Looking for new Line Stage Preamp "ideas & opinions"

Presb4 · « **Reply #20 on:** 25 Oct 2024, 02:25 am »

All, thank you for your ideas/comments thus far. I have looked at all of them and some I'm still digging into, so keep the options coming.
Thank you

Presb4 · « **Reply #21 on:** 14 Mar 2025, 11:36 pm »

So, a Raven has landed for a spin in my rack.
Yes, it was a departure from my original post and what I was initially looking for but the more I studied it, the more it sounded like what I needed.
I have around 50 hours on it and some initial tube rolling, it is a significant improvement to my system. I will probably post my opinion over in the spatial circle for those interested.

corndog71 · « **Reply #22 on:** 15 Mar 2025, 04:57 pm »

I use a PSAudio Gain Cell DAC as a preamp. It’s one of the best preamps I’ve heard under $1500. It’s very transparent because it doesn’t use a typical pot. The DAC part isn’t as good as my Schiit Yggdrasil though.

Presb4 · « **Reply #23 on:** 15 Mar 2025, 06:15 pm »

I hear you on the pot making a significant difference. I use to kind of over look that part in a Pre, but the more I tinker and measure the more I have realized, and should have be obvious, all of the signal passes through the volume control. Thus it is critically important to get it right. The Raven uses a shunt style dual mono relay from KHOZMO ACOUSTIC which looks to be a very nice control.

mkrawcz · « **Reply #24 on:** 15 Mar 2025, 08:46 pm »

Anybody have any experience with this? I’ve been eyeballing it for a while.

http://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm

nlitworld · « **Reply #25 on:** 15 Mar 2025, 09:45 pm »

Quote from: mkrawcz on 15 Mar 2025, 08:46 pm

Anybody have any experience with this? I’ve been eyeballing it for a while.

http://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm

I have their older SP9 and can attest their cost/quality is awesome. Also have their PH16 phono. Upgrade a few components along the way, pop some nos tubes in, and you'll be sitting pretty for quite some time.

PumaCat · « **Reply #26 on:** 16 Mar 2025, 02:30 am »

Quote from: Presb4 on 14 Mar 2025, 11:36 pm

So, a Raven has landed for a spin in my rack.
Yes, it was a departure from my original post and what I was initially looking for but the more I studied it, the more it sounded like what I needed.
I have around 50 hours on it and some initial tube rolling, it is a significant improvement to my system. I will probably post my opinion over in the spatial circle for those interested.

Looks very nice! Congrats! I can't tell what the Raven is resting on, but something I'll suggest for your consideration is to place it on some good footers to attenuate the impact of vibration (from your room acoustics) on it. Source components e.g. preamps, phono stages, and DACs, in particular, are very suspectible to the influence/impact of vibration on the component. The physics behind this is that when your speakers pressurize the room, this energy couples to the walls, which then couples to the floor* and the floor imparts vibration to the component resting on the rack. I'll just add that drywall, which most homes are constructed from, resonates at 70 Hz (!). The impact of this vibration has an clearly audible impact on the audio quality from a loudspeaker-based system. I'm confident that Danny would confirm this fact, as well.

The best footers I've found are EVPs from A/V Roomservice. The graphic in this PDF from A/V Roomservice depicts this very clearly. This image shows is really happening in folk's rooms (and homes, for that matter)
https://avroomservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/EVP-Fun-Facts.pdf

Link to EVPs here: https://avroomservice.com/evp-2/ Just order the density that for the weight of your new preamp.

You'd only need to get 3, and place them in a tripod arrangement (you can't rock a tripod, which another advantage of using only 3)

You could also consider from Orea footers from IsoAcoustics. At the very least, place it on some Tenderfoot footers from Herbie's Audio Labs: https://herbiesaudiolab.com/products/tenderfoot?variant=12643255353399

Just a suggestion for your consideration. Cheers.

*-Lots of folks think that if they have their system and speakers resting on a concrete slab floor, that it's not susceptible to the impact of ringing/vibration. This is, in fact, completely incorrect and inaccurate. At a specific resonant frequency, concrete actually rings like a bell. This is just the physics of material sciences and acoustics. Cheers.

Presb4 · « **Reply #27 on:** 17 Mar 2025, 03:28 am »

I built stand that holds all of my gear, its 1 3/4 in solid Ash and 3 levels tall, it weighs in at around 200 lbs without my audio gear in it.
The Raven comes with Iso-acoustic footers build into the preamp. I have been very happy with the design so far as they didn't cut any corners that I can find, within reason.

Presb4 · « **Reply #28 on:** 17 Mar 2025, 03:32 am »

Quote from: mkrawcz on 15 Mar 2025, 08:46 pm

Anybody have any experience with this? I’ve been eyeballing it for a while.

http://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm

Mkrawcz,
If you are looking at building the SP14, Don's latest designs today use a number of components from Nuerochrome that you could use to upgrade the SP14 a little. Check them out. https://neurochrome.com/

morganc · « **Reply #29 on:** 17 Mar 2025, 03:34 am »

You cannot go wrong with a Don Sachs line stage if you love tone and timbre. I have been around here long enough to have owned several of his pieces and I had great results with the Isolate It Sorbothane footers.

PumaCat · « **Reply #30 on:** 17 Mar 2025, 03:34 am »

Quote from: Presb4 on 17 Mar 2025, 03:28 am

The Raven comes with Iso-acoustic footers build into the preamp.

Cool. You're good to go. Cheers.

