Beacon Two Preamplifier & LH-1 Cable tour: Impressions & Reviews

MaxCast · « **Reply #100 on:** 9 Oct 2010, 01:46 pm »

Do I read this right, the preamp has been in one location for 1 month?

Niteshade · « **Reply #101 on:** 9 Oct 2010, 02:28 pm »

The power supply was missing and it took a long time to straighten it out since it was shipped back to the last person on the tour. Then it was shipped to me and I had to ship it out. Everything is OK now and once Dangerbird has had 1.5 weeks with it, he'll ship to the next person. I'll keep everybody updated.

As long as all the parts ship with it from now on- we'll be on schedule.

dangerbird · « **Reply #102 on:** 9 Oct 2010, 08:15 pm »

Quote from: MaxCast on 9 Oct 2010, 01:46 pm

Do I read this right, the preamp has been in one location for 1 month?

Yep-- I just received the PS this week,,thru no-ones fault,,I guess that USPS should bear some of the blame and responsibility though.Now I feel pressured to post my impressions and ship it on to the next person,,,,and it's soooo nice and involving I don't wanna' let it go,,so with that said,,I'll gather my thoughts and post a review.

dangerbird · « **Reply #103 on:** 9 Oct 2010, 09:03 pm »

Okay-- here we go.I'm kinda in awe with this pre amp.First,,it's pretty simple in looks and design,,,which is really a good thing,,it does it's job,,I like the old sayin' Keep it simple stupid,,,, sometimes called the KISS principle or approach.I am reminded of the gear/rigs that have impressed me the most in my audio journey,,and ALL of them were pretty simple,,source,pre,amp speakers,, you know what I'm talking about,,the rigs that sounded the best were the ones that "kept it simple". The good stuff,, it's fast,,somewhat neutral(a good thing),and very,very involving and organic.Lonnie Johnson and Elmer Snowden were in my room,,I kid you not,,I am very familar with this old recording,and I heard detail that I never knew was there,subtle licks on the guitar,the stings of an upright bass as they are plucked.My wife came into the room,,listened for about an hour and said,,"we gotta' get one of these". To me,,what really stands out,is the naturalness and subtle things that just kinda' grab you and make you want to listen to more,which is exactly what I'm gonna' do for the rest of the weekend.My other pre amps,,, a Belles 20A with Clarity Cap MR series upgrades,,an EE minimax with Tom Tutay upgrades,,and a Wright WLA 12A that is heavily tweaked with VH Audio OIMP caps and PS upgrades.One of them will go to make room for the Beacon,,seriously.
The rigs that I auditioned the Beacon in with (NOS Sylvania 6SN7 Brown Base WGTA)

Rotel 855 CD Player (modded)
Quicksilver GLA with EH 6CA7's
Polk SDA 1C's (upgraded crossovers & RDO replacement tweeters)

Next up
Rotel 855 Cd Player/VPI Scout/Denon 103R/Cinemag SUT with Dynavector P-75 phono pre
Quicksilver M-80 Monoblocs
Tyler Acoustics Taylos Reference Monitors

Lastly,,I'm certainly no EE,,but Mr Blair is on to something here guys,,just my .02,,the Beacon will surprise you, it's the real thing.

Oh yeah--DEAD Quiet.

Thanks for the opportunity.

bunky · « **Reply #104 on:** 9 Oct 2010, 10:46 pm »

Hey George/dangerbird, i am glad to hear that the Beacon 2 is a nice preamplifier.

dangerbird · « **Reply #105 on:** 9 Oct 2010, 10:52 pm »

William,, I've been listening to it for hours,,no fatigue,,the inner detail is simply amazing.

dangerbird · « **Reply #106 on:** 10 Oct 2010, 01:18 pm »

After more time spent with the Beacon, I can honestly say that the detail is just simply amazing. I've been doing some thinking lately,and of all the pieces that I own,the most trouble free is the older PTP wired amps.Mr Lamphear explained to me in a pm that his circuit (I'm not quoting here) has been around for 50 plus years and he has "tweaked" the basic design/principle to match/compliment the tubes used.Hence,,when I say simple design,,it was explained to me that a more straightforward-thought out--planned designed/path is actually what it is.

I'm just an average working guy,who is excited about the affordable gear that is available to me.I strongly encourage anyone who is looking to get into tubes to seriously consider this product,,yes,I think it's that good,,when you consider the price,,to me,,it's a no brainer.

Mr Lamphear,, thank you for allowing myself and others (whom you have never met,much less know) to evaluate this unit. Too many times, we look for all of the "lights,whistles,buzzers and bells" as we wade thru the mounds of electronic "gizmos'" searching for the holy grail.

Folks- this guy (Blair) is on to something,,I kid you not.

Thanks again for the opportunity--BTW-- how old are you Blair?

Niteshade · « **Reply #107 on:** 10 Oct 2010, 11:11 pm »

I explained to George that part of my engineering philosophy goes back to the 20's & 30's when circuits were very well thought out due to a lack of high tech materials and components. Tesla was extremely innovative due to a lack of high quality electrical components. When you use a design philosophy that's based on the efficient use of materials and apply it to what we have to work with today...WOW! I am not actually using 80 year old designs- the designs are my own and I'm 37, to answer George's question.

dangerbird · « **Reply #108 on:** 11 Oct 2010, 12:14 am »

Thanks for the reply--I'm 61,,so I can remember what the tube gear of the 60's sounded like,,the warm glow,,and the smell,that tube smell,,

,unmistakable,,good on you for hanging with tried and proven design methodologies and adding your own touch.A fellow on another forum has one of your amps,and is very pleased(cat ate the canary grin)

Mariusz · « **Reply #109 on:** 11 Oct 2010, 01:35 am »

Glad you liked it. Any word on bass with "multidriver" speakers?

P.S
Blair
we are almost the same age.
And keep the tour list/order as simple as your circuits.

Mariusz

Niteshade · « **Reply #110 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 04:54 pm »

Updated tour list and schedule:

New list, minus ones who have reviewed it. I put it in receiving order:

1] ETCARROLL
2] MAXCAST
3] JAKE J

The Beacon II and LH1's are scheduled to be shipped on the 19th.

FYI: Dangerbird's review did not start until the 7th due to the lack of a filament supply.

etcarroll · « **Reply #111 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 06:53 pm »

sweet!

dangerbird · « **Reply #112 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 10:51 pm »

Okay-- ya'll want to know about bass response,,he,he,, certainly no issues here,, the Tyler Reference Monitors certainly do not dig very low,,however their bass response actually seemed/sounded tighter and with a little more authority with the Beacon in place.The Beacon and the Polk SDA's bass response was definately tighter(no flabby-flubby bass here.A couple of things that I have noticed with the monitors are,, better soundstage and a smoother more "liquid" mid bass.Hope this helps.

dangerbird · « **Reply #113 on:** 18 Oct 2010, 05:12 pm »

Shipped today with all parts/pieces/gizmos, to the next reviewer from the Great State of Pennsylvania,, should be there on Wednesday.I hope you have as much fun/enjoyment as I did.Thank you Blair for the opportunity.

etcarroll · « **Reply #114 on:** 20 Oct 2010, 08:25 pm »

UPS left a box on step at 4pm, nice job packing.

Probably all I'll do tonight is unpack, check for visible damage, and plug in to be sure it comes 'on tap'.

Darn, just swapped stock amp fuses for Acme Audio Cryoed ones, may have to swap back while testing the Beacon 2 to be sure I attribute any changes to where they belong.

http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/16482

etcarroll · « **Reply #115 on:** 21 Oct 2010, 02:54 pm »

I like the fit and finish of the LH-1, but a question, have folks used it from pre to amp, or source to pre?

Any preference? Not that I wont try both.

dangerbird · « **Reply #116 on:** 21 Oct 2010, 03:20 pm »

I tried them in both positions,, I preferred them between pre and Amp---YMMV--have fun with the audition.BTW__I used some Sylvania WGTA's in the beacon.
They worked out well for me

etcarroll · « **Reply #117 on:** 21 Oct 2010, 05:12 pm »

Just powered up for first time - was freaked out by some explosive feedback.

Shut everything down. Counted to 10 and hoped my speakers were OK.

Brought the Beacon, my amp and CDP back on line under low volume, heard one pop then music in both speakers.

Going to let the Beacon warm up for awhile before giving it gain.

Everyrthing else at operating temps, as I ran a few hours of test music through my system just to get a 'baseline' for the sound, then disconnected my pre from amp and cdp, and ran those wires to Beacon.

I'm a tube noob, is there a 'best practices' for start-up?

Mariusz · « **Reply #118 on:** 21 Oct 2010, 05:18 pm »

Source on
Pre - Beacon on
Amp on
Let warm up for a minute press play

When done

Amp off
Pre off
Source off

Have a shot of vodka

Go to bad

Edit

beacon pre goes between your amp and source

dangerbird · « **Reply #119 on:** 21 Oct 2010, 05:21 pm »

Hmmm, the pre should be powered up for a few minutes first,, then the power amp(s),,make sure that the in/outs are correct(never hurts to double check),,I was able to switch inputs on the fly without any pops,etc,,good luck,,please keep us posted.Once I received the "walwart" my evaluation went smooth. Good luck.