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Audio research or Manley 300B pre amp for Upgrade

Dear: my respected fellow audiogon members,

After deciding on my speaker upgrade, I am now about to seek some improvement in my audio system. As currently using audio aero capitole mk2 source conected directly to my manley snapper monoblock, I was advised by some friends that I should instead add a Pre amp. However, as I read through some of other members discussion, I found out that there were pros and cons regarding the pre amp usage after the aero. Some opinions hold it strong against pre amp addition as it will alter the purity of signal coming out of the aero, whereas some others believe that by adding pre amp there will be more body to the music as well as depth and staging width improvement.

Now, that I have the choice to tryout for a pre amp, should I go for the Audio research pre such as ls27 or even the reference 5, or should I go simpler by using the single ended manley neo-classic 300B pre amp (which doesn't have the XLR connection).. I lean towards all genre of musics (country, jazz, classical, soft rock) with exception of hard musics..

Would anyone share with me some great expertise and wisdoms.. Thanks all..
jonathan_pp
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Jonathan,
The Coincident Statement linestage is simply outstanding! Montejay is correct in his description. However if for you it comes down to either the Manley or the Audio Research, given your system and preferences I`d select the Manley preamp in a heartbeat.
Best of Luck,
jonathan_pp OP
21 posts
 
Dear: Charlesdad and Musicophile

I think I would strongly agree with you guys, I tried the shrimp yesterday (got it from a friend) and the entire set up really opened up a new dimension of musicality.. With the shrimp (comparing it to going direct from Aero to Snapper), music sounded magical, with greater balance and focus, timbre and body, overall it sorts of widen the sound stage to infinity.. And there seems to be no veil between listener and music,.. I would be quite sure, that it would be much better with the Manley 300B pre combination...I am ordering my 300B pre on my shortlist..once again Thank you very much for your generous expertise..
musicophile's avatar
musicophile
58 posts
 
Exciting, I concur with your impressions. A good preamp opens up a system: it gives it life, organical flow, dynamics and timbre nuanceses. I once tried Jumbo Shrimp with Snappers, it was really good. However, the 300B is in a different league. The Neo-Classic 300B preamp is bold, plays music with authority and finesse.

Come back and share your impressions.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Musicophile,
I agree, that`s a very good description of what a truly high quality active preamp will add to improve a system`s overall sound as compared to going the direct source-amp route.
montejay
285 posts
 
Hi Jonathan,
I agree with a lot of what Charles and Musicphile say about a quality pre. My preferences not withstanding, I can see the benefit.
You are making some significant changes to your system (have your new speakers arrived yet?). With an opportunity to audition a couple of pre amps around the time I aquired my current Coincident speakers, I actually started getting confused with all the changes that I really didn't appreciate what the speakers were doing until I simplified my system.It is possible one day,I may go back to the Coincident Statement or another 101b tube based preamp. What was just needed was time for the system to settle before determining what each new component and cable was contributing to the sound.
I will say that my system has not had any significant change (other than my source)in the last two years and am VERY happy.

Regards,
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