Preamp Deal of the Century

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Mark (Stiltskin),
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I tried 3 different Symposium stands before buying the SRA's (now have 4). The Symposium stands did not function well in my system. They compressed the sound stage and sucked the air out when I tried them under my CD player and pre-amp.
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The Symposium Rollerblocks on the other hand have been spectacular under everything (CD player, Amps, power supplies and pre-amps). I think everyone should buy one used set of Rollerblocks and try rolling them around under each piece you have and then buy more as is makes sense.
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The SRA did great things for controlling base (tighter, more tuneful, and more punch). I think Kevin has done a tremendous job with his product designs (each one was custom built for each of my pieces). I would trust his judgment on where to start in your system and do one piece at a time based on how each piece benefits your system.
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$ 600.00 seems like a significant amount to spend on a stand, but they are like upgrading a piece in your system and they never wear out. (as Slowhand suggested NOS tubes do).
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Do get one set of used Rollerblocks to play with (this one is a no brainer for $ 250.00 approx). They come up for sale regularly on Audiogon. I will bet you buy more sets.
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I would also try one SRA from Kevin Tellekamp. Good guy, knowledgeable, and great with advice. He won’t over sell you.
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Good Luck .Happy New Year to All of you be safe on Amateur’s Night.
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Rgds,
Larry
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Hi Larry,Definitely I will be in touch with Kevin. I have two sets of Symposium roller blocks,series 2 and the series 3 balls.When first told about the series 3 balls acouple of years ago I scoffed at the cost.BULL SHIT.I borrowed some Symposium platforms including some more series 2 and one set of series 3....S.O.B....Talk about the hair on the nape of your neck. However I couldnt afford the platforms and more rollerblocks at the time,though I did buy one set of the series 3. My stuff is sitting directly on two inch thick Canadian hard rock maple stand and amp platforms. Some fine tuning with more platforms and isolation devices should bring some spooky magic to my system. Thanks guys

Hi Mark (stiltskin),

My system also sets on 2 Canadian Rock Maple stands! And I have been using a 4" thick Mapleshade platform with tennis balls under it for may amp (which sets on the floor), but I recently pulled out the Rock Maple amp stand that came with my racks. It is coupled to the floor by heavy brass pointed cones. The sound of the amp is much better with this setup than it was with the 4"mapleshade. The SRA iso base is still best under the Berning amp.

Mark (Stiltskin),
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I agree wholeheartedly....The grade 3 balls are as you said a surprise in what they do for the sonics .
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See if you can get a set of your Rollerblocks and one set of the Grade 3 balls cryoed...
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Cryoing the Rollerblocks and balls is a significantly bigger upgrade than using the grade 3 balls as compared to the stock grade 25 balls Tungsten Carbide.
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Do let us know how you make out with the SRA stands (if you get them) and please tell Kevin I said hello (Larry from Miami, Florida). I think you will enjoy interacting with him. One hint....Kevin is wonderful at responding to emails and slow to respond to phone calls.
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Rgds,
Larry
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Hi Slowhand and Cello, That hard rock maple alone works very well!I had a local wood mill make my equiptment stand. Its a three shelf butcher block vertical grain slabs 42" wide by 24" deep by 2" thick.The shelves are fixed in place with 1" doweling tapped through 4 by 4 legs.I need to get some adjustable feet for it to finish it off,can't use cones,we have soft wood plank floors.I will be in contact with Kevin in the new year.Slowhand you say it works is good enough for me. Larry thats interesting having the roller blocks cryoed .I bought cryoed bx wire and recepticals for dedicated lines a couple of years ago.Theres something to it alright.I'll let Kevin know you two sent me. Regards Mark