Preamp Deal of the Century

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),
.
I agree wholeheartedly....The grade 3 balls are as you said a surprise in what they do for the sonics .
.
See if you can get a set of your Rollerblocks and one set of the Grade 3 balls cryoed...
.
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.
.
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.
.
Rgds,
Larry
.

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

Kgturner,
Did you get your Malbecs yet?

maril555:

the malbecs arrived last week just before x-mas. unfortunately, there was an intermittent pop/crackle in one of the amps. i discussed it with mick and we did not believe it was a tube issue. i've shipped the one crackling malbec to kevin covi in new york. he should have it by wednesday due to the holidays.

with just one malbec, i've decided to wait until the other one returns to do any serious listening as i want them to break in together. i have listened to the one malbec i have and it sounds very promising. however, with just one amp, i want to hold off any discussion of the sound until i receive the other malbec back and allow them time to break in properly.

not quite the report i'm sure everybody wanted, but that's where i stand. i will say that mick has been great throughout all the problems and he is super quick at replying to emails, often replying several times in the same day.