Not sure what I am going to do with the preamp. I just had it upgraded, it sounds good, and I really wanted to like it better than my Lamm LL2 Deluxe, but after recently reinstalling the Lamm, I believe the MUSE is just not as good sonically. Maybe the MUSE is a little tighter and more dynamic in the bass, and perhaps better overall for rock music, with more gain, but otherwise the Lamm just plain sounds better to me. Too bad, because the features and operation of the MUSE preamp are hard to beat with the adjustable gain, 0.5 dB volume steps that are displayed as actual attenuation and gain values (which I like better than any volume control I have used), and remote control of phase, mute, input, volume, balance, skip and direct track. It has HT pass through and is also fully balanced, which works better for me with my balanced Clayton monoblocks. From a feature standpoint alone, I have never used a better preamp. I will probably put it back in my system in a week or so and see if I miss the Lamm.
MUSE Erato II - Anyone using this player?
I have an opportunity to own MUSE's top player, the Erato II. However, the only print references to the Erato II I can find are the double review in HiFi+ (same review on-line at AV-guide), a Stereophile CES 2008 Show Report with no performance related comments, and an article indicating that Stereo Times reviewer Jan Petter Egidius uses the Erato II as his reference. There is no specific discussion here or at AA, and there is only one posted virtual system that uses the transport version, and none listed that use the player version. The two HiFi+ reviewers seemed to like it with a few operational caveats, but their reviews were not what I would call all-out raves. I would be interested in hearing feedback from any who have heard the Erato II player in their own system, a friend's system, or even at a show like CES. Thanks.
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- 42 posts total
- 42 posts total