Peter....
I've been holding off on writing a review on the new Autoformer Pre from Bent (John) as well. I've had mine now for about a month and a half. First off, here's a list of associated equipment:
Marantz SA11S2
VPI Scout w/ Shelter 501 Mkii
Diva Audio Virtuoso Phono Pre with Step Up
EVS 100 and 500 Mono Blocks (bi-amping) 500 on bass and 100 on mid/tweet
DIY Speakers 2.5 way Scanspeak acoustic suspension
DIY i/c and sc
Le me start off by qualifying this based on my equipment and system. My opinion here are from that only, not anything else. prior to this, I had the Consonance Cyber 222 Pre-amp (tube) and Audio Research LS-9 (solid state) pre-amp.
So, at first breakin, it was dynamic and detailed, right out of the box... You could hear things that were never there on the recording before, the SPEED, Micro DYNAMICS, and DETAILS were amazing!!! I've had good results before with the Cyber 222, but this took it up another notch! The Bent was faster and more dynamic and well, instruments had it own defined space, smaller (but more precise). I tend to think that it's more precise and smaller because it is more precise than big, as in more blurred...
I remember hearing great things with the Cyber 222 on Patricia Barber's Companion sacd, 2nd cut, the congo drums just had more speed, air and micro dynamics. It was bigger and bloommier on the 222, and well, that sounded great as well. Also, the breathing on the FIM Double Bass cd was amazing...you could here the cellist's every breathe...though I heard it as well on the 222, the Bent was more pronounce, for lack of a better word.
The one thing that I realized was that with the passive, of course I didn't get as much gain, but to be honest, with John's 7 db of gain, it's more than enough...I don't even or very rarely need to get to "unity" gain, which is at 54 on the volume display... However, the difference with the Bent and the 222 as well as the LS-9 was the Warmth, Lush, and shall I venture to say, fullness (2nd harmonic distortion) or lack there of from the Bent. It sound more lean, one may say, but it still got the bass and cello's distictive sound right, IMHO...
You'll find that with the Bent, recordings sounds amazing if recorded well and a bit lean/dry and basically not so good, if not recorded well.
Now after about 300 hours, I think the Bent is fully broken in and while it's gotten smoother, it still not "warm" like the 222 or LS-9, however, being a passive, I don't think it ever will!
I've definitely been happy with it, and well, before this when I was wanting to make a change from all tubes to something more "green", SS or Digital, I've decided that digital and passive pre is the way to go.... I don't feel guilty leaving my stuff on as the whole system (pre and amps) only draws about 25wpc at idol!
If anyone is in the SF Bay Area and interested in giving the Bent a listen, PM me.
Also, as an additive perk, John is a pleasure to deal with and is just wonderful!!!!
He is second to none in custmer service!!!
Tuan (Sonny)