Cut-Throat · « **Reply #31 on:** 17 Mar 2025, 05:26 pm »

I also have a Don Sachs Pre-Amp that he built for me 6 years ago around the SP-14. I opted for all of the upgrades at that time. I liked the design of his pre-amps back then. Best pre-amp I have had in my system.

fre11111 · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 Mar 2025, 09:28 am »

Hey guys,

I am using a AESTHETIX CALYPSO ECLIPSE TUBE LINESTAGE. Very musical sounding preamp, using NOS 12AX7 TELEFUNKEN and new 6922 TELEFUNKEN tubes with SR purple fuse. Beautiful sounding preamp.

Cut-Throat · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 Mar 2025, 08:24 pm »

Quote from: fre11111 on 18 Mar 2025, 09:28 am

Hey guys,

I am using a AESTHETIX CALYPSO ECLIPSE TUBE LINESTAGE. Very musical sounding preamp, using NOS 12AX7 TELEFUNKEN and new 6922 TELEFUNKEN tubes with SR purple fuse. Beautiful sounding preamp.

$12 Grand. Right?

fre11111 · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 Mar 2025, 09:02 pm »

Quote from: Cut-Throat on 18 Mar 2025, 08:24 pm

$12 Grand. Right?

I think that is what it is going now. I bought this used and is an older year model.

fre11111 · « **Reply #35 on:** 18 Mar 2025, 10:34 pm »

I am hoping I get a chance to hear a PS AUDIO BHK PREAMP and BHK amp and compare with my AESTHETIX CALYPSO and SMC AUDIO DNA-1 combo.

mkrawcz · « **Reply #36 on:** 18 Mar 2025, 11:37 pm »

Quote from: fre11111 on 18 Mar 2025, 10:34 pm

I am hoping I get a chance to hear a PS AUDIO BHK PREAMP and BHK amp and compare with my AESTHETIX CALYPSO and SMC AUDIO DNA-1 combo.

I’ve had the BHK pre and BHK300s for over 5 years. For some reason, the synergy of them both paired together is a lot better than each component with other equipment. Both the preamp and amp still sound excellent apart from each other, but together there is something special going on. The unfortunate thing is that the BHK preamp is very unreliable in my experience. The servo boards behind the tubes go bad constantly. I’ve had mine back to PS Audio 4 times for repair. The last time was a full preamp replacement and the same issue happened. I suspect that’s the real reason why they discontinued it. But the amps have been great all this time.

fre11111 · « **Reply #37 on:** 19 Mar 2025, 12:00 am »

Quote from: mkrawcz on 18 Mar 2025, 11:37 pm

I’ve had the BHK pre and BHK300s for over 5 years. For some reason, the synergy of them both paired together is a lot better than each component with other equipment. Both the preamp and amp still sound excellent apart from each other, but together there is something special going on. The unfortunate thing is that the BHK preamp is very unreliable in my experience. The servo boards behind the tubes go bad constantly. I’ve had mine back to PS Audio 4 times for repair. The last time was a full preamp replacement and the same issue happened. I suspect that’s the real reason why they discontinued it. But the amps have been great all this time.

Yes, and by this time I already know the spund that I am looking for. Big, wide, neutral to warm, rich, deep,dynamic and musical. I do not chase ultra fidelity and highest of resolution. My current system gives me this already but my past experience in retail and installation is that a straight brand system sounds really good. I used to have a FULL REGA SYSTEM before and everything sounded really good together. CD PLAYER, TABLE, AMP, DAC, PRE and SPEAKER, EVEN CABLES. It wasnt a ultra detailed system but very musical.

jmimac351 · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Mar 2025, 12:28 am »

Quote from: fre11111 on 19 Mar 2025, 12:00 am

Yes, and by this time I already know the spund that I am looking for. Big, wide, neutral to warm, rich, deep,dynamic and musical. I do not chase ultra fidelity and highest of resolution. My current system gives me this already but my past experience in retail and installation is that a straight brand system sounds really good. I used to have a FULL REGA SYSTEM before and everything sounded really good together. CD PLAYER, TABLE, AMP, DAC, PRE and SPEAKER, EVEN CABLES. It wasnt a ultra detailed system but very musical.

This is what I've done with my Ayre equipment and I have no itch whatsoever to change any of it. I think it's worth nothing there may be very good reasons for using gear that's made to get along with other gear. The input impedance for my stuff is 1M Ohms, per leg. It's all DC coupled - no caps. It's all Balanced the same proper way. I suspect there is something to all of that synergy. I just wish people could hear what I'm hearing with this gear and Danny's hand on the speakers.

I play with wire and speakers these days - trying to figure out the recipe for what I want and how to get there. Looks like it's gonna be a buffet of speakers around this joint...

Wire is crazy... spooky. Matter of fact, if I were considering another piece of gear, I would be thinking of how much $$$ the wire is going to cost me as well. I have found that wire is absolutely a Component. I have a piece that has DAC / PEQ / Preamp All In One... studio grade equipment. It's not my "main preamp"... but it could be at exponentially lower cost. Besides the cost of the piece, that makes for eliminating a few cables as well... simplification. Point being, if someone can use an All In One piece as a preamp it can help save money for the wire people don't realize they need. It can make a lot of sense.

BrandonB · « **Reply #39 on:** 19 Mar 2025, 01:11 am »

Quote from: jmimac351 on 19 Mar 2025, 12:28 am

This is what I've done with my Ayre equipment and I have no itch whatsoever to change any of it. I think it's worth nothing there may be very good reasons for using gear that's made to get along with other gear. The input impedance for my stuff is 1M Ohms, per leg. It's all DC coupled - no caps. It's all Balanced the same proper way. I suspect there is something to all of that synergy. I just wish people could hear what I'm hearing with this gear and Danny's hand on the speakers.

Have you heard anything about Ayre coming out with a new DAC? I know they say the QX-5 twenty is awesome but the technology just seems to be changing rapidly.