Coming: 7A line preamplifier for under a grand

Steve · « **on:** 11 Dec 2007, 09:53 pm »

I am very happy with the quality of the sound. Tonal balance, timbre, dynamics, soundstage, transparency, emotion are superb. 7A will tentatively be housed in a black chassis, with or without handles. (Pictures of the 7A chassis are displayed on my forum in the "photos" section.)

Tentative features include:

1) 3 inputs and 1 output (more available upon request)

2) Single volume control and "partial" balance control.

3) Power switch will be polarity reversal type. Switch up or down for best sound. Middle position is off.

4) Same high quality selector switch, input/output jacks, volume controls as the 10A.

5) Same basic frequency response as 10A and 11A line preamplifiers

6) IEC power connector for swapping power cords.

I am hoping to have production up and running sometime around the first week in January.

Thanks.
Steve

denjo · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 12:46 am »

Steve

What a treat! Premium pre knocking on the door of affordability! The SAS pre has long been on my Wanted List of possible tube preamps to own!

I could not access your SAS Forum, without joining, to take a peek of the 7A!

Best Regards
Dennis

Ps. I read somewhere that you use Gregg's Reality cables for the internal wiring. Is this true?

opnly bafld · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 01:03 am »

If links work, here are some pictures of the chassis:
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/sasaudio2000/photos/view/cb12?b=3
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/sasaudio2000/photos/view/cb12?b=2&m=s&o=0
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/sasaudio2000/photos/view/cb12?b=4&m=s&o=0

I had an opportunity to listen to a prototype of the 7a a month ago and was very impressed.

Lin

richidoo · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 01:33 am »

Congrats Steve! Great idea to add a lower priced model to the lineup.

I was privileged to audition the 11A in my house this summer for about a week. It was simply awesome. I wish I could have kept it, but my budget was about $1000. I look forward to hearing this 'baby SAS.'

The polarity power switch is a cool idea Steve.
Rich

Steve · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Dec 2007, 08:03 pm »

Quote from: denjo on 12 Dec 2007, 12:46 am

Steve

What a treat! Premium pre knocking on the door of affordability! The SAS pre has long been on my Wanted List of possible tube preamps to own! I could not access your SAS Forum, without joining, to take a peek of the 7A!

Best Regards
Dennis

Ps. I read somewhere that you use Gregg's Reality cables for the internal wiring. Is this true?

Hi Denjo,

Thanks for the nice words Dennis, Lin, Rich. I am using Jenalab's cryod wire for some of the internals and Cardas rhodium jacks for the inputs and output.

I can go either way with the handles or black allen screws to mount the front. Whatever the customer decides.

Thanks again Dennis.
Steve

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Dec 2007, 09:13 am »

Having heard both the 10A and 11A line preamplifiers (good stuff

)....this is good news Steve....good luck with the 7A !!!

Chris

Steve · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Dec 2007, 08:19 pm »

Thanks Gents. Although the 7A is less expensive, it still reproduces the lifelike sound that my other preamps are known for. That means transparent, capable of reproducing true nuisances in a recording, and great tonality, dynamics, and accurate soundstage etc.

I am thinking of adding a tonal balance switch as well. This will allow greater flexibility to match to their individual systems. Nothing complicated mind you, but it works.

Thanks again gents.
Steve

ps. Denjo, if still interested in my forum, simply register and I will check you in.

meby · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Dec 2007, 08:42 pm »

Hey Steve are you still working on the phono pre or has that been put on a the back burner with the 7a release?

Steve · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Dec 2007, 09:11 pm »

Quote from: meby on 13 Dec 2007, 08:42 pm

Hey Steve are you still working on the phono pre or has that been put on a the back burner with the 7a release?

Hi Meby,

Just have to lay out the new board for the phono if I keep the gain as is, 37db. It will mate with either of my preamps quite nicely. It has also been suggested that I at least think about incorporating a battery powered active head amp for mc cartridges. I am thinking of alkalines with about 200-300 hours of life. I don't know if I will incorporate it.

opnly bafld · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Dec 2007, 05:31 pm »

Hey Steve,
Any updates on the 7A?

Lin

Steve · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Dec 2007, 05:15 am »

Quote from: opnly bafld on 29 Dec 2007, 05:31 pm

Hey Steve,
Any updates on the 7A?

Lin

Hi Linny,

Just got some boards in and one is almost fully assembled. Silkscreen should be done shortly. First finished 7A should be ready for final testing in a week or so.

Take care.
Steve

yo2tup · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 Dec 2007, 06:53 am »

Is there going to be a road show for the 7A?

Steve · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Jan 2008, 11:25 pm »

Hi,

I don't know if I will have a tour or not as there has already been alot of interest in the 7A. It will come with a 3 year warranty on parts and labor and 1 year on tubes. It has fallen behind schedule; maybe two weeks or so before completion and then breakin. I will decide in the coming weeks about a tour.

I am thinking of a HT bypass option upon request. It will simply route any input directly to the output with a flip of the switch. One could then shut off the preamp when in HT use.

Take care and thanks.
Steve

guest1632 · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 Jan 2008, 02:47 pm »

Quote from: Steve on 2 Jan 2008, 11:25 pm

Hi,

I don't know if I will have a tour or not as there has already been alot of interest in the 7A. It will come with a 3 year warranty on parts and labor and 1 year on tubes. It has fallen behind schedule; maybe two weeks or so before completion and then breakin. I will decide in the coming weeks about a tour.

I am thinking of a HT bypass option upon request. It will simply route any input directly to the output with a flip of the switch. One could then shut off the preamp when in HT use.

Take care and thanks.
Steve

Hi Steve,

Sounds mighty fine on the 7A. Why not just stick to the 2 volume controls? Seems like you'd be losing some openness this way. You'd still have the two controls.

