Preamp modifications - who would you use?

I believe mods are an excellent way to improve upon a component that is clearly lacking in some way.

Tvad, I agree with your observations regarding the risk of screwing up something that a good designer spent a considerable amount of time to design and spec. The Lamm may therefore be a poor example to use for this case. However, there are other examples where equipment was designed to a price point limiting the cost of components, where the equipment is older and the available parts quality has improved since the original design, and where newer technology has become available (such as in power filtration and regulation). Those types of examples may be more applicable here. I plan to start with a couple of the names on the list, send some pictures of the insides of the preamp and power supply, talk with them about what they believe can may be accomplished, and then decide how/if I want to proceed.

I appreciate the names provided here, several of which I did not initially consider, and I also found benefit in the general discussion regarding the risks of modding equipment.

"01-13-10: Ejmac70
During the modified period, there was greater top-end sparkle; however, the unit also lost all of the musical characteristics for which one selects a Jadis product! To be clear, I do not recommend this option.”

I extracted the above from another thread because it exemplifies what I believe to be one of the greatest caution points of modifications: The achievement of a specific desired virtue at the expense of the subtle voicing of a component. I can almost assure you that some of the changes made involved upgrading parts.

I too believe Tvad is giving very good advice to consider. There is also the question of what happens should you ever need to send the unit back to the original manufacturer for any repair or work. What happens then to the modded parts and work?

Good luck,
Will

Consider Wayne of Bolder Cable Co. I've got him working on a DAC for me now and from my experience with other pieces he's modified he does great work.

Modifiers, like Dan Wright, who choose a component, study it and spend a good long time tinkering and testing, are a whole different story. Unless you choose a modifier who specializes in modifying your particular preamp, you’re unlikely to get that kind of analysis and testing.

That is a very good point Phaelon. In retrospect, it seems the most successful modifiers are either those like Dan Wright, Kyle Takenaga, and Steve Huntley, who spend considerable time developing their modifications and generally specialize in specific equipment, or the many others who modify/upgrade equipment they originally designed such as Steve McCormack, Jim White, Chris Johnson, Charles Hansen, and many others, including Kevin Halverson who has been outstanding in his support of existing customers upgrading to his latest models of digital equipment.

I have consulted with one of the individuals recommended above, who is looking at some detailed pictures of the preamp. Our understanding is that if something jumps out at him that he believes can be improved, we will discuss further. However, if that is not the case, I may just leave well enough alone (easy to say, hard to do after years of being a typical audiophle). I have been at this long enough to know that just because something is not as expensive as other products does not mean it cannot, or does not, sound as good. I also find it interesting that, as with other SS equipment such as the Tom Evans Vibe/Pulse I use to own, leaving the preamp on continuously for over a month now has had a positive effect on the sonics with perceptually greater extension, texture, and depth of stage.