Esoteric C03 preamp or Mark Levinson 326S preamp- ANY and ALL FEEDBACK / HELP PLEASE

There are three threads with this same post.

Are you still up for improving the system performance?

Yeah i only update once a month or so - so i like to update the guys that were kind enough to give me feedback and help alone the way. 

Well your amps have a balanced input...

Would it interest you to know that there are other balanced line tube preamps than the BAT?

It might also interest you to know that the balanced line system was created to eliminate cable interactions. So in theory you shouldn't have to use an expensive cable to make the system work properly.

Quite often though in high end audio, the balanced line standards are ignored in part if not entirely. As a result, as a general rule of thumb if you can hear big differences between balanced interconnect cables then something in the system isn't supporting in the standard.

I'm pretty sure the Pass supports the standard but less certain about the Levinson. You can test this by simply inserting an inexpensive cable like Canary or Mogomi Neglex and see how it sounds. If not a lot of difference that's a good thing but if it is a big difference you might consider the next step :)

Have fun and Happy Holidays!

Hey Guys - wanted to share with you my most recent project and review for my network media player:

Bricasti M1 - M5 - M12: Network Player - My REVIEW w/OEM Response Brian Zolner @ Bricasti

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/bricasti-m1-m5-m12-network-player-my-review-w-oem-response-br...

Thought I would update my preamp choices...

- Owned the Mark Levinson No.326s preamp for about a year and really liked it. After that for a while I tried a Pass Labs XP-20 and liked that also. Liked it a bit better than the 326s but probably had more to do with it matching better with my Pass Labs X350.5 amp. Nelson's synergy I guess. He's a pretty bright chap - although Coburn does most the preamp work but I am sure Nelson puts in his 2 cents. 

- Recently had a chance to make a change and went for it. Purchased a Simaudio MOON Evolution P-8 Preamp and honestly wasn't prepared for how much better it is.

- It is not only the best preamp I have ever owned it is so much better that my system changed like it never has before.

I mean the others are pretty good preamps and the P-8 isn't the latest model but man it is an absolutely insanely good preamp. I just thought the reader should know if they ever get a chance at one of these I am not sure there is anything better under $20,000. I am dead serious it is that good. Blown away good. Better than Pass XP-30, ARC REF 5SE and the latest Vibe with new litho power supply. I got to hear these in my system. All were great and different but the Simaudio blew me away.

So quiet and dynamic and transparent yet with sheen and light dashes of warmth. That just so right warmth that is so light handed and airy and open and extended its that uber touch it transparency we all crave and it is so vivid with grip and control yet with elasticity that the music has this tube like feel but so much transparency and air and space as it is so quiet its nothing like tubes but has the tube feel enveloping feel that i have just never got from SS. I am past tubes and into SS now but to get the tubeness with all SS we love is just unlike any other preamp I have owned. Man, I just had to share - hope this helps someone be as happy with their rig as I am today.