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Thread: New preamp

  1. #1

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    Default New preamp

    I have been moving to more xlr sources as of late so I wanted a preamp with at least 3 xlr(balanced) inputs. I have a DIY phono , CD transport and dac so kits I assemble are doable for me. I found a Relaixed2 preamp and built it up. Relay controlled low gain opamp. I just finished the zircote face and applied the first coat of sea fin. Sounds great and remote controlled. The buffalo 3 sounds sweeeeet!
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    Last edited by bikerboy; 02-23-2013 at 09:38 PM.

  2. #2

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    Kewl! Beautiful wood! When I tired the BIII balanced direct to my active xover/amps it nudged me into a balanced pre.

    I'm in for the second GB for the Paradise MC phono pre boards.
    Last edited by SCompRacer; 02-23-2013 at 09:43 PM. Reason: ask for pics and they appear!
    Make yourself necessary to someone. Ralph Waldo Emerson

    InnerSound Eros Mk III (Hybrid ESL's)
    InnerSound Mk II Active Crossover Bass Amp
    Sanders ESL Amp (Panels)
    Krell KSL Pre w/ KSL Phono
    Squeezebox Touch / Welborne Labs PS / I2S Out Mod
    Denon 3910 I2S/DSD Out Mod
    Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC
    Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive
    AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm
    Dynavector 17D3
    Shunyata Hydra (Original)
    GIK Acoustic Treatments


    CP Showcase

  3. #3

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    Damn...some of you folks have unbelievable skill. Impressive.

    I like the look of your wood as well.
    2-channel
    Sources: Pro-ject 2.9 wood with Grado Gold cartridge; Squeezebox Duet; Oppo BDP-83
    Amplification: PS Audio GCPH; PS Audio DLIII(Cullen mods IV); Parasound Halo P3; B & K Reference 200.2
    Speakers: Polk - LSi15's


    HT
    Amplification: Sony - STR-DG1000; Outlaw 200 Mono; Speakers: Polk - CS2, Monitor 70's, RC80i's; Video: Optoma HD20; FAVI HD-100


    Work desk rig: Audioengine A2's; Jolida Glass FX DAC Mini

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by hochpt21 View Post
    I like the look of your wood as well.
    Seriously lol
    There exists, for everyone, a sentence - a series of words - that has the power to destroy you. Another sentence exists, another series of words, that could heal you. If you're lucky you will get the 2nd, but you can be certain of getting the 1st. - Philip K. Dick

    Advice is free, the Flea Market is earned - F1Nut

    My Sales Rating > 10

  5. #5

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    But seriously, can we get some more pics of the gear in your rack... looks pretty darned awesome!
    There exists, for everyone, a sentence - a series of words - that has the power to destroy you. Another sentence exists, another series of words, that could heal you. If you're lucky you will get the 2nd, but you can be certain of getting the 1st. - Philip K. Dick

    Advice is free, the Flea Market is earned - F1Nut

    My Sales Rating > 10

  6. #6

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    Yea, and is that a framed Zep album in the background?
    2-channel
    Sources: Pro-ject 2.9 wood with Grado Gold cartridge; Squeezebox Duet; Oppo BDP-83
    Amplification: PS Audio GCPH; PS Audio DLIII(Cullen mods IV); Parasound Halo P3; B & K Reference 200.2
    Speakers: Polk - LSi15's


    HT
    Amplification: Sony - STR-DG1000; Outlaw 200 Mono; Speakers: Polk - CS2, Monitor 70's, RC80i's; Video: Optoma HD20; FAVI HD-100


    Work desk rig: Audioengine A2's; Jolida Glass FX DAC Mini

  7. #7

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    Good eyes, hochpt21, that sure appears to be III. Envious of the your skills, bikerboy, looks awesome!

  8. #8
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    Very nice! The looks put my Zen Line Stage to shame, but I'll challenge you on the sound... :)

  9. #9

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    Hi guys,
    Thanks for the props on the setup. I love the way it sounds.
    Rich-I signed up for the gb on the paradise after your response. I have been thinking about that one for a while. The Retro doesn't have enough gain for the denon 103r. I also just got shipping confirmation on the SDTrans384 from Japan. The buffalo is going to be fed clean 1s and 0s from an sd card player.

    Jake- You should bring it over. Digital and vinyl are sounding very nice.
    D: SDTrans384 via I2S Teleporter-> Twisted Pear Audio Buffalo III DAC w Legato III I/V via XLR to Relaixed2 Preamp via XLR to Pass Labs Aleph 30-> SDA-2.3 w/ RDO, Soniccrafts, Larry's Rings;
    A: Soundsmith Ruby LC Denon DL-103R-> Nothingham Spacedeck-> Hagerman Piccolo MC headamp-> TPA Retro Phono preamp via XLR out;

    C: Flac with Mediamonkey4 via coax SPDIF from Juli@24/192 -> BuffaloIII
    V: Vinyl rips-> ESI Juli@24/192-> SPDIF-> BuffaloIII

    SACD: Sony 333es via RCA

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by bikerboy View Post
    Rich-I signed up for the gb on the paradise after your response. I have been thinking about that one for a while. The Retro doesn't have enough gain for the denon 103r. I also just got shipping confirmation on the SDTrans384 from Japan. The buffalo is going to be fed clean 1s and 0s from an sd card player.
    Kewl! I like it better than the Pass Pearl II; we won't be having to swap speaker/headshell leads either (the Pearl II inverts phase). Salas of power supply fame has a Paradise in progress too and has been adding some input. I don't know if it will be any better than the Krell MM/MC phono but the bench needs another project. Hopefully there will be another GB for parts. Kewl on the SDTrans384 too!
    Last edited by SCompRacer; 02-27-2013 at 07:09 PM.
    Make yourself necessary to someone. Ralph Waldo Emerson

    InnerSound Eros Mk III (Hybrid ESL's)
    InnerSound Mk II Active Crossover Bass Amp
    Sanders ESL Amp (Panels)
    Krell KSL Pre w/ KSL Phono
    Squeezebox Touch / Welborne Labs PS / I2S Out Mod
    Denon 3910 I2S/DSD Out Mod
    Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC
    Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive
    AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm
    Dynavector 17D3
    Shunyata Hydra (Original)
    GIK Acoustic Treatments


    CP Showcase

  11. #11
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    Once I finish the secondary wiring on it, I'll let you borrow it to compare.

  12. #12

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    Default

    Sweeeeet!

  13. #13

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    Default New player

    A few hi rez pics from the Sony Nex-7 w 10-18 wide angle. I got 4-16 gb sd cards so I have tons of music to convert. The SDTrans384 is a amazing sounding unit. The preamp is so very transparent that I am finding music I previously thought sounded well recorded to be not so good now. But it all sounds so much more real, better space definition, more natural.






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    Last edited by bikerboy; 03-10-2013 at 01:20 PM.

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