Reference preamp with laid back and relaxed highs

04-14-08: Newbee
...I asssume that - 1)Balanced systems are a hard-core audiophile concept for those willing to explore diminishing returns and 2) No hard core audiophile is going to want laidback highs and upper mids because that will reduce 'percieved' imaging and speed.

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.

conrad johnson ART.

I run 6 metre IC between pre and power with no issues.

"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. :-)

Hello Tvad,

You may want to try auditioning the BAT Rex.

Good luck,

Tom

my experience suggests you will not find such a preamp in production in 2008. coloration is what most designers try to avoid.

consider vintage preamps, such as cj, mfa, and audio research. you have more information and experience than most of us, so you are probably aware of the usual suspects, i.e., products of the 80's and 70's. it is possible that you don't want to go there. if that is the case, perhaps you could consider shindo preamps. i have not heard them, but, if i were searching for a current preamp, i would want to hear one.

just one more thing. i have never found lamm products particularly warm or tube like in the classic sense. i have auditioned many systems using lamm amps and preamps. with the exception of one, they have sounded closer to truth than beauty. the one exception was lamm with tannoy speakers at a stereophile show in ny about 4 years ago.