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Preamp Quandary - sonics vs. ergonomics??

I have been auditioning (buying and selling) preamps for over a year now. My only absolute criteria is that the preamp must be a fully balanced design that has low enough output impedance to effectively drive my McCormack DNA 500 amp (10K input impedance). However, since my system is in the living room, there are some ergonomic considerations including the potential for other users. After trying several, I currently have two pretty good but different preamps, an Atma-Sphere MP3 that is maxed out with teflon caps, regulated power upgrade, caddock resistor package, and user-applied 3M constrained layer damping sheets. It also has Jensen transformers for phono that I do not use. My other preamp is an Ayre K-5xe which is an outstanding ergonomic match with my CX-7e source. The comparisons are;

Ayre K-5xe - very user friendly, stays on all the time, uses the same remote as my CX-7e source, no heat issues, dead quiet, smooth sounding with tight punchy bass and adequate decay for a SS unit, no turn-on/off issues, heat, DC worries or other tube related concerns. In other words a competant performer which is the perfect operational match for my situation.

Atma-Sphere MP3; deep bass, dynamics that you can feel in your chest, well-extended for a tube unit and has that "rightness" only tubes seem to be able to provide, outstanding 3-dimensionality, and an outstanding midrange that puts the performers in the room with you. In short, this is the best sounding preamp I have heard in my system, but not the easiest to use.

Have any of you made a similar choice, and did you have any regrets?
mitch2
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kurt_tank
1,189 posts
 
Mitch2,

Well, the obvious solution to your problem is to upgrade your Ayre K-5xe preamp to the Ayre K-1xe preamp.
(And yes I own one.) It is one of the best solid state preamps available, IMHO.

(If you can wait, you will see one pop up on Audiogon occasionally for around $4-5K depending on whether it has the phono stage or not. The phono stage is really good btw.)

The Ayre K-1x that is currently for sale here on Audiogon is rather over priced, IMHO. FYI: I bought mine used for $4K a few years ago, and it had all the upgrades available at that time, as well as the remote, phono stage and a spare (black) face plate, in case I ever want to switch out the silver face plate. I like it so much, I had the 'e' (evolution) upgrade done to it by Ayre last year. (And well worth it, IMHO!)

My two cents worth anyway.
Good Luck in your search!
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Actually, the Ayre K-1xe that Kurt mentions is a good example of Mitch's preamp quandry of sonics vs. ergonomics for me. I've read that it sounds great. I haven't heard one, but I have heard other Ayre gear and I always thought they represented a good value. The reason I've never pulled the trigger on a Ayre preamp? No balance control, that's all. Yes, 90-95% of my listening is done with balance centered, but there are some recordings that sound better with a slight image shift. Not to mention how it helps trouble shooting everything behind the preamp.
I know Ayre says they don't use a balance control for the sake of signal purity. However, they do use a remote control. Some manufacturers don't use a remote for signal purity's sake. How much convienience do you want to give up for signal purity? That is a personal choice.

It's the same issue with a remote control(in general, not with the Ayre). I try to convince myself that I can live w/o a remote, but everyone that I've talked to tells me not to bother. They claim they've tried it and after a few weeks it drove them nuts and they sold the piece. I could see that happen to me. Again, I don't use the remote often, but it's nice to have one when you want one. I think I would try to live w/o a remote before I would live w/o a balance control. But that's just me.

For me, I guess it's not about the absolute sound. I have minimum qualifications about ergonomics and maximum qualifications about cost. I try to find something that meets my qualifications and sounds the best to me.

Regards,
John
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
i would try a mccormick pre also
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