SUNFIRE vs COUNTERPOINT

I was fortunate enough to pick up a 5.1 as a trade-in many years ago. I almost never take trade-ins. I wouldn't have been interested in the Sunfire.

Still have the 5.1. From time to time I decide to post it on Audiogon so I hook it up to make sure it still works and give it one last good-bye listen... and the damn thing would sound too good to sell for what I thought I could get. Subsituting the 5.1 for the preamp section of a little NAD integrated pretty much transforms the system, it's that good.

I own very few pieces of equipment that I'm not a dealer for; it just makes sense for me to have my money in something that can make money for me. But when it comes to the 5.1, I have repeatedly failed to come to my senses.

Didn't realize the 5.1 had a following until finding this thread. Thought it was my dirty little secret.

Duke
dealer/manufacturer

Ok I'm back. I have listened to both preamps back to back for about a week, both preamps using pretty much the same tubes and I have to say I prefer the Sunfire. I love the SA-5000 but the Sunfire just gives me more. The sound stage is larger, it is cleaner, more detailed, the low end is lower, the highs alittle more extended. It seems to have more "air". Months after I originally got the SA-5000 I began to notice the tube coloration. Didn't really bother me the preamps sounds great but I knew it was there. I haven't really noticed this with the Sunfire. The Sunfire really makes me go "WOW"! The sound is HUGE!!! I almost feel like I stole something now!!!

I remember sitting for hours listening to the 5000. Was that 1992 or there abouts? Anyhow, of all the many preamps I have listened to, that one stills sticks out in my mind. I have never heard the Sunfire, so I can't comment. Didn't they also have a 3000 series preamp? I was fond of Counterpoint, both of their amps and preamps.

Curious to find out which one you end up with.
Enjoy.

I chose the Sunfire. Don't get me wrong the SA-5000 is a great preamp I could easily carry on with it but people kept telling me about the Sunfire so I tried it out. The original tubes the Sunfire had didn't do it justice (Sovteks & Silver eagles) but once I replaced them it really came to life. Now that I think of it my SA-5000 had Sovteks and a 12ax7 made by who knows and when I retubed it the sound was much better.