I am personally a big believer in a quality preamplifier. I started years ago with Rotella separates. Anyhow I bought a moon system and for some reason the preamplifier came in before the amps. I switched out the Rotella preamplifier for the moon preamplifier huge difference. After the amps came in another huge difference but the ore made a bigger difference in resolution than the amps but the increase in the amps was not small either. Along the upgrade path I decided I should try a better preamp or hopefully better than the p3 moon. I was at the dealer and in a week moment there was an aragon aurum preamplifier on the shelf I listened to it and just bought ot and took it home. I could hardly believe how much better it was than the moon p3. Lol I bought the moon stuff ordered it in after calling moon and having a big visit a couple times with the designer. It was my pride and joy. Anyhow the real thing that switch did for me was make me realize how important the preamplifier was. After taking that used one home I decided it was time to find a really good preamplifier. That's when I auditioned the Cary and an Ayre k3. I liked them both but they were both a huge step up again but I wanted a cross between the two. Awhile later I was at the dealer and he showed me a two year old sure k1xe Ayre. I had him box it up and I took that home. A real step up once again not as big as in the past but I can hardly believe how awful the first Rotel I had was. For a great system the preamplifier cannot be a bottle neck. The Ayre is dry sounding compared to the Cary but the Ayre is more detailed. In my primary system I have solid state with a tube based front end. Lol the Cary made me do that. I want some tube beauty. And in my second system I have a solid state front end and a tube power preamplifier.
Upgrade path direction
Due to a unfortunate situation with the plumbing in my finished basement (all of my gear was away and safe from damage) where my main listening system usually resides as I am working to replace drywall and carpeting I am also contemplating a gear upgrade for when I reassemble the room and my main 2 channel system rig.
Currently my setup is as follows:
Digital front end - Roon -> Node 2i -> Chord 2Qute
Analog front end - Pro-Ject Debut -> Schiit Mani
Linear Tube Audio Microzotl MZ2 -> First Watt Aleph J -> Klipsch RP-600M
While I would love to upgrade my speakers to something like a used pair of Zu Omen / Dirty Weekends or Wharfdale Linton Heritages Im not sure that is something I can convince my wife that we need.
So I have turned my attention to the Phono Preamp and the Preamp. Would an upgrade to a my phono preamp to something like a Sutherland or Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ be a better option, or upgrading my preamp to an a used Audio Research LS25 or Cary SLP-98?
I'm thinking I would realize a bigger difference with the phono upgrade, but figured I would poke for opinions on here. As always, thank you for your time and comments!
- ...
- 17 posts total
- 17 posts total