Is there any way of giving some idea subjectively the differences between the 7A 10A and the 11?

Ray

Steve · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Jan 2008, 08:59 pm »

"Hi Steve,

Sounds mighty fine on the 7A. Why not just stick to the 2 volume controls? Seems like you'd be losing some openness this way. You'd still have the two controls.

Is there any way of giving some idea subjectively the differences between the 7A 10A and the 11?

Ray"

Good question Ray. There has been such a call for the convenience of a single knob volume control, I thought I might go this route this time. I will offer the option of two volume controls as it won't cost anymore to build one or the other.

I will also offer an optional bypass switch for HT.

The 7A, although not quite, not quite as good as the 10A or 11A, still exhibits outstanding transparency, dynamics, tonal accuracy, soundstaging, and lifelike sound. I think one will be hard pressed to find another pre that will equal or beat it.

All the best Ray and thanks for your input.
Steve

guest1632 · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jan 2008, 12:24 am »

Quote from: Steve on 7 Jan 2008, 08:59 pm

"Hi Steve,

Sounds mighty fine on the 7A. Why not just stick to the 2 volume controls? Seems like you'd be losing some openness this way. You'd still have the two controls.

Is there any way of giving some idea subjectively the differences between the 7A 10A and the 11?

Ray"

Good question Ray. There has been such a call for the convenience of a single knob volume control, I thought I might go this route this time. I will offer the option of two volume controls as it won't cost anymore to build one or the other.

I will also offer an optional bypass switch for HT.

The 7A, although not quite, not quite as good as the 10A or 11A, still exhibits outstanding transparency, dynamics, tonal accuracy, soundstaging, and lifelike sound. I think one will be hard pressed to find another pre that will equal or beat it.

All the best Ray and thanks for your input.
Steve

Hi Steve,

Just curious, do you use tube rectification or SS? On the 7A, same question? any info on it, like tube complement features etc. output inpedance and all that good stuff?

Ray

Steve · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 04:13 pm »

"Hi Steve,

Just curious, do you use tube rectification or SS? On the 7A, same question? any info on it, like tube complement features etc. output inpedance and all that good stuff?

Ray"

I use SS rectification although I do use a different power supply than most. I can detect/scope no ringing or other abnormalities from the diodes in my designs vs inductive included filtered power supplies, and the problems they pose. I use the JJE88cc, special caps on the 10A and 11A but different caps in the 7A.

Specifications:

Frequency Response: 10 - 25 khz (+0, less than -.1db, 100pf, 100k load)
Gain: 21db gain, approx. (can be set lower on individual inputs)

Maximum Output Voltage: 9 vrms
Total Harmonic Distortion at 2 vrms: 0.02% or less. (Predominate harmonic at least 74 db down.)
Signal Polarity: Inverts
Input Impedance: 25k ohms
Min. Amplifier Input Impedance: 20k
Volume Controls: 1
Balance Control (approx 3db variation)
Tape Loops: Special order:
Line Inputs: 3 (additonal special order)
Preamp.Outputs: 1 (but can add if ordered)
Tube: JJ E88CC (Far superior to other E88cc/6dj8 types for low distortion.)
Line Cord Length: 6 feet standard
Power Consumption: approx. 8 watts
Power Requirements: 120 Volts AC, 50/60hz.

Cheers.
Steve

guest1632 · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Jan 2008, 04:26 pm »

Quote from: Steve on 19 Jan 2008, 04:13 pm

"Hi Steve,

Just curious, do you use tube rectification or SS? On the 7A, same question? any info on it, like tube complement features etc. output inpedance and all that good stuff?

Ray"

I use SS rectification although I do use a different power supply than most. I can detect no ringing or other abnormalities from the diodes in my designs. I use the JJE88cc, special caps on the 10A and 11A but a different arrangement on the 7A.

Specifications:

Frequency Response: 10 - 25 khz (+0, less than -.1db, 100pf, 100k load)
Gain: 21db gain, approx. (can be set lower on individual inputs)

Maximum Output Voltage: 9 vrms
Total Harmonic Distortion at 2 vrms: 0.02% or less. (Predominate harmonic at least 74 db down.)
Signal Polarity: Inverts
Input Impedance: 25k ohms
Min. Amplifier Input Impedance: 20k
Volume Controls: 1
Balance Control (approx 3db variation)
Tape Loops: Special order:
Line Inputs: 3 (additonal special order)
Preamp.Outputs: 1 (but can add if ordered)
Tube: JJ E88CC (Far superior to other E88cc/6dj8 types for low distortion.)
Line Cord Length: 6 feet standard
Power Consumption: approx. 8 watts
Power Requirements: 120 Volts AC, 50/60hz.

Cheers.
Steve

Hey steve,

Nice talking to you yesterday on the phone. So in the 7A what am I giving up as far as sound goes, versus the 10A?

Ray

Steve · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 Jan 2008, 07:50 pm »

Hi Ray,

Maybe a little (not much mind you) soundstage and slightly less highs. Maybe not quite as refined. I think it is darn close between the two though.

Another thing to ponder is that transformer based passives are more reactive than a well designed active preamp.

guest1632 · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Jan 2008, 04:53 am »

Quote from: Steve on 20 Jan 2008, 07:50 pm

Hi Ray,

Maybe a little (not much mind you) soundstage and slightly less highs. Maybe not quite as refined. I think it is darn close between the two though.

Another thing to ponder is that transformer based passives are more reactive than a well designed active preamp.

Hi Steve,

Please explain. So what are you saying here? reactive in what way? Not disagreeing, just wish to understand.

Ray

Coming: 7A line preamplifier for under a grand

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