[sfox7076]

I have been looking at an original T-8 in the small chassis with a phono stage in it.  How does this compare to the sound of the newer T-8?  I can get it at a significant discount to the current T-8, but wonder what I will be missing.  Also, if I get it, I will run it in a bypass configuration off my Anthem D2V.  It looks like that should not be an issue, but have any of you done that?

Shawn

[turkey]

I have been looking at an original T-8 in the small chassis with a phono stage in it.  How does this compare to the sound of the newer T-8?  I can get it at a significant discount to the current T-8, but wonder what I will be missing.  Also, if I get it, I will run it in a bypass configuration off my Anthem D2V.  It looks like that should not be an issue, but have any of you done that?

Shawn

It depends on what you plan to do with this. If I remember, the chassis limits future upgrades. So you'll be getting a certain level of performance and that's it.

Will you be satisfied with that, or will the existence of newer versions make you unhappy?

I would imagine it's a very nice little preamp, and you will get many years of enjoyment out of it. And, as you noted, for a much lower price than a brand new one.

I have one of Frank's Super PAS preamps that I built from a used Dyna PAS and a parts kit from Frank about 25 years ago. It still works, and I even use it from time to time. It's not as good in my opinion as a newer AVA preamp, but it's still worthwhile and useful. (I could probably freshen up the electrolytic caps and get another 25 years out of it.)

I'm not suggesting that you have to think 25 years ahead, but 5-10 is realistic. I could certainly see being very happy with that preamp for the next 5-10 years at least.

If you buy it and later decide you no longer want it, send it to me. I'll give it a good home, and I'll probably still be writing about it 25 years from now.

[Listens2tubes]

I have the small chassis T8. Fresh from Frank it proved quite revealing and detailed. Being a tube rolling type I had to try some RCA black plates in the phono section, the improvement was not subtle due to the JJ's being somewhat thin sounding. For the linestage I had no 12AT7's so went about borrowing Tele's and such. Now I don't know what the differences are between it and the newer models but, using Telefunken ECC801s(12AT7) and Mullard 10M 12AX7A/ECC83 tubes in the line and phone stages I feel would bring this little preamp extremely close to it's big brother. Don't be put off by the expenso tubes I use. I wait and watch and have been lucky. Meanwhile ECC81 and ECC83 's are plentiful enough, PLAY

[sfox7076]

OK, so I have picked up the small chassis T-8.  I also ordered an Insight 240/3 from Frank.  So that means that I will have an Anthem D2v with the T-8 (using the tape loop as a HT Bypass), an Ultra 550 for my Salk fronts and the 240/3 for the surrounds and center.  Can't wait to get it all together.