Transistor Preamp that sounds like a Tube Preamp?

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Asa, think of me as the class clown. I am glad you did not feel insulted by my friendly poke at your post. It is obvious that you are very passionate about music reproduction, and have thought very deeply about how the mind experiences reproduced music.

As for a SS preamp that sounds like a tube preamp, try to listen to the Ayre KX-R if you get a chance. It does all the tube things so well (in my limited experience) that I am totally satisfied. In specific, it does the "projection" trick very well. Of course, your standards might be more exacting.

Good listening.

hi saxo:

the attributes that you desire need to be present at thesource. if not, it will be difficult for a preamp or amp to compensate for what the source --analog or digital does not provide.

so, does your source satisfy the objectives you desire for your preamp ?

if so, it may be sufficient to find a pre amp, which does no harm, i.e., is relatively uncolored. in such a case, the preamp will pass the signal you desire to the amp, which hopefully is relatively uncolored and then to the speakers.
oops, i forgot about the cable. well, hopefully, the cable and the room does no harm. this is elementary stuff, which has been mentioned many times before.

a lot of links here. recording and source are better places to start.

i believe the best recording with mediocre components sounds "better" than a mediocre recording with the "best" components.

At the level where the lack of dimension is experienced, the experience almost becomes ineffable to the cognicizing faculties. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. You live in dimension, so why shouldn't you want your stereo to replicate, catalyze your mind's experience of it, also?

Yes, Asa, that's precisely what I was after... the goal being to create a synergistic system that will allow me to reach these deeper listening levels in the most optimal manner... and thus, to ultimately bypass the ego-driven pontificating senseless mind for the sake of "pure being", or "soul", or "presence", or whatever term you'd care to assign the unknowable.

For those missing Asa's point, perhaps the "what is" has it rigged that way... (to borrow an Asa quote from another thread!)

I guess what I'd really appreciate Asa, is some advice in creating a system that will "take me there". The "real" me that is. Perhaps I can call you for specifics?

F1a: thanks.

On the system, how much BIG COLD HARD CASH do you have?! Just kidding...

Actually, that's a lot to ask and I don't know if I could guarantee that for anyone. I have a system that gets me there, but its older, relatively esoteric and made up of some stuff that might be pretty hard to unload. More than that, there's plenty of other guys here on the 'Gon that are much more up to date that me. What is your room dimensions and characteristics? What is your evolution in equipment to this point? What do you like to listen to, at what preferable volume, if any, etc.?

But, because I'm hoping to start a whole new discussion where I can be thoroughly lambbasted (spelling?), I'll give it a shot...assuming a reasonable sized, live room (as in, good live...)...and if cash was no option, I'd just have to go...Shindo pre, Wavac or Kondo amps, Kondo speaker wire, IC through experimentaion (critical, you know...could be anything. I use a mix of Kondo and NBS Pro original, which most think is over-priced junk but has worked for me), Raven TT with Triplanar or Copperhead, cartridge du jour to match whatever arm you want (your choice - Myabi, Universe, Allaerts, etc.), tbg's latest vibration boxes (yes, tbg, I'm lusting!), SRA OHIO-level amp platforms...and for speakers...Maybe the Shindo Latours, because I think that field coils are going to make a big splash down the road. For me though - and this is just from where I've been - I would also love to have, just to have them, the latest ESP Concert Grands.

Of course, there's lots to do at all $ points. How about a Mactone or Montille amp paired with Living Voice IBX or OBX speakers (the new ones with the Kondo wire inside)? Or, some Audio Note speakers, the one's Dudley goo's over this month in S-phile, paired with some Fi or Shindo gear, or...well, I'm letting my biases show and there's lots of ways to get there (you know, the one about infinite paths up a mountain?)

Anyway, should be pretty fun talking about it!