[TheChairGuy]

Mike Sanders and Quicksilver Audio are best known for their tube amps....but for over a decade produced one preamp....The Full Function Preamplifier.

Built along the lines of classic Audio Research tube pre-amps - this is a nice pre-amp.  It has a tape monitor, a mono-stereo-reverse-left-right selector, 6 outlets on back, stepped volume control, mute button, 20db cut button , and a very tasty MM phono stage. Phono stage was very much used and enjoyed thoroughly 

It weighs 21 lbs nekked and has a vastly oversized transformer and lotsa' capacitive storage (for any preamp, let alone a tube one).  It was built for the duration.

It is tube rectified thru use of 2 x 6x4's.  Other tubes are 2 FQ7's (only Phillips made these to my knowledge), 2 x 12AX7's (curently Sovtek 12AX7LPS') and 1 x 12AU7.  I didn't find tube rolling to change much of the character of this preamp, but you can always try 

Paired with my Odyssey Khartago solid state preamps it made wonderful music.

The unit was purchased from Echo Audio in Portland, OR two years ago and got a clean bill of health upon sale to me.

Reasons for selling?

1.  I am moving a few miles away in a couple months and this is spare to my needs now.

2.  I got bit by the tube amp bug a year ago and I prefer a solid state pre-amp in front. As well, my current SS preamp features a MM and MC phono stage and an AM-FM tuner.  So, I save space in my limited rack with use of it.

Any questions - fire away.

John 

[TheChairGuy]

Additionally (as someone is likely to ask):

12AU7 tube is (I think) a Sylvania currently.  It's USA made, other markings are hazy.  So many of these 12AU7's are noisy, so I choose the quietest one of a bunch that I have here.  It didn't seem to matter a whit in pre-amp sound or character, it was just the quietest.

The 6x4 rectifiers are RCA's.

All the tubes I received the unit with 2 years ago were changed out to either new (Sovtek) or NOS.

This is a very capable pre-amp with hugely overbuilt power supplies.  It originally sold for $1995.00.

Thx, John

[TheChairGuy]

This is mostly a cheeky way to bump this ad forward:  see my other ad http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=50125.msg449788#msg449788

Thx, John

[TheChairGuy]

My other ad item is now sold...the Quicksilver is still available (after a pleasant tet-a-tet with a new member here interested yesterday).

It came down to space utilization for him 

The Quickie has a box or body that is standard 17" wide......two (non-removeable) rack mount ears add an extra inchto each side.  So, the total width of the front of the front panel is 19". This is a rack-mount style preamplifier...with two pull handles (chrome plated if it doesn't show up cleanly in the pics).

Regards, John

[TheChairGuy]

ugg....don't MAKE me put it on Audiogon. 

Handing over $6 to those guys is less appealing each and every time I have to  (and, as AC has become a more popular gathering spot, I've had to employ them less and less  )

John

[tonyptony]

Built along the lines of classic Audio Research tube pre-amps - this is a nice pre-amp.  It has a tape monitor, a mono-stereo-reverse-left-right selector, 6 outlets on back, stepped volume control, mute button, 20db cut button , and a very tasty MM phono stage. Phono stage was very much used and enjoyed thoroughly 

John, if this helps in any way...

"nice pre-amp"? I'd call it one of the nicest pre-amps I've ever heard at normal prices. My friend has had one for over 16 years, and he's in no hurry to replace it. And there have been a few others plugged into his system for a trial or two.

If I didn't already have a pre-amp that I was quite happy with I'd go for it myself. Great pre at a very nice price.

[TheChairGuy]

Hey Tony - yeah, it is a nice preamp.  Tho a marketing guy, I try not to overpump a product if I can help it. The next owner will know soon enough if it's a keeper or not.

Thx for the input.

Regards, John

[TheChairGuy]

A couple folks with sincere interest contacted me, but the preamp is still available.

Puh-lease don't make me hand over $6 to the rag-a-muffins running Audiogon 

John

[lonewolfny42]

Its a nice deal for what John is asking....and....a good review on AA....

[TheChairGuy]

Thanks for the reminder, WolfyChris....I didn't even know this preamp existed until I read this review about 2 years ago at AA....then I bought it when I saw one available (after reading the review).

btw, no fuses or tubes blew while I used it for the better part of a year (and I have my gear on about 200 days yearly for 8 hours on average a day).  I read elsewhere the (earlier) twin 6x4 rectifed versions (versus the single 5r4 version) sounded better...Mike Saunders told me he changed the design in later models because 6x4's have an inherently shorter lifespan and folks were using them up too fast.  Sonically, the twin 6x4's are better.

Again, these were re-tubed when I got it and there was no issue with the 6x4 tubes in my care.

I called Mike and told him...he told me to just enjoy the preamp (so I did) 

There are no factory upgrades to the preamp (this was the top model)...Mike simply re-biases, re-tubes and changes out any tired caps with the same value versions.

John

[kmanusa]

Still available?

[TheChairGuy]

Yes - it is - I've answered your PM, too.

Thx & Regards, John

[TheChairGuy]

The preamp has now been sold - to kmanusa (thanks Keith!)

luckylou/Rafael - I received your message today, but kmanusa had already spoken for the unit.  Nice to meet/speak to you regardless...

Best, John