Muralmans' amps reviewed Ultra Audio.

I had the Fire Preamp in my system for a few days. It is big, heavy, and runs hot. I don't know what is inside, but the sound screams MOSFETs. If you like second order harmonics that suggest a "tube" sound, then you will probably like it.

I dislike the veiled and hazey sounded created by MOSFETs in general. This preamp wasn't to my personal liking.

Henry is a wonderful person and the build quality of his equipment is top-notch. Our audio tastes and expectations are just different.

Whimby

Whimby, welcome to Audiogon. I see you just joined. I have to admit I am scratching my head about just what you are saying. A lot of people have heard my system, some involved in the music business. I have yet to hear any opinion that mirrors yours.

The MOSFET debate about them sounding veiled and hazy is growing old. It's rather like the blanket description of tubed gear sounding slow, or warm or rolled off.

I have owned to components with MOSFET outputs and neither has sounded veiled or hazy. Maybe I've been lucky with the particular components I've had in my system.

Talking about reading between the lines..... Why would someone join Audiogon just to comment on one component. Seems weird to me.

Tvad is right. It is all in the implementation. Henry got it right.

If you don't hear the MOSFET veil, then you don't. I heard it clearly on the "Fire" preamp. MOSFETs can sound clean when you choose the correct one and bias it correctly. MOSFETs are excellent at voltage gain. They get nonlinear with current gain. Nelson Pass and others have written on the subject.

Why would someone join audiogon just to hype his own system endlessly and deny that anything else on the face of the earth might even be remotely as good. Seems weird to me.

Just joined? Check you dates....

Tvad is right. It is in the implementation (and parts selection).