Joule, Blue Circle, CAT SL1


Hi,

I need a pre under $4000 that can match Hyperion HT-88 monos into Merlin VSM-MXE speakers.

Looking at Joule 150, Blue Circle BC3000, CAT SL1...can someone tell me the sonics of these? If there are any big differences at all? Also the cheaper the better :)

Phono would be nice and obviously a tape loop.

Regards

Richard
enjoy_the_music
Richard,

At under $4000 used, you should listen to the First Sound Presence Deluxe Mk II. I wouldn't say that it beats the CAT in every respect by a long shot, and it is a different sound, but it is significantly more transparent to my ears than the CAT. CAT is the king of smooth, full, rich sound. I don't agree with Sardonyxx that the Ultimate can sound lean. My guess is that if it sounded that way, he listened to one with either the "wrong" tubes in it or some other component was responsible. On the other hand, the F.S. is detailed and on some material can come close to be on the border of delivering too much information. But with the right tubes, it is excellent at imaging and allowing you to locate vocalists within the soundstage. It does this far better than CAT's, which also throw a huge, wide soundstage, but the instruments are kind of blurred within the stage,at least relative to the F.S. The F.S. may not be a good match with the Merlins, which I have listened to at several shows and have also found to sound very detailed. F.S. has very good bass, and fantastic dynamics, the dynamics even being better than CAT when the right tubes are used, and the CAT has very excellent dynamics. The bass of the CAT is unsurpassed to my ears. It is just gorgeous, deep and full. I own both the CAT and the First Sound 4.0, which is one level up from the normal unit. If you go up the line of F.S. preamps, supposedly it gets better and better. A used F.S. Presence Deluxe Mk II should be considerably less than $4000.00. I'd have to check the current price list, because I remember that a new one was about that price. I think that I bought my F.S.P.D. Mk II 4.0 for about that price, used. Other units you should listen to are Herron, Ayre and Emotive Audio. There may be many other good choices at this price point, but I'll stick to what I have heard and have liked.
Thanks Ray...i really appreciate your detailed answer.

There is also a growing amount of chatter about the Audio Horizons TP2.0 preamp. I'm still trying to work out how much is hype (i'm a decent cynic!) however one of the buyers replaced his FS Paramount SE preamp with this model.

I'm cut between wanting upmost transparency but also a slight warmth (call it distortion!) and am wondering if the TP2.0 might be too much through the Merlins..making many tracks unlistenable. I've been through THAT phase in audio and dont want to go back!

I know people have a great deal of respect for the CAT and FS preamps...all subjective at this level.

Thanks again

Richard
Richard,
You can test the Audio Horizons preamp in your system under the 30 day trial policy. I use the Audio Horizons TP 2.0 preamp through Coincident Super Eclipse MK III loudspeakers, which are not warm sounding loudspeakers. The TP 2.0 delivers a tonally balanced signal across the frequency spectrum which is not edgy at all. I imagine part of that result comes from the remarkably low signal to noise figures of the preamp (better than -110 dB with the fully tricked out version.
Rand
Blue Circle is very good stuff, but if you are buying used, the possibilty you will find a unit with a remote control is pretty slim. Sonically BC is very good. Convience is not there though.
As a former LA-100 MkIII owner, get the Joule, it has what you are looking for and is remote ready. I agree with Kenreau, the LAP-150 MkI that Signature Sound has for sale is a great preamp. I had the pleasure of listening to it at RMAF last year. For about $500 or so you can have it upgraded to MkII, which will make it an even more dynamic and extended.