[Steve]

Hi Gents.

I just received the first review of the new 11A reference line preamplifier, and it is up on my site. It was very favorably reviewed against some extraordinary competition.


Here is a link.

http://www.sasaudiolabs.com/bfs3.htm

[fly_fish_nz]

Congratulations on a great review Steve!   Considering his review of the Sonic Euphoria, which I own and consider a great bargain, the comparison is a great compliment to the 11A, which sounds like a great bargain itself.  I wish he had compared sound staging with the two units, an area where I've read that transformers can be technically challenged (though I haven't noticed myself)... if the 11A captures the magic of the SE and improves sound staging it must be incredible.

[Jon L]

Congrats, Steve. 

"In terms of the music and nothing but the music, perhaps the better comparison for the SAS 11A would be the Sonic Euphoria PLC passive attenuator. Yes, it is an eggs to apples comparison, one being active and the other being based on a passive autoformer, but the end result for both is remarkably similar. It's the coherence, lack of additive distortions and dimensional transparency that makes these products as special as they are."

Reminds me of my time comparing SAS 10A with Bent TVC. I was very tempted a while back when you were selling your demo 11A 

[Steve]

Thanks guys. Yes, it is pretty interesting comparing an entire active preamp to just a volume control (as Marty calls it, eggs to apples comparison as he understands that the typical active preamp stage was excluded in the amp).

"I wish he had compared sound staging with the two units, an area where I've read that transformers can be technically challenged (though I haven't noticed myself)... if the 11A captures the magic of the SE and improves sound staging it must be incredible."

I can tell you, fly_fish_nz, the soundstage is simply amazing and the mids, highs are extremely good. The true reference. What blows away auditioners is when I play "Old Man"; an up front sounding recording (music at the speakers) and then play track 10 of stereophile CD3, soundstaging in the auditorium.

The preamp really has great side to side and front to back ratio. No distortion of the soundstage.

Along with being extremely open, the 11A is very organic and natural. Instrument and voices have a body that gives a realism of actually being there in person. I think neutral really sounds more organic than most people think.

What is really interesting is that in the previous issue, Martin makes the comment that after he installed all 4 of the LessLoss power cords in the system he states:

"The Big Rig had become something better, more musically truthful than any system I had ever heard...anywhere...anytime."

Martin was a little late with this issue compared to his usual date. What I think happened was that the PBN Olympia-L (12 grand) arrived a little before that issue, was then fully "broken in" after that issue, and he had to re write my review to include the PBN.

Anyway, the clarity/realism of the music is simply stunning. Its that last few percent that makes the difference.