Gear / Technical Help > Playback Forum
new pre...woohoo!
Brian Skalinder:
Alright, Tim's post about his new DAC motivated me to write this up.
My brand new Audio Experience Symphonies tube preamp arrived yesterday from Y-S Audio, picked up new via Ebay for $400 including shipping from Hong Kong. As soon as I got home I opened up the Symphonies, put in the one tube they leave out of the innards during shipping, yanked out my old Rotel RTC-950AX preamp/tuner, and fired up the Symphonies.
COMPLETELY different sound. Must've listened for a good 2-3 hours last night. While still not burned in, I could easily tell how much I preferred the Symphonies to the RTC-950AX. Relative to the RTC-950AX, the Symponies to my ears provides:
[*]Far superior detail across the range. I'm hearing details I've never heard before - much smoother attack, lengthier decay, much broader dynamics both at the micro and macro level.
[*] Better bass. My sub has absolutely come alive, delivering richer, deeper, meatier lows with greater definition than ever before. The crossover between speakers and sub seems more integrated, too - not sure how to account for that, but my ears sure hear it.
[*] Soundstage, soundstage, soundstage!! The soundstage is a bit wider and allows easier identification of L/R separation and placement, but it is waaaaaay deeper than before allowing me to really place the instruments' depth within the space.
[/list]I'm stunned at what a difference this preamp has made. Now I have to decide what's next - new power amp, subs, DAC, CD/DVD transport, or Maggie 1.6s. Decisions, decisions. 8)
FWIW, my current playback setup:
Crappy Toshiba DVD/CD player (coax out)
Sony TA-E9000ES (coax in, acting as DAC; pre-outs to preamp)
Audio Experiences Symphonies preamp
Adcom GFA-555 power amp
Magnepan MMG (x 2)
Pinnacle Baby Boomer (dual bipolar drivers)
Tim:
this is the same one that Nick had right? sounds really nice, great price too. Way to go Brian! +T
Brian Skalinder:
--- Quote from: Tim on January 20, 2004, 05:46:57 PM ---this is the same one that Nick had right? sounds really nice, great price too. Way to go Brian! +T
--- End quote ---
Yeah, same model Nick had, but not the same physical box.
Nick Culbreth:
brian - glad to hear you like the new pre so far, definately keep us posted after you've burned it in a bit. i've been looking at the same preamp so i'd love to hear some more feedback on how it sounds with the mmgs.
Tim:
--- Quote from: nmculbreth on January 20, 2004, 06:33:31 PM ---brian - glad to hear you like the new pre so far, definately keep us posted after you've burned it in a bit. i've been looking at the same preamp so i'd love to hear some more feedback on how it sounds with the mmgs.
--- End quote ---
Todd said you were interested, did ya pull the trigger?
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