What can you tell me about First Sound pre-amps?

MPHNKNS, there are approx 16 model variants available for First Sound preAmps. Only Presence variants use Holco resistors. On the other hand Paramount variants use Vishay S102K resistors for the volume attenuators. On which model/variant have you experienced the lean sound? Which was the tube that gave you best results? (type brand date subtype)

Direct from Emmanuel:

First Sound U.S. Price List
2005 Model Year

Presence MKII $3900.00
Dual Mono Construction using Copper Plated Steel Chassis
Step Attenuators, Series Type using Holco Resistors
Custom Machined 3/8 inch Black Anodized Aluminum Faceplate
SPS 2.0 External Power Supply
2 chassis unit

Presence Deluxe MKII $4,200.00
Dual Mono Construction using Copper Plated Steel Chassis
Step Attenuators, Ladder Type using Holco Resistors, designated as LTH 92
Custom Machined 3/8 inch Black Anodized Aluminum Faceplate
SPS 2.0 External Power Supply
2 chassis unit

Presence Deluxe 4.0 MKII $6,900.00
As the Presence Deluxe with the addition of:
•DPS 4.0 External Power Supply using 2 SPS 2.0 External Power Supplies
3 chassis unit

Presence Deluxe 4.0 MKII with Paramount upgrade $8,100.00
As the Presence Deluxe MKII with the addition of:
•DPS 4.0 External Power Supply using 2 SPS 2.0 External Power Supplies
•Paramount upgrade
3 chassis unit

Presence Deluxe 4.0 MKII with Paramount Plus upgrade $9,600.00
As the Presence Deluxe MKII with the addition of:
•DPS 4.0 External Power Supply using 2 SPS 2.0 External Power Supplies
•Paramount Plus upgrade
3 chassis unit

Paramount MKII $11,700.00
As the Presence Deluxe MKII with the addition of:
•DPS 4.0 External Power Supply using 2 SPS 2.0 External Power Supplies
•Paramount upgrade
•LTV 92 Step Attenuators, Ladder Type attenuators using Vishay Resistors,
3 chassis unit

Paramount Plus MKII $13,200.00
As the Presence Deluxe MKII with the addition of:
•DPS 4.0 External Power Supply using 2 SPS 2.0 External Power Supplies
•Paramount Plus upgrade
•LTV 92 Step Attenuators, Ladder Type attenuators using Vishay Resistors,
3 chassis unit

Paramount MKII Special Edition $16, 800.00
As the Presence Deluxe MKII with the addition of:
•DPS 4.0 External Power Supply using 2 SPS 2.0 External Power Supplies
•Paramount upgrade
•LTV 92 Step Attenuators, Ladder Type attenuators using Vishay Resistors
•Special Edition upgrade
3 chassis unit

Presence Deluxe MKII Statement with Paramount upgrade $9,900.00
As above with the addition of:
•Paramount upgrade
4 chassis unit

Presence Deluxe MKII Statement with Paramount Plus upgrade $11,400.00
As the Presence Deluxe MKII Statement with the addition of:
Paramount Plus upgrade
4 chassis unit

Paramount MKII Statement $23,400.00
Two Paramount MKII units used separately for left and right channels
6 chassis unit

Paramount Plus MKII Statement $26,400.00
Two Paramount Plus MKII units used separately for left and right channels
6 chassis unit

Paramount MKII Special Edition Statement $33,600.00
Two Paramount MKII Special Edition units used separately for left and right channels
6 chassis unit

Options
LTH 92 Ladder Type Attenuator with Holco Resistors $800.00
A pair of ladder attenuators utilizing a total of 92 Holco Resistors.
DPS 4.0 External Power Supply $2,850.00
Uses two SPS2.0 External Power Supplies
Detachable umbilical cords
Completely separate grounding system for left and right channels
LTV 92 Ladder Type Attenuator with Vishay Resistors $3,600.00
A pair of ladder attenuators utilizing a total of 92 Vishay S102K Resistors.
Paramount Upgrade $1,500.00
MIT PPFX Capacitors
Expanded power supply capacitors
Paramount grounding topology
Paramount Plus Upgrade $3,000.00
Cardas Golden Ratio Capacitors
Expanded power supply capacitors
Paramount grounding topology
Special Edition Upgrade $5,400.00
Custom made Copper Capacitors
Detachable umbilical cord Option $600.00
For owners of the SPS 2.0 external power supply who want detachable umbilical cords
Gold Knobs $150.00 each knob
18 K gold plating on the knob. A three step plating process is used to achieve a beautiful gold finish on the
knobs.

NOTE:
All gold finishes are optional
All Contents Subject to Change Without Notice
First Sound, Inc.
833 SW Sunset Blvd. Ste. L57
Renton, WA 98055
425.271.7486 voice
425.277.8653 Fax
lobsang@ix.netcom.com
www.firstsoundaudio.com

Presence Deluxe MK. II, updated 2004. I am aware of the Vishay resistors and their strengths.
As far as the tubes, none of them changed the "bite." The 7308 tubes are warm, but this just softened information. The 6922 Amperex PQ USA gold pins are the most detailed, but bite? Still there.
Your information about the Presence model and the Holcos is exactly my point concerning the "edge": that Rankin decided to use Shinko resistors because he thought "the Holcos had a slight edge to them..." I'm curious about the possibility that changing to the next higher model, which utilizes Vishay, may eliminate the edge.