Any experience with Audio Experience A2 preamp ?

I have the A2 balanced line stage from Ys Audio. It is a fine sounding preamp. My only quibble is that there are volume controls for left and right channels rather than a single control. It does not cast a sound stage as wide or deep, nor is as tonally correct as the Atma-sphere MP 3 which replaced it, (relegating it to back up status), but sounded way better in my balanced system then unbalanced pre-amps before it (Melos SHA 3). Plenty warm, really good imaging, the tube compliment really makes a big difference, and, for some reason it seems to go through tubes about every 6 months, rather then one year or so like my other tubed pre-amps.

Hi Mcfarland,
Thank you for taking your time and sharing this valuable information. I think the Atma Sphere MP3 is a balanced Preamp. I was also considering MP3. How is the tube life on MP3 ?
Thanks,

Mcfarland, are you speaking about the Balanced A1 preamp. The A2 has L&R Balance controls as well as a main Volume control.

I own the A1 and, with a decent set of tubes (nothing over $17./each) casts an enormous sound stage. Instrumental detail and location of performers are quite spectacular. Complex classical recordings (Stravinsky Rite of Spring, Mahler Symphonies, etc.), if well recorded, suffer no congestion or smearing. Crappy, tiny sounding recordings (early digital), do sound like...well, crap. So the preamp is not coloring the sound, just giving it to you straight. By the way, for a tube preamp, mine is almost dead silent. Only sticking an ear right to the speaker would you hear a very faint hiss.

Previous balanced preamps I have had were the BAT 3xi, BAT 5i and Pass X-1. (I run balanced into a Music Reference RM-200.) Unbalanced pres have included a modified ARC SP-8, SP-10 and one of the early Threshold items (as you can see from my choices, I prefer an old fashioned mentality for sound).

The only reason for me to part with the A1 preamp is if I were to buy the YS Audio A2. As we see with Chinese companies like Audio Experience, MHDT (Paradisea, Havana) and others, they have the goods to make quality products at affordable prices. The latter two words, along with the phrase "Chinese Made," have come to mean "cheap" in the world of "audiophilia nervosa." Maybe as it relates to some products, but certainly not to this preamp.

8^(