Frankpiet,
In this hobby, there are few absolute truths. I can't prove anything either, but when I was looking to buy a preamp to go with my Berning amp & Merlin speakers, I talked to everyone I could(including Ken Stevens), and asked for recommendations below $4k used or new(including phono stage). No one suggested what you've heard. Ken told me that the improvements going from the MkII to the MkIII were very substantial, and that he strongly advised me to look for a MkIII if in fact I couldn't afford to buy his current model the Ultimate MkII. I concluded from that the improvements from mkIII to the original Ultimate were not that great relative to the incremental costs associated w/the Ultimates.
Many will tell you that Marantz never made a product as good as the Model 9 amps, that Audio Research never made a preamp as good as the old SP6, or that Quad ever made a speaker better than the ESL57. But there are always new models that feature techno improvments. Some ring truer to the music than others, as you well know.
I have tried many other preamps over the years, and have found this to model to be a top performer in its price class, and prefer it to many more expensive pieces. If you are anywhere near Philadelphia, you are welcome to come listen and decide for yourself. Cheers,
Spencer
In this hobby, there are few absolute truths. I can't prove anything either, but when I was looking to buy a preamp to go with my Berning amp & Merlin speakers, I talked to everyone I could(including Ken Stevens), and asked for recommendations below $4k used or new(including phono stage). No one suggested what you've heard. Ken told me that the improvements going from the MkII to the MkIII were very substantial, and that he strongly advised me to look for a MkIII if in fact I couldn't afford to buy his current model the Ultimate MkII. I concluded from that the improvements from mkIII to the original Ultimate were not that great relative to the incremental costs associated w/the Ultimates.
Many will tell you that Marantz never made a product as good as the Model 9 amps, that Audio Research never made a preamp as good as the old SP6, or that Quad ever made a speaker better than the ESL57. But there are always new models that feature techno improvments. Some ring truer to the music than others, as you well know.
I have tried many other preamps over the years, and have found this to model to be a top performer in its price class, and prefer it to many more expensive pieces. If you are anywhere near Philadelphia, you are welcome to come listen and decide for yourself. Cheers,
Spencer