Opportunity to buy the best Preamp... but which?

Well Dgob, their are certainly definite hallmarks of "REAL" music played live. Dynamic contrasts/range and lack of distortion are a couple. Accurate tone is obvious, as well as a sense of ease at all volume levels. All instruments are easily picked out without one overcompeting with another. At home one should get as close as possible to re-creating these parameters...the bref 3 allows an enormous amount of these hallmarks through! Most other preamps sound controlled and stunted to some degree or another.

Audion Premier Quattro 4 Box Pre-Amp
if you willing to pay that price
you will have one of the greatest pre amp ever

If VTL REF7.5 or ARC REF3 serves any reference here, I can confidently say that even basic offering from FM Acoustics, their FM245, eclipses them both. In the two separate instances of home demos I experienced where REF3s were replaced, each audition only took a mere 10 minutes into the listening session before their respective owners confirmed a trade-in.

But since both REF3 users were driving SS amps (Burmester & the big Chords), I was first a bit skeptical by the outcomes, thinking that their amps being SS probably a better match for the FMs. Therefore decided to home audition one myself, and partner it with my trusted ARC REF600mkIII for the weekend. This time the dealer loaned me an FM266mkII. Boy were they right.. those FMs were no flukes! Just minutes into the second track upon firing up, I was totally bought and convinced that the improvement wrought in my system (in most musically important aspects) was 'not subtle'. Sad to say that my beloved REF3 was totally outclassed, and that this not insubstantial plunge was actually justifiable!! (however, some might argue based on pricing alone, this was an unfair shoot-out).

Thus having experienced the above, and few other occasions where shoot-out made at friends' home against other top line references from competing ultra hi-end manufacturers (ranging from 2 pieces to 4 box units), many opined that the top line offering from FM Acoustics, their 'single' chassis FM268 (which was yet another notch up or two sonically above their own superb FM266mkII) is definitely still the one to beat should there ever be a shoot-out for the best-of-the-best, cost-no-object, line stage preamp available today.

Look for one (any of them), and audition for yourself! When properly set-up, make sure to feed them good stable AC, FM's Precision IC (a must!), Forceline SC (whenever possible). I'm sure that most will have to agree that these gears are just plain--astonishing!

Bvdiman,

I agree wholly and maybe those that have now had an opportunity to listen to some of the more high end sources can also comment on this!:~) I've never managed to hear the Essential 3160 with an FM Acoustic power amp but the combination should be very interesting. Maybe in the near future

Hi Dgob,

15yrs ago when purchasing my FM611, I was actually meant to pair them with an FM266. I didn't, at that particular point of time cos I honestly thought the 266 were 'bad' (for the $$$)--although open, fast, transparent, excellent micro-macro details, they also tended to be rather bright, with high listener fatigue and a touch on the clinical side of things. Thus, much preferred my moded VTL Ultimate and ARC SP11mkII back then.

Only recently (a couple of years ago), had I 'realized' that the FMs gears are actually the more superbly transparent to source, and that those tube gears I loved, kept and lived with then were just doing an excellent job of masking and giving CDs their much needed euphonic blankets, making them just that bit more pleasant and listenable.

Had cd players during those times (early 90's), matured to the stage where they are today, guess I would've raved about these gears (FM As) much much sooner. Well.. they are just ahead of time for me! =) Running FMs (amp & pre) now, the synergy is magical! Sold my ARC REF600 & REF3 3 months ago, do miss their presence and heat at times, still kept their pics though.. hAh!

Btw. coming from you, the Essential 3160 sounds an interesting piece too. Would appreciate if you could share some infos of them. Price? Website?? Thanks..