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
Audiolabyrinth - as i understand you are running a Vincent player direct to a recent version Krell 700, to quite sensitive Jbl speakers. Sounds promising and I know that new caps can take 300+ hours break-in time (happened with the Io Eclipse upgrade). So if it was me I would check with Vincent and try a bit tube change anyway, and not be too concerned if the sound was still a bit hard. Give it a chance to mellow.
Hi O Holter,you mean contact Einstein for make sure the 12BH7 can instead 12AU7 ??
i didn't modify.i also use the original power cord.
before i use the original 12au7 tube,i found the sound is very clean but not enough PURE,don't you think that??after change to the BRIMAR 12BH7,I found the sound really great,the blackground is really black,more bass and heard more hidden detail .......but for me the important things is PURE.
i heard the Octave Jubilee two times,but not my cup of tea,if you want buy the Jubilee,please check the Jubilee is it true balance design because your IO phono is true balance.
last if you want change power cord for IO,you can consider PAD Dominus,that'S i try sucess to match my pervious pre(AESTHETIX CALLISTO SIG)(just my two cent)
yes that is correct O_holter, ok, That was the plan, I will waite untill the whole system is done with break-in, then do tweek up grades.
No No No on the Dominus with Aesthetix products. The Dominus B or C has the same faults as the Aesthetix products, i.e., over exaggeration of the middle octaves and suffering of detail at the frequency extremes. The Stealth Dream or Dream State power cords are vastly superior in tonally coherency here. Been there done this, but have since moved on.