best preamp ever - cost is no object

Agreed with Mrtennis.

The word "best" is so overused and misused, that its meaning is almost lost. To say that something is your favourite (i.e. "I like it best of all") is not the same as to claim that something is "the best" in absolute terms.

As I see it, audio equipment can be evaluated in two ways.

1. On technical grounds (i.e. objective criteria that is measurable and quantifiable)

2. On aesthetic terms (i.e. a subjective appraisal of the beauty of how something sounds).

Either approach is valid, and both approaches can be combined in order to render an opinion. However, one must accept the inherent limitation that aesthetics are subjective, thus opinions on such matters are relevant only in relation to the mind of the listener. Consequently it is improper to apply the word "best", in unqualified terms, to a subjective opinion.

Having said that, my favourite preamp is the Orpheus Two.
:)

Mrtennis and Oxia, of course I agree that no one can really say anything is the best. I must say, Oxia, that I don't regard what limited aspects we can measure as a superior method for evaluation. This is the old objectivist position.

Given the many line stages I have heard, however, none even approaches the new P-12R. As a long time tube equipment user who often dismissed solid state linestages with the exception of the TAD, I can assure everyone that the P-12R has none of the characteristics of either tubes or transistors.

As I have said, I have had six or seven different versions of this line stage as it evolved into the exceptional unit I have today. I just replaced an H-Cat of two versions ago with the P-12R. One would not want to listen to the old unit, as good as it was.

I don't think there is much purpose in verbally discussing sound other than to say, "wow, you have got to hear this."

hi tbg:

i think it would be useful to say why you like the solid state p 12 r so much. what does "wow go listen to it mean" ?

if i like tube products because they have a certain character, would i want to hear the p 12r and why ? again, less hype, ambiguity and more facts and descriptions is most useful/

Mrtennis, all that I wish to convey to you and others is that they should go to listen to this unit which greatly impresses me and which I believe is unrivaled by anything I have ever heard.

I doubt if you could be convinced by anything I say nor am I willing to try. I have used tube line stages for many years and know that some are better than others, so I don't really know what you mean about preferring a "tube" sound. I can assure you and others that the H-Cat P-12R does not have the grain I have heard in many other solid state line stages, nor any of the smear, slowness, and boom I have heard in some tube line stages. But it is the clarity and realness of the sound stage that most impresses those who have heard the new H-Cat. Please, Mrtennis, don't try it, you might like it.

hi tbg:

as i said in an earlier post i auditioned both the preamp and the amp in my own stereo system, which at the time included the magnepan 2.7 . yes, i heard the clarity, but i also heard a typical transistor sound.

it's not about convincing, its about hyping. a word to the wise is always sufficient.

a statement of its clarity and soundstage capability would have been sufficient, without the verbal histrionics.