Reference preamp with laid back and relaxed highs
Well if you're not set entirely on tubes... how 'bout John Atkinson's new reference: the Parasound Halo JC2? Designed by John Curl and Bob Crump of CTC Blowtorch fame. John loved the "silky highs" when driving a Boulder 860 and mentions it's better mated with warmer amps. http://www.parasound.com/pdfs/JC2StereophileReview.pdf |
Probably correct. I should not have used the word reference as an adjective. I suppose I'm interested in some coloration, rather than the Absolute Sound. So, all suggestions are welcome. Since I run 30 foot interconnects, I assume balanced is preferable to single ended, which is why I mentioned balanced as a criteria. |
"I assume balanced is preferable to single ended". It sure is if a long run of IC generates some noise from RFI. Unless you have 'fully balanced' components though I don't know how much you would gain, sans RFI noise (assuming proper electrical matching). Have you actually had a chance to compare balanced v non balanced? FWIW, in view of your experience with and preference for the Lamm, unless I had an extant noise problem I'd pass on fully balanced circuitry or just the facility to use balanced IC's. BTW, another FWIW, there is always a tradeoff in component selection and/or design, and I think the most ellusive one is any component that has both tight/deep bass, lifelike mid-range qualties, and slightly soft (rolled) upper mids/highs. You can get any one of these three segments by itself but usually tight bass and brightish upper-mids/highs or rolled highs/mids and slower bass seem to go together, kinda immutable - the exact reason so many folks pass on both and just go for the mid-range. BTW, for myself I've always been interested in the Joule, Herron and Lamm stuff - but the stock market hasn't been kind to me this year! :-( Maybe in the next year or two. :-) |
