Audible Illusions M3B question

I happened to have both M3B MM (used) and M3B MC (new). After realizing that the used sounds as good as the new, and the MC is not as quite good compared to Allnic H1202 MC and Hashimoto based SUT, I sold M3B MC.

I like to hear from anybody who had owned M3B and happened to upgrade it. Which preamp did they upgrade to? How much better the upgraded preamp is compared to M3B in sound quality?

Yeah @ihcho … #metoo

I do not have the phono stage, and the tubes have not been replaced. I might do that, but it is soundly lovely still.

@ihcho,

I had a Modulus3, Modulus3A, and Modulus3B.  I upgraded from each previous model.  I sold my 3B for 2 reasons. First was there was too much gain!  I could not put the volume controls past 9 o clock and the detects didn’t help. The other reason is I am much older now and wanted a remote.  

I replaced the 3B with a Rogue RP-5 preamp and kept it only for  1 1/2 years.  While I liked the remote aspect, the sound was not as good as the 3B.  I finally settled on a McIntosh C2500 tube preamp and it is my last preamp. 

My speaker is 6ohm 87dB, and on my MB3, the volume control always stays at past 10 o’clock. Most of times I set it to between 11 and 1 o’clock. So the high gain is not a problem for me.

I wonder whether C2500 would be a lateral move regarding the sound quality. I don’t miss a remote yet, so I will stay with M3B for a while. ;-)

Anyway, I like the sound of M3B a lot. It beats my Plinius M16 preamp easily. I use M16 in another setup for casual listening, and I also ordered a spare tubes for M3B from AI, so I hope I should be good for many more years to come.

Well here’s my story.  Had a 3a.  Asked about the trade in program for the 3B and was told I qualified and it would take 3-4 weeks to get my unit.  Paid in full up front. Well it took almost 6 months.  I have an acquaintance that waited 14 months for his line stage preamp from them.

Also, later ordered a set of new tubes from them.  Again, paid up front.  Told in stock and would ship within the week.  Took 3 months, and would have taken longer except I mentioned to Jerry I had posted on an audio forum about the issues I and others had had.  He was livid.  Tubes arrived the next week, and the office manager (a lady) refunded my money for the tubes.

i believe this is just an issue of them being a small company, getting older, and not wanting to give up the glory they once had.

Very sad, because their products are very good.  Their service is about as bad as service can get.