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Aesthetix Callisto signature or ARC Ref3

I will be pleased to know if you have heard these two preamps, the Aesthetix with the 2PS, and which one do you prefers to be used with SS amps.
My other consideration was Audio note Kondo M100 mkii or the 77, but they have a stratospheric prices, do you think that there is so much sound quality difference between these two preamps and almost the kondo M 100mkii?
newly
newly OP
35 posts
 
But the price for kondo is $60.000(M100 MKII) and M77 $40.000, against $10.000 for the ref 3,also I ask: may I improve the sound of REf3 with betters caps?
elberoth2's avatar
elberoth2
1,223 posts
 
You may replace the 6550 tube in the PS with NOS TungSol Black Plate 6550 from the mid 50s (or second tooling Gray Plate from the 60s), and 6H30 tubes with some NOS types from early 80s.

I'm awaiting NOS TungSol Black Plate 6550 tube myself as we speak, so I will let you guys know.
cmo
471 posts
 
I had a reamp party over at my place a while back that included these two pre's..... Email me if you want the details.

Chris
exlibris
438 posts
 
I too would like to know if anyone has compared the Callisto Signature to the Audio Note Kondo M77, Tron Syren, or Harmonix Reimyo CAT-777.
The Callisto is the best linestage I've heard but I haven't heard these others.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Regarding the Audio Note, whether there is a difference or not (I'm sure they sound different); I can't possibly imagine any possible difference that could be worth the difference in price; unless you have basically unlimited assets (the money just does not matter) and you happen to prefer the sound of the Audio Note; which is not a given. I also wonder, does anyone (not a dealer, a member of the press, or someone who works at AN) actually have one of these Audio Note preamps in their home system?
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