replacement parts. Maybe I need to know the mod artist you spoke of. Something I’ve heard over the past several years (I guess that makes it a rumor) is that the dependability of the Melos products is not all it should be. Maybe, maybe not, but it gives me cause to pause. For example, I drive a pickup truck. I don’t drive it because it is stylish. I drive it because it is completely dependable. I admire this same quality in audio gear. This dependability issue also is something addressed in the Channel Islands Audio products, but there is no tube preamp in Dusty’s offerings.
Soooo, that brings us to the Candella. Maybe two weeks ago I looked for this item on the Odyssey site. I didn’t find it. So, I forgot about it. From what I have gathered, it’s predecessor was not too successful, so it stands to reason that a new offering would hopefully overcompensate for the, was it the ‘Tempest’? The life of an independent audio firm/rep/manufacturer hinges, perhaps completely, on consumer confidence. All this means that with a reputable company like Odyssey, the Candella should be an over achiever. Are there reviews available?
I only have one ‘issue’ with the Candella recommendation: It comes from a Packer fan!! I’ve been a Vikings fan for more than 30 years, which is a real study in masochism. To take advise from a Packers fan is really pouring salt in the wound. However, thankfully, bunky’s post has made the wisdom offered by MaxCast much more digestible. I thank you both.
I will have to look into the Candella. I’ve not as yet had a chance to follow the links provided by bpage, so I can make no comment on anything with a Korato nameplate. I would prefer to invest in a product with a track record, however. I make a poor early adopter.
Oddly, I noticed that no one has mentioned any product by Mike Sanders, Quicksilver Audio. Along with the SAS, I have always wondered about this company and Mr. Sanders designs. Is there a reason, I wonder, that Quicksilver has gone unmentioned, or are these unadvertised tube designs just not widely known?
Again, my appreciation for all of your comments. I live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so it is hard for me to audition components – unless they are found at Best Buy or Circuit City.
While I was writing Weez just posted. He reminded me of how disappointed I was with my first ‘hind-end’ preamp, a CJ 10A. It sounded like the audio signal was being transmitted behind a wet dishrag. Talk about veils! Perhaps something was wrong with it. He also reminded me of how I have previously been a satisfied customer of Frank Van Alstine. My very first amp was a AVA modded Dynaco 70. I currently use a modded PAS 3 from AVA. I was going to get a T7, but then he discontinued it. Now he has an “ultra” product line with a $300 option for a remote. This, regrettably, brings it above my budget. The Grounded Grid I also have heard good things about, but if I buy one used, then the issue becomes, “Who put this together and, my god, I hope they solder better than I do.” Oh, the Shrimp is a possibility, but again, no remote.
Let me say thank you again. All your opinions are welcome... and invited.
Please allow me to chime in!
First I've never heard an Odyssey Tempest, but have some listening time in front of the Candella, the Quicksilver, and the Conrad Johnson 10A, pluse one more from ASL and a couple other solid state preamps. Something must be wrong with your CJ. Mine was completely rebuilt at the factory right before I came into it. It is a touch lean, but never veiled. Think maybe the very high end is it's weak spot, but may be a little light on the bottom end as well (note I'm not a deep bass freak).
I replaced my Quicksilver line stage with the Candella about a 120 hours ago, and after fifteen minutes I knew the Quicksilver was history. The reason I went with the Quicksilver in the first place was for acoustic jazz. I use a 40 watt tubed amp (more on this later) driving a pair of Meadowlark Kestrel Hot Rods. The speakers were bought for the ability to do live acoustic music, and my only complaint is that I don't have a pair of Shearwater Hot Rods. I use a Jolida CD100A as well as a Marantz 8260 along with a Wright WP100 phono stage and a Acoustic Signature Final Tool turn table. I am pretty happy with the setup, but will confess to an upgrade bug in the analog section (I'm keeping the turn table).
When I first powered up the Candella I knew I liked what I was hearing. The sound stage was a little small, but expected this. After about fifteen hours you really could tell a difference in a big way. At that time the key boards were the best I've ever heard, and really noticed that everything seemed to move with much more athority. The lower end was gaining some serious punch. The upright bass was just begining to show itself, but a little light weight. The trumpet was already excellent, but maybe wanting some more in the upper scale. Drums were pretty much there, but the brass still wasn't. The tenor sax was distant, but had a nice sound. At the thirty hour point the upright bass was really starting to open up, and at the same time being very detailed. The bottom end of the bass was starting to sound like a good quality instrument. Started to notice something that has alway alluded me in the past. The actual distance between each piece of brass in the drum set. Could hear the sizzle of the snares even after the sticks had moved onto something else. There was absolutly no rumble in the bass!!! Tenor sax was moving forward, but still a touch light. Found myself wanting the last two octives really bad (this preamp will make you hungry for more and more). Somewhere close to forty hours I had the full tenor sax, and somewhere close to fifty hours I could almost feel the strings accross the bridge vibrate. By now the brass has got a luster to it that you only hear live. The sound stage is the best to be in front of me. I notice things that never showed up with the others. The tenor moving from five feet to the left of center to way right. The speed of the Candella is really showing itself. By now only a very small handfull of people have ever heard the Candella, and all that heard it loved it. My brother dropped by, and his first comment was that he'd never heard anything like it! Begged me to play "You Don't Love Me" by the Alman Brothers. Later on my sons dropped by while I was playing some George Mraz. The oldest two were stunned. Josh caught the speed of the system right away (about a hundred hours). This preamp does vocals better than the Quicksilver. Bessie Smith sounds so real she's scarey. Same thing with Alberta Hunter. Sound wise I just don't know what more I could want for. Maybe one more source input would be about it.
I have no idea what the insides of this unit looks like, so I wont comment on interior build quality. The ouside is very well done. The first thing you notice when you pick it up is that it's not a light weight. I sorta figured that if the new preamp was built like their amps, then it'd be built like a tank. I have two mono extremes that are well broke in waiting on the new cables. But the funny thing is the tube amp never has sounded so good! Still I know what those two mono blocs sound like, and am quite anxious.
Please note this isn't a review, but just simple observations. I gain nothing from these rambelings, and even had to buy my own beer.
Gary
