I have been an audiophile for over 40 years, and purchased my pl12 L new in 2000, along with a Threshold stasis 3 amp and jm lab electra 920,s. The pv-12 basically blew every thing out of the water back then up to about 4k, then i stopped. I have listened to it all this time and still love it.....i recently got the urge to upgrade and tried quite a few pre amps; canary, ar, audible illusions, mark levinson, etc, and the pv 12 just sounds better in almost every way.
I was going to upgrade it by conrad johnson, but then heard of a Beakart Labs upgrade. The co - owner actually came to my house since i live near by and brought his own Beackart lab pre amp, a 1.3 rhumba....It actually was one of the best sounding pre amps i have heard yet, and it was left with me for a week while my pv 12 got upgraded at thier facility. After i got it back i was beyond surprised. It sounded better than thier pre amp overall was simply incredible . It was the best money i ever spent in audio. Newer technology does get a slightly lower noise floor, clean and a bit digital like , but the old cj pre amps have thier own excellent sound, more like a vintage martin guitar with steel strings, vs. an electric guitar. If you can find a clean pv 12 buy it, get the right tubes; telefunken or the new issue mullards actually sound fantastic, then get it up graded by Beakart labs. PV 12'S JUST SOUND RIGHT...no kidding.
