Since editing of posts is not allowed in this thread, I want to make an addendum to my prior post.
It's my belief based on reviews, and on comments made by Vladimir Lamm and Ralph Karsten, that Lamm and Atma-Sphere strive for accuracy and neutrality. It's difficult to believe the holographic sound I heard when using their preamps was due to an intentionally designed trick to cause this effect.
I believe VAC has a similar goal, but I'm not certain.
Now, I have also owned a Belles preamp that created a very large image...high and wide. However, the image was not holographic. Rather, it was large but two dimensional, IMO.
It's my belief based on reviews, and on comments made by Vladimir Lamm and Ralph Karsten, that Lamm and Atma-Sphere strive for accuracy and neutrality. It's difficult to believe the holographic sound I heard when using their preamps was due to an intentionally designed trick to cause this effect.
I believe VAC has a similar goal, but I'm not certain.
Now, I have also owned a Belles preamp that created a very large image...high and wide. However, the image was not holographic. Rather, it was large but two dimensional, IMO.