Eastern Electric Avant Preamp ?

Ike · « **on:** 6 Mar 2011, 09:40 am »

Hi all, first post here so please be gentle!

Through my lurking I know a fair few people use Eastern Electric equipment on this forum (EE Dac thread etc).

As a long time user of the Eastern Electric Minimax preamp, I'm just wondering if anyone has heard the new Avant preamp?
Obviously it's got more functionality, remote control, balanced circuit, gain control...

But because it's a more complex design, is it any better in sound quality compared to the older Minimax preamp?
I know this question is a bit of a 'shot in the dark' with the Avant being so new, but i thought id ask anyway!

Cheers, Ike.

Ike · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Mar 2011, 12:48 pm »

Some pictures of the Avant, including the internal layout.

Gopher · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Mar 2011, 02:54 am »

It is really sexy and I was getting ready to audition and probably purchase one until I got a deal I couldn't refuse on a Shindo preamp. I do plan on checking out the Avant eventually and pit it head to head against my current pre.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Mar 2011, 09:32 am »

Nice !!

AudioSoul · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Mar 2011, 11:48 am »

Does anyone one know the price of this precious beast ...........

djbnh · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Mar 2011, 04:24 pm »

Quote from: AudioSoul on 7 Mar 2011, 11:48 am

Does anyone one know the price of this precious beast ...........

Check with Bill O'Connell over at Morningstar Audio, great person with whom to work.

Morningstar Audio Imports, Inc.
44 East University Drive
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Phone: (847) 255-1150
Fax: (847) 255-1878

Gopher · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Mar 2011, 04:50 pm »

Not sure about final pricing, but Bill said this in the EE DAC thread:

Quote from: Bill O'Connell on 8 Nov 2010, 02:37 am

They are selling in HK for $1533.00 but I have to add shipping at $110.00 and whatever Customs charges which will probably be around $50.00(if it's $100 then $1750.00) so price will be $1700.00

richidoo · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Mar 2011, 05:25 pm »

A friend of mine heard it and said it was "addictive, fast, full, detailed, dynamic, effortless." ymmv, but good first impression!

Some cool features are adjustable voltage gain between 5 and 10dB, and remote volume, true balanced input and output. EDIT: Sorry Ike, you already said all that!

Jon L · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Mar 2011, 06:02 pm »

Looks very nicely done with 3 separate transformers, clean board layout, etc.

I see 8 tubes in there, and that could get very expensive very fast for the NOS tube addicts (you know who you are).

I also see lots of polypropylene capcitors, which can get very expensive very fast for the exotic capacitor addicts

MaxCast · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Mar 2011, 12:18 am »

I listened to the Avant but I have never heard the MiniMax.
It is a very nice full function pre and quite beefy. It sounds real good but I think an investment in other tubes would be worthwhile. The phase and gain can be real useful in some systems.

Rocket · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Mar 2011, 01:03 pm »

Hi,

The Avant preamplifier really piques my interest. I've always been interested in Eastern Electrics products but a full function preamp is what I really need for my system.

Hopefully I will see some reviews soon.

Regards

Rod

Ike · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Mar 2011, 01:50 pm »

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Good to know a few people have heard it. Still waiting for the verdict with regards to the Avant vs the older and less complex (but still rather good) Minimax.

Neogeo333 · « **Reply #12 on:** 6 Apr 2011, 05:50 am »

Just got this pre from Bill a couple days ago. Let just say something happen with the shipping carrier handling it roughly and some tubes got out of the socket and broke the glass. Lucky i had some 12au7 at hand and replaced 2 broken tubes hoping it was just that. Turned the pre on and all tubes light up so continued to connect to system. I have a EE Minimax dac that been using like a pre for some time and it was ok. So i connected all cables and fired it up and hear some static noise along with music. The static noise was not present when using dac to amp but is present from pre to amp. Im guessing not only some 12au7 were damage but i think 1 or both 12ax7 got damage too by the two loose 12au7 that got out of socket. Tracked a friend to borrow a pair of 12ax7 and viola no more noise well to be precise very little noise. Told Bill about it and the guy been an excellent person promised to fix the problem with the tubes. Now that the pre is been playing for 3 days i sort of compare to the Minimax dac. I say the sound is more refine with better soundstage and more body to the music. With the dac the sound was faster and leaner. I guess this is what you guys might call that the Avant is more laid back sound and dac is more foward sound. I now hear better sound coming from my cd player an old Audio Aero Prima with volume control so i can connect directly to amp. With Prima to Avant to amp i now hear the instrument more precisely with better location of each and the music is more fuller. I think it might need more time burn-in. Up till now i think this pre is very good and has elevated the music i was listening before. My system consist of Paradigm Studio 40 V2, Nordost Flatline cables, Bob Latino ST-120 amp with KT-120 tubes,EE Avant pre, EE Minimax dac, Audio Aero Prima CD player and Nordost Red Dawn rca cables. Better cables and speakers coming soon.

Gopher · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 Apr 2011, 02:38 am »

Thanks for your feedback. A local friend who is currently demoing the Avant will be leaving it with me this weekend to evaluate in my rig. It will have its work cut out for it to produce more compelling music than my Shindo, but I do love E.E. gear, so anything is possible... and a remote would be amazing.

Bill,

Do you have any tube guidance for this pre yet? I'd probably rather demo it with the stock Shuguang tubes than a poor tube compliment.

Neogeo333 · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Apr 2011, 03:23 am »

The remote is a good thing for us "lazy" people. But like Bill told me its need to be in a clean line of sight. If i even move a bit to right or left the pre would not get the signal from remote. The only drawback from this pre for now. Ohh is very good constructed and clean and easy to change tubes. Although it would be nice to know what each tubes does, i mean 5 12au7 for a pre? one for every input? but which one? I replaced 3 12au7 with Brimars and the 2 12ax7 with RCA. Like others said before, this tube rolling thing is a bit hazardous to my wallet. Just ordered 5 Mullard NOS 12au7 and thinking about some Telefunken 12ax7 and thats not cheap.

djbnh · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Apr 2011, 09:26 pm »

Quote from: Neogeo333 on 7 Apr 2011, 03:23 am

The remote is a good thing for us "lazy" people. But like Bill told me its need to be in a clean line of sight. If i even move a bit to right or left the pre would not get the signal from remote. The only drawback from this pre for now. Ohh is very good constructed and clean and easy to change tubes. Although it would be nice to know what each tubes does, i mean 5 12au7 for a pre? one for every input? but which one? I replaced 3 12au7 with Brimars and the 2 12ax7 with RCA. Like others said before, this tube rolling thing is a bit hazardous to my wallet. Just ordered 5 Mullard NOS 12au7 and thinking about some Telefunken 12ax7 and thats not cheap.

I think the middle 12AU7 is only needed for running the balanced outs, so if you're not running balanced then leave in the stock tube in that position & save $. I'm sure Bill O can tell you what you need to know, great guy.

Neogeo333 · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Apr 2011, 05:17 am »

If im not mistaken Bill told me its the V2 position, the 12au7 closes to the balanced input that should leave in stock tube because it might not matter sonically. Anyway this pre is very good im enjoying tighter bass and more coherent music. I did not know tubes pre and amps have this much control over solid state. I have a ATI 2505 amp before the Latino ST120 and it was good, mainly used to watch movies but it was pretty good with music too, but now it seems that going all tube its a different animal. Man, the speaker seems to disappear in the room, its like the band is right there, well almost there i just cant up the volume to a high level at 11pm when i get off work. If Bill is watching this thread, can you please find out what each tubes does? Im guessing the 12ax7 are linestage?

Bill O'Connell · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Apr 2011, 12:50 pm »

Neogeo is correct. The V2 position runs the Balanced input so a stock tube will be fine.
Hopefully your set of 8 new tubes will be arriving today for the Avant.They must have really handled that with brutal force to dislodge the tubes inside the Avant.
I have a email into Alex asking to describe exactly what each tube does.

Gopher · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Apr 2011, 03:24 pm »

Speaking with a couple of friends who have been auditioning the Avant, I am informed the rectifier tube makes a large difference in there.

I'll see for myself how it performs tomorrow

Bill O'Connell · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Apr 2011, 03:36 pm »

Gopher,

I believe the one you will be auditioning has a nice NOS square getter Mullard in there. One of my favs.
The other tubes should arrive on Monday to you. The RCA's I sent to your buddy are probably to warm for your taste for sure. Since your friend was coming off a passive and wanted more warmth I may have overdone it with throwing in all RCA blackplates, I little to much of a good thing. Mix & match with the tubes that will be arriving shortly. I would have sent them overnight but $50 was just a little to much.