First Sound preamp

I owned a FS Presence Deluxe II. It created a very large and expansive image, and it had excellent dynamics. It was quiet, but mine had a persistent low level buzz in one channel that never went away, even after I sent it to Mr.Go for evaluation.

When I consider all the qualities you describe, the one preamp that comes to mind is the Lamm LL2 Deluxe. It was not quite as quiet as the First Sound regarding background noise ("blackness of background"), but it's performance in the other areas more than made up for the little bit of noise...and I'm really picking nits here regarding the noise. You wouldn't know it was there unless you swapped in a quieter preamp and compared the two.

The quietest tube preamps I have owned have been an Atma-Sphere MP-1 MK III (dead quiet background as long as all the tubes are optimized), and a Modwright SWL9.0SE (equal to the Atma-Sphere).

The Modwright preamp sounded more like solid state than tubes to me insofar as the 3D imaging goes.

The Atma-Sphere created an enormous image, but it wasn't as three dimensional as the Lamm.

I haven't found the perfect tube preamp, but for my taste and preferences, the Lamm LL2 Deluxe comes closest to what you describe as your priorities.

You put your life in peril without getting a remote. A lot of people with am audio hobby really don't get the WAF issue. Without accommodating her suggestion, you tell her you don't care what she thinks. Given in to her suggestion will let you buy more and more gear. Enjoy the music.

Without accommodating her suggestion, you tell her you don't care what she thinks.
Buconero117 (Threads | Answers)

That's an excellent point.

Does the lamm have a remote?

The Lamm does not have a remote.

It looks like you're currently using the RWA pre? You don't like it, I presume? It would seem to be the perfect match with your system.

Another line to consider is VAC. You can often find used VAC Standards in your price range. If you can stretch for a Renaissance series, even better.

The First Sound is excellent, if those traits are what you seek. It also has tremendous drive and power and is quite good at the micro-dynamic thing as well as macro (MAN, does it do macro!). Its 3D capability is excellent as well.

Have you tried the integrated volume control of the Minerva? What were your findings? Do you have more than one source?

I had a First Sound for a couple of years and agree with all of the praise above. I will add that it has a lot of gain and the volume adjusts in 2 dB increments, With your very efficient speakers, you may find yourself hanging out in the first few clicks (below 10 o'clock) and struggling to get the volume just where you want it.

Drubin mentions a very good point that I had forgotten. I remember now that the FS took the system loudly very quickly and without subtle adjustments. One setting could be too loud, and one click lower could be too soft...significantly so.

I was using 89dB loudspeakers at the time with a 32dB gain amplifier.