Help with finding ultra-transparent pre-amp

I disagree with Tvad..............the Lamm LL2 Deluxe is one of the best preamp when using 1950's black sable mullard tubes and all the Vishay caps are replace with Vcaps TFTF/OIMP and Mundorf silver/gold caps. Those who have not heard a Lamm LL2 Deluxe with these modifictions are missing out on an extreme preamp at its best. Check out my system and you will see what it takes to make a great system much greater by ten fold.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vdone&1197684391&read&3&4&

04-25-08: Jagdynamics
I disagree with Tvad..............the Lamm LL2 Deluxe is one of the best preamp when using 1950's black sable mullard tubes and all the Vishay caps are replace with Vcaps TFTF/OIMP and Mundorf silver/gold caps.

I did not say it wasn't a great preamp. I owned one. I know how excellent it was in my system.

However, I stand by the statement that it is not as transparent (neutral) as many other preamps (although it's also not rolled off, bloated or lacking extension). It's what made mine so musical. I used mine with Mullard Blackburn 12AU7, 6922 and 6X4 tubes from the late 50s and early 60s.

Also, I was speaking about a stock Lamm LL2 Deluxe preamp, as this is what 99% of buyers would be purchasing.

Tvad, sorry you took this personal, I am only telling Sashav that the Lamm LL2 Deluxe can be a good choice and not to rule it out because of one negative thread. If you don't like what I have said, then take a hike and leave your thoughts out of this forum.
Sashav, good luck on finding the right preamp. I have had many high end preamps and I have found this LL2 deluxe to be just as good as most very high end preamp as a stock preamp and at a very reasonable price. With the modifications that I have done on this LL2 Deluxe, it will be very hard to find any stock preamp to out perform this preamp.

04-25-08: Jagdynamics
Tvad, sorry you took this personal, I am only telling Sashav that the Lamm LL2 Deluxe can be a good choice and not to rule it out because of one negative thread. If you don't like what I have said, then take a hike and leave your thoughts out of this forum.

Offering an alternate point of view is not an indication of taking something personally, unlike lashing out at someone for expressing it.

In fact, it seems we agree about the LL2 Deluxe's transparency/neutrality. In November you wrote:

11-30-07: Jagdynamics
I replace my accuphase c-2800 preamp with a lamm LL2 deluxe and the lamm lack in detail with high's/lows until I replace the stock tubes with mullards.

You wrote the LL2 Deluxe lacked detail in the highs and lows. Lack of highs and lows are characteristics of a preamp that lacks transparency and neutrality.

If you re-read all I have written in this thread, and all I have written about the LL2 Deluxe in about 25 other threads, you will see that I owned one and that I loved it.

IMO, in my system, it was not as neutral as the Modwright, Atma-Sphere, First Sound or Bryston preamps I have owned.

Lack of ultimate transparency/neutrality doesn't mean the preamp doesn't sound wonderful. In fact, I enjoyed the LL2 Deluxe more than the Bryston, Modwright and First Sound preamps, and if the LL2 Deluxe was balanced (a preferred requirement of Sashav's mentioned above), it's a good bet I'd still own one.

Frankly, we both seem to be admirers of this preamp, and we are both believers in the benefits of using Mullard Blackburn tubes. So, other than differing opinions about the degree of neutrality of the stock unit (which your November post indicates you actually experienced), I cannot understand what your beef is.

Well, took delivery and set it up about 10 minutes ago. Cold out of the box it's obvious this is something.