2. amps-preamps
  3. 1397501648

Preamp for Aesthetix / Atma-sphere

Hi

I have the Aesthetix Io Eclipse with volume and dual power supplies, Atma-sphere MA-1 monoblocs (140 watts) and Audiokinesis Dream Maker (93 db sensitive) speakers. These are great components. My question is about system synergy, how to make them play together.

I have been running the Io direct to my amps since I first bought the Mk2 version back in 2004. At the time, I had a Krell FPB600, and in that context, it was a blessing, and a great step up from the Krell KAV 250p preamp. I'll never forget my first impression with the Io - it was like going from the wooded hills up into the mountains. There was no going back.

With volume, the Io functions as a preamp. It looks like a preamp. Someone here on A-gon said going direct is best - which I interpreted as: it IS a preamp! So I thought, OK I have a combined phono and preamp - problem fixed. But it wasn't.

From recent testing I have finally become convinced that the Io does benefit from a separarate preamp. Even if clarity and detail is better going direct from the Io to the amps, the punch and "here-ness" of the music is clearly better with a preamp in the chain, at least in my system.

Trouble is, which preamp? I am testing a small solid state Musical Innovation preamp, which helps with the punch but veils the music. An optimal solution might be the Aesthetix Callisto, preferably with dual power - but I don't have the space, and I already have a lot of tubes and tube heat. I have space for one or possibly two boxes.

From what I have heard so far, a solid state might do the job well (in my tube-rich context), however it should not impart any s-state artifacts or reduce the resolution from the Io Eclipse.

The ideal would be to test a few tube and s-state preamps, and then decide. However, this is difficult where I live, so advice is welcome.

My question relates to my own setup of course, but is relevant for everyone with a top phono stage on the one hand and amps on the other. What is best in the middle?

From recent testing I have learned that problems that I thought were related to the speakers, the phono pre, the pickup and so on, were in fact related to the preamp issue. For example, the Dream Makers straight from the Io may sound a bit lazy and washed out in the bass, very clear in mid and treble but not fully embodied. Plugging in the solid state pre, the situation becomes dramatically different, now the speakers are driving, propulsive. Very enjoyable, but some detail is lost and some transistor things added that I don't want.

So I am looking for a solution with most of the plusses, and not much of the minuses. The preamp must be fully balanced with XLR in / out.
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Ag insider logo xs@2xo_holter
audioquest4life
772 posts
 
O_holter,

Yes, I am using the Aesthetix IO Signature analog source with the Octave Jubilee along with the Mcintosh MVP 891 3D Blu Ray SACD player for digital. The amps are Mcintosh MC2301 and work beautifully with this combination.

I have experimented with ECC82 Siemens, RFT, RCA, Telefunken, and Jan-Phillips with the Jubilee and find them all pretty good, with the RFT and Siemens having a slightly better top end and midrange compared to the others. The Jubilee requires matched tubes within 5% tolerance of each other to function correctly. When I tested the Einstein years ago, it also used Siemens tubes, if I recall correctly.
samtse
49 posts
 
Hi,i found this thread recently,i'm the Einstein the Tube lll pre user too,after read the thread,i make a phone call to the tube shop,and ask for RCA 12BH7,and the sales told me they have,and they said you can also try BRIMAR 12BH7,they said 12BH7,BRIMAR is the best one,so i bought the BRIMAR 12BH7 D getter ,after replace the 12au7,i listening carefully a few hours,so now i am very satisfy the 12BH7,I think i so lucky to find this thread,thanks everybody
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
0_holter, Hi, Great to see you, My interest in the tubes is for my cd player which drives my amp directly to good effect, my amp is 100kilo ohms, very good match for driving an amp with this vincent tube digital player, and yes, speaker sensativity will have alot to do with it, I have incredible full sound on lowest volume, the krell is 3.58 volts to drive to full power, the vincent puts out 2.5 volts max, so I never over drive the amp, and as far as sound, I am looseing nothing, I have used the vincent on head phones set to full out put, I cannot hear a difference at all useing the volume control on the player running thru the entire system, and my speakers are a modest 91 sensativity, would love to have 103 sensativity like I did in the late 90s on a Krell FPB 200, that, my friend was awsome!, so basically, you are saying I need to check to see if I can even run the RCA 12bh7 in place of the 12au7 tube, i'm sure I do not have a bias control for me to set in a cd player, a technician could, I do not know enough about being tech savy to do this myself, Did you use telefunken tubes in place of the 12ax7 tubes?, if so, How did that work out?, did you try the telefunken 12ax7 tube?
jafox
1,458 posts
 
Gosh, had I know the RCA 12BH7 was such a runaway hit here, I would have charged for tickets.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
o_holter OP
977 posts
 
Before we go in a 12bh7 march, perhaps make sure the pre or cd or amp (etc) can take it? Cf warning note from Atmasphere, above. I take the chance, in the Einstein pre and the Ming Da amp, since it sounds good and no ill effects so far. I wonder, even if a 12au7 socket can take a 12bh7 tube, should it be tuned to get the best from this tube.
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