Mark Levinson 32 and reliability

The No.32's definitely a big upgrade from No.380S even! I owned both for a couple of years. The No.32 is bullet-proof!

Like Earflappin, I eventually sold my No.32 to move to Boulder. And since then sold my Boulder to move to VTL 7.5

Earflappin,
I was curious with your comments on the Dartzeel.

I pitted the Boulder 2010 against the VTL 7.5 with good NOS tubes at home, the VTL was distinctly better... better macro/micro dynamics, significantly more transparent, less "HiFi"ish than the 2010!

Could I ask if you've had the VTL 7.5 in comparative auditioning against the Dartzeel, or did you only do that against the Boulder 2010?

Thanks.

Anupmc,

Interesting that we both upgraded from the ML32 to the Boulder 2010. Yes, I actually did demo the VTL 7.5 in my listening room for a long weekend, shortly after I had the Halcro dm10 on demo. Just for the sake of completeness, when I did my demoing I had Linn Kimax Solo 500 monoblocks and my only source was a Linn CD12 (I had sold my old vinyl set up back then). And I had a 30' XLR run from the pre-amp(s) to my amplifiers (this is just the way my room is set-up).

I agree with you that I found the VTL 7.5 to be more transparent and musical than the Boulder 2010, particularly when going into the VTL with single-ended connections (Note, the 2010 as you know is only balanced). That being said, at the time, I did not find it to be so much superior to the 2010 that I felt compelled to switch. Perhaps if I had a set-up where I could have gone single-ended from the VTL to my amplifiers....

It's been quite a while since I had the VTL in my room, but to my ears based on my memory the darTZeel pre-amp is another cut above in terms of transparency, musicality, artifact-free, etc. It combines the very best of solid state and tubes IMO. Also, the unique 50 ohm constant impedance connection you can used between the dart pre and dart amplifier is audibly superior to RCA or XLR.

For the first time ever I am completely satisfied with my amp and pre-amp and am now turning my attention to upgrading my speakers (I have the Dynaudio Temptations now and will be auditioning the Magico 6's shortly) and my Linn CD12 (which I having David Schulte of the Upgrade Company upgrade for me as we speak).

Happy Listening! The VTL 7.5 is world-class in every way and you are undoubtedly very happy with it as you should be.

Take care,
Earflappin

The ML32 has arrived! It's a GREAT preamp and the upgrade
over the 38 is unbeliavable!! I'm an happy man! ;))
Thanks to all for your precious responses!

Earflappin: interestingly I can´t agree at all with you regarding the Boulder - VTL comparison. I´ve just bought Boulder 850 monos and had them paired with Boulder 1010, VTL 7.5 and CJ ACT 2. All pre´s are excellent but regarding transparency and detail retrieval, soundstgeing and imaging as well as buildquality and user friendliness the Boulder 1010 (the smaller brother of the 2010 you´ve heard) is def. better (not only to me but to a bunch of friend as well)than the two tubies.
Sources were Audio Aero Capitole Reference SE (on loan) and my Esoteric UX-3 SE and a Transrotor Fat Bob Reference (on loan) turntable.
Interconnects (between Boulder and sources were Gardas Golden Reference, Acustic Zen Silver Reference II, Shunyata Antares Helix and Kubala Sosna Emotion/ TaraLabs The 0,8 ISM onboard (both on loan).
Speakers used were my Avalon Opus Ceramique.
Can´t comment on the DartZeel but from what I´ve heard its totally overprized compared to eg. Ayre K-1xe.

Frankpiet,

Glad to hear that you're happy with your Boulder gear. I am sure there are synergies when listening to an all Boulder amp/pre-amp combination. Are you using XLR connections between your sources and the pre-amp?

Looking back at it I think the fact that my Linn CD12 and Unidisk source gear sound their best via RCA outputs (vs XLR), and the fact that the Boulder pre's are an all XLR design, was the reason that I prefered the VTL and the darTZeel pre's over the Boulder.

In any case, I stand by my comments, but acknowledge readily that there are many paths to audio nirvana in this hobby and in many cases what that means comes down to individual tastes and how individual components match with each other.

Have never heard the Ayre gear so can't offer a comparison versus the darTZeel pre-amp, all I can say is that I'm extremely pleased with my dart pre and amp. Further, I don't see any dart gear for sale on the GON which is a further indication that those who have it at this point are happy. Perhaps that may change over time.