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Attention Messenger Preamp Owners...

I just got the very first Messenger Mk II. It is incredible. I can't believe Elliot Midwood made what many consider the best preamp on the market markedly better. Every area has been improved.

There is more extension in the high end while the midrange is liquid smooth. Everything sounds more natural and relaxed(especially digital). The soundstage is wider and there is greater air around the instruments and vocals. Images are bigger and better defined and there has been no detraction or loss in the bottom.

Honestly words don't do justice to the sound. You have to hear it!
nrostov
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
I am just guessing here, I did speak with Elliot a few weeks ago though. There is an updated volume control,which my 1 year old unit does not have. Elliot said the new one has fewer steps. He did not mention an increase in gain in the upgraded mk 3. In my system, I definitely have plenty of gain though. With my Jade and Messenger w/ phono, 9-10 O'clock is quite loud. I have never even ventured up to the 11 O' clock range. I am wondering now if the Messenger's w/ the tubed PS are in fact the Mk.1. Then, I would guess all Messenger's w/ SS PS would be Mk. 2's. I welcome any clarification here though. BTW, Elliot is a class act, and always a pleasure to speak with.
nrostov's avatar
nrostov OP
199 posts
 
Gladstone,

I didn't have Elliot change the volume control to the new version because I new for each input where to set it. However the upgraded Messenger has more gain(about 1 step) so I have had to adjust downward on all sources.
nrostov's avatar
nrostov OP
199 posts
 
Fjn04,

Actually the idea of the new volume control was to lower the gain so that when you set it to 1 it wouldn't be so loud.

With the old Messenger I set Cd's at 5 max and Lp's at 11 max. Now I have moved down a step.

Actually the power supply has nothing to do with the upgrades to the messenger. All upgrades are to the actual preamp. The tube power supply was always an option and is really for people who are tweakers(not me).

I kid you not when I say that the new Messenger is like a whole new preamp in terms of sonics. It takes everything the old one did and increases those qualities exponentially.
gladstone
296 posts
 
I wouldn't consider the tubed power supply for tweakers only. You might be surprised by its sound.
nrostov's avatar
nrostov OP
199 posts
 
Gladstone,

Sorry I should have been clearer. I didn't mean that it didn't improve the sound. I have never heard it I was just going off of what Elliot told me. He did say it improved the sound but he also felt it was more for guys that liked to tweak the tubes(which isn't me). That's all I meant so I hope I clarified that for everyone who reads this.

Do you have the tube power supply?
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