For CD listening, it is very nice. However, I don't have any really GOOD LPs .... when I play LPs, the pre-amp expose all the "demerits" of the LP and the system.... ha..ha.
The first M7 I made produce pretty "sweet" sound. However, the extreme ends are hard to reach. Originally, the M7 comes with WIMA caps. I later on changed them all to Auricaps. The base and clarity seems to be much better. I then sold the item to my colleague.
The second one I worked on is the Matisse, which was built many years ago by "Uncle Bun". It is very Hi Fi ... I changed all the WIMA to Jensens and the thing becomes much better. I lend it to my sister afterwards. The problem with this pre-amp is, the female aren't "feminine" enough.
Next comes the McIntosh C22. This one I kept for the shortess period of time. Not very satisfying. No outstanding performance, just an average toy. Probably some kind of design fault or so .... don't know.
Then, my