What Solid State PreAmp?

I love tubes as much as the next guy; I was "raised" on them.

However, there are some really good, actually excellent, solid state preamps.

To dismiss solid state topology when considering a new preamp purchase is naive.

I've tried several preamps and the Mac C200 remains one of my favorites. I use it with my big SS and my SET amps.

06-06-08: Markwatkiss said:
"I'm also a tube guy,however,I've heard wonderful things about Jeff Rowlands Capri pre amp and it's a lot less than what you're looking to spend."

It's an all-new design for Jeff, taking advantage of recent op-amp developments and noise control techniques. Don't let it's small size and low cost fool you, this thing is SOTA. If you got mains power issues or simply want the ultimate in quietness, then add the PC1 Power Factor Correction unit to convert it to operate in DC.

Dave

Dave,

The PC1 intrigues me. By converting the unit to operate in DC is the effect similar to what a well designed battery power supply would achieve? I know JRDG has used battery power supplies in the past for some of their gear. So I'm wondering if the PC1 is their alternative to a battery option.

Any idea what the PC1 costs? The price of the preamp is very reasonable.

Clio, exactly. I posed that question to Jeff when we visited his shop last week. The Critereon is his soon-to-be-released "statement" preamp. It will be battery powered.

The Continuum 500 converts any AC to pure DC and the PC1 in front of his devices like the 501 monoblocks and the Capri does the same thing. My question was, "Is there an advantage of one DC over the other." His response that the Critereon is a low current device and he already had developed a reliable, long-life battery system, so he used that.

The 312 stereo power amp and the Continuum 500 have PFC built in. The separate PC1 unit allows many (most) of his other products to benefit from the same technology. It's clearly a plus on all his power amps that can use it, because it stabilizes the draw on the AC, which can be quite violent when not modulated somehow. With low current applications your benefit will vary, depending on the quality of your mains and some other factors.

I think that getting into pure DC can't hurt, because of the noise floor being lowered and all grounding issues just go flying out the window.

Guido, now that you've had more time with the Capri/PC1 combination, do you think it's a positive in that application in your system with the 312?

BTW, there's a blog about our Rowland Factory Tour, including some discussion of Rowland's philosophies, at Soundings Blog

Dave