Aric Audio Systems Unlimited Preamp

After having spent the last couple of months with Aric's linestage and 300B SET I couldn't be happier. My system sounds better than I ever thought possible. Tone, speed, dynamics, imaging, soundstaging......it's all there in spades. Superlatives don't do Aric's products and customer service justice. As content as I am with my system working with Aric is such a pleasure I find myself wishing I had another build for him. Maybe some speakers next!

Speakers you say!

I think I may have the first set, but Mr. Kimball designs and builds a killer speaker called the Dynalto. Floorstanding 3-way and the crossover work is enough to make you a believer -- but that's only where it starts. Full range (meaning full range) with a ribbon tweeter that defies much in its presentation because it melds with the mid in such a way that it sounds like one, not two drivers. I couldn't be happier. The fit and finish is what I've come to understand Aric Audio to be about, as is the sensation of being blown away. 

Thanks guys! I believe being able to optimize the whole system together is like matching the engine to the transmission. I've got a larger set named "Animus" that's in the works now featuring a quad array of midranges flanking a ribbon tweeter. The low end will be handled by a high efficiency 12" driver. Two more amplifiers are in the works as well. Aric

Initial testing of The Motherlode preamplifier is complete! This unit was designed to fill the niche left by "The Dude" (which was a high end 6SN7 based preamp using all film capacitors and tube regulation in the power supply). This is a "no hold barred" design that was spawned between A'goner laaudionut and myself over the course of the last couple of months. He originally wanted to purchase a "Dude" only to find the owner/designer had regretfully passed away and the use market was becoming scarce for this gem. Flash forward to today, and I believe I have a unit that will compete on all levels AND includes a full tube phono stage as well. This is on my own personal "Got to have it" list as of today!

The magic of the Dude is in several design areas that make it unique. The 3 tube regulated power supply is a gem and to this day nobody has figured out how Paul the designer did it. Paul was an absolutely brilliant designer and while some aspects of his Dude preamp can be “copied” this is one that has not to date.

The way he used the 6sn7 tube is also unique and unconventional. He did not follow the established designs and conventional wisdom in books etc... He utilized the tube in unique ways that many would quickly dismiss as “wrong”. This is also unique to the Dude to date. 

Things like a robust Pi filter, circuit breaker instead of fuse, SS rectification, hand build Shallco silver contact stepped attenuator, and Duelund output caps can be matched.

We miss Paul and TRL gear. I like the fact that we are respecting his work by mentioning the Dude in this thread.