Joule Electra LA150 MkII or Lamm LL2 Deluxe?

I just want to add that from all reports, the Joule 150 MKII (and MKII is important) is a step from the Joule 100s. The MKI is viewed as very neutral, a bit too much in the sense of being a bit lean (which can be a good thing depending on you amp and speakers); the MKIIs - well, just read HPs review in TAS, I think he gets it right.

I agree with all the above responses. Haven't heard the Lamm but I have had the Joule LAP-100, then upgraded to the 150, then sold that and bought a Joule LAP-150 MKII. The P means it has a phono stage. It is an amazing preamp and I am very happy with it. I have also had in my system a few years ago a Convergent which I had upgraded a few times. Right now I am not looking for another preamp. Maybe a new turntable and arm but then aren't we always looking for something new?

Donaudio, how is the phono stage in the Joule?

Thanks again everyone, it seems I have zeroed in on two excellent preamps in the middle-upper price range, each with loyal followers. After owning a fully decked out Atma-Sphere MP3 and the Vibe/Pulse, I must say I am partial to stepped attenuators instead of potentiometers like the Alps used in the Joule. In fact that is my main sticking point about trying the Joule - that the Alps blue will limit performance to nothing better than the Zoe I am using now. I plan to contact Jud Barber today to see if he uses another type of volume control, or if he would retrofit a stepped attenuator into a LA150-2. I do see a LA100 MkII for sale here that appears to have some type of stepped attenuator and was apparantly modified by a former Joule technician, and I also seem to remember something about them having a different volume control option if remote is not needed, so maybe there is a chance.

The LL2 uses two Alps "Black Beauty" potentiometers, but I cannot find anything out there about that particular model, except maybe it is discontinued. I read in one review article that it is a stepped attenuator, but have not seen that anywhere else and my recollection is that it is simply their top-of-the-line potentiometer. My concern is that in the case of the Lamm, steps were somehow added, but it is still simply a potentiometer.

The only other preamp on my radar at this time is the Herron. I like what I hear about the new VTSP-3, being a more fleshed-out version of the VTSP-2, and I would be willing to try out the VTSP-2 since Herron offers an upgrade to the VTSP-3 for only the difference in price between the two - very cool for a company to do.

Again, thanks guys. I don't know why the preamp position has been so hard for me to fill in my system. I plan to try one of the ones listed above, although if I cannot find anything much better, I will simply stay with the Zoe, which is making a remarkably good show of itself.

I think it is the hardest piece in the system to get right for all of us. P.S. CAT SL1s have stepped attentuators.