[floresjc]

I have a 3 year old Insight Preamp to go along with the Insight DAC and 440 amp. Edit: I should mention its driving Salk SongTowers. Love it to death, but since I have a fet valve Ultra 550 on my main system, I've become something of a "tube in the chain" guy.

Not sure that I could swing the cash to go all the way to Fet Valve preamp, but I hear nothing but good things about the T8. Do people consider this an upgrade from what I have, or more of a sidegrade to a different sound?

I'm not sure precisely what the differences would be in the all tube system, if I would lose some bass range, or gain more liquid sound. I have plenty of perfectly good AVA amps, so I was looking more for preamp options for tinkering with my system.

Thanks for any thoughts you guys might have.

[floresjc]

I've contemplated the Ultravalve, thinking it would have the most impact on my songtower system, but I don't know if I'm ready to make the jump to tube power yet 

[JerryM]

I have the T8 and Ultra 550. The 550 has a fine pair of NOS Telefunken ECC801s valves. I don't mess with those, they are perfect. As for the T8, it has seen a lot of differnt tubes. Each set brings a different flavor to the party. I can change (roll) them any time I want, and it's always fun! My current, and most long standing, favorites are NOS  Mazda/Brimar 6CG7 valves. Just awesome in my system.

Make the jump and never look back. 

Have fun,

Jerry

[avahifi]

I would suggest that you upgrade your 440 amp first to a Synergy 450 ($1000).

As I remember, and its been a while, the Plus upgrade to the Insight preamp is simply swapping out the linear op-amps to Burr Brown OPA627 devices, a pretty easy do it yourself project.  The parts are about $30 each I think.

The amp Synergy upgrade (and the Fet Valve 600R upgrade to your Ultra 550) will give you the most improvements for your money.  The Synergy amp especially.  With it, you don't need a vacuum tube preamp.

Best regards,

Frank Van Alstine

Don't send your equipment in for upgrade for at least another 6 weeks or so.  We are still way way behind in building orders for our recently ended sale.

[WGH]

The + upgrade to the Insight pre-amp is worth every penny and will keep you happy for at least 6 weeks, probably much longer.

If you really have patience I will be doing in house comparisons of the Insight+ pre-amp vs. FetValve Hybrid pre-amp, the 440 Double vs. Synergy 450, and an Insight+ DAC vs. Vision Hybrid DAC vs. FetValve Hybrid DAC. Speakers will be the Salk HT2-TL with RAAL tweeter.

Right now everything is in storage until the house remodel is finished, there is no completion date so it could be anywhere between 2 months to a year, hopefully sooner than later.

Wayne

[floresjc]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to look into that Synergy suggestion more seriously, I always figured the pre-amp would have a bigger effect. And the price is not bad either.

[avahifi]

Note that the Synergy 450 upgrade to your amp is essentially a brand new amplifier inside.  The back panel goes to bare metal except for the hardware and gets new ground plane decoupling boards, new outputs, new high current regulators, and all new audio circuit boards with multiple built in regulated power supplies and all completely rewired.

We recycle the case, the power transformer, and the large raw power supply board, and not much else.  Your amp gets a new 3 year parts and labor warranty too.

Remember what the reviewer for Enjoy the Music said as his final thought:  "buy it."

Regards,

Frank