Pre amp for Krell FPB & Teac P-70 & D-70??

Guido

Interested to know the circumstances and equipment with your VTL session. I agree it can be a little soft with the stock tubes, but with Telefunken 12ax7's and some other little tweaks it's tough to beat, especially paired with the Krell. A professional musician and I both ended up purchasing this preamp after extensive auditioning and direct head to head comparisons with ARC Ref2 Mk II preamp, and Krell KCT. Yes, it was softer sounding with the stock tubes, but interestingly, and the deciding track for both of us was a piano piece by Chopin! The VTL doesn't impress with HIFI attributes but communicates subtle musical cues with aplomb that other world class pre's miss entirely. The synergy of VTL preamp with Krell amps is the important thing here in my opinion, as all the gear being discussed is good on it's own. If you haven't heard it, beg borrow or steal a unit to hear on your amp at all costs!

Audiogoon, I heard VTL 7.5 at Sound by Singer in N.y. Front end was DCS Verdi, Elgar, Purcell with Firewire interconnects. Power amps were BAT monoblocks--sorry do not remember model. Speakers wereJM Labs Utopia Altos. I suspect suspect tubes on VTL were stock. One concern I have about VTL 7.5 is reliability and service. Vibs I get about VTL in this arena are mixed.

Guidocorona:

For what it's worth. I have had two brands of power amps in my system over the past four years. A Krell 200 FPB and VTL 300 Deluxe Mono Blocks and both have needed repairs and returned to the factory. Each company was easy to deal with and customer service minded. Both companies went out of there way to make sure I was happy with their product. Over the years I have dealings with many audio related firms regarding repairs and Krell and VTL have been the best in every way.

Thank you Vegasears. The VTL 7.5 pre is still in the running for my system, in this case.

Last beep from me!??

It took some long long time, but i found an answer for my search (and question)!
The Esoteric (P-70 and D-70) units had some very attractive characters, but failed at one specific factor (atleast when used without dedicated pre amp). That was the sonic character, which i found lacking in "flesh and blood". I bought the KPS 25sc and now drive this in CAST mode together with my FPB 600c.
I have never heard such a rewarding combination.
Oki, some systems may have an even higher resolution (they are few and absurdely expensive) or some may want a more romantic view/ colour (to describe sound/ sonic character.) But for natural lifelike reproduction of recorded material. This combo is superb no matter musical preferences and it truely excel at one of the most important factors of all....(which is..?)
The overall cheer excitement and sense of drama, dynamical contrast. To feel the power in every tiny cell. It's like an open window to the emotions the music expresses.
This combo does IT and proves to me what HighFi really is and why i am here.
And more, that it does not need to be of the absolutelly newest or latest model. Quite often we are too fast to always look at latest dac/ decoder, model or brand.
I can see the manufacturers and dealers liking it anyway!
But fellow friends, think twice.
Recommendable before many many other expensive gears.
I also have a special CAST cable which is better than any XLR/ balanced cable i've heard (again in this system).
This all silver CAST cable is rather cheap, but still very exclusive, anyone interested may ask me for a link.

Thanks and to all of You, good luck in Your quest for HighFi Nirvana.