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Counterpoint and Mike Elliot

Hey! Does anyone have first hand knowledge of Elliot's upgrades for Counterpoint preamps? Specifically the SA-2000, SA-3000, SA-5000 and the 5.1 all tube phono/line pre. I'm wondering if the rather high cost of let's say, modding a 5.1 would bring the preamp to a performance level equal or greater than a similarly priced piece. For example, the 5.1 modified by Elliot would cost, all together, a bit more than an ARC Ref-1 preamp ($3500 approx). (Of course the ref-1 doesn't have a phono stage so the Elliot might be a tad more thrifty). ew. sorry, i dont usually write things like 'a tad more thrifty' and i wont do it again.

Anyway, I'd love to get responses from people who have owned or heard these or can send me in the right direction to find out more info.

For those of you who don't know, Counterpoint made ss, hybrid and tube amps, preamps and dacs but went out of business in '96. Mike Elliot was the chief designer and continues to upgrade Counterpoint stuff but for big $$. His site is www.altavistaaudio.com

thanks in advance.
kublakhan
kublakhan OP
718 posts
 
Hm. that was cool.

thanks mike
redsun
1 posts
 
I would like to say that I have had the upgrade made to an SA-5000. The total package cost me $3150, including a mint used SA-5000. I decided go this path because I wanted a 6922 based pre-amp, I wanted a detached power supply, and I wanted the tube count to be low. This eliminates quite a few pre-amps. Also, Mike's facility is close to me so I could hand carry the unit.

My direct experience with other pre-amps is with a C-J PV-5, owned since new. In my system the PV-5 with Sylvania GB 3-mica 5751's is lush, rich and coloful, with a good soundstage. But I was having to use silver IC's to raise the hi-freq's up out of darkness.

The stock SA-5000 easily trounced PV-5 w/Sylvania GB's. The SA-5000 had more air, better control of the bass, and more specificty in the mid-range. This was with Sovtek 6922's.

After the upgrade, there was more of everything. I can hear the "intent" of the musician better now. On certain recordings, the soundstage kind of washes over the ceiling of my listening room. The imaging is more continuous front to back, top to bottom. Bass is tight and defined (I am using SS amps).

This is a great little pre-amp to experiment with 6922/7308/CCa's with. You have one each for the line stage, and two in the power supply, along with a 6CA4 and a 12AX7. (The phono stage uses 2 6922's, also.) Each tube contributes its own sonic signature. I've settled on Siemens 7308's in the power supply, and Amperex 6922's in the line stage.

Whether spending $3000-3500 for a "rebuilt" pre-amp is of value to you, only you can decide. This is a physically well-built unit, with a floating circuit board. And I've come to really appreciate the tube-based power supply.

Also, it really looks cool in the dark with the covers off, and the 6CA4 glowing.

kublakhan OP
718 posts
 
ok, now i'm also interested in comments on the counterpoint SA-11 preamp. (I originally thought the SA-5.1 was the only all tube design they had)

anybody?
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Kubla, it seems Albert Porter mentioned once in a thread that he had an SA-11. Might e-mail him. Good luck in finding one.
kublakhan OP
718 posts
 
redsun, btw, thanks for the input. i think i'm a diehard all-tube person so i'm leaning away from the other counterpoint models at this time. tubeg, thanks also. i'll look for that thread. believe it or not i did find an sa-11. it's expensivo though: $2500 plus $780 for the new tubes the guy just got. ay chihuahua.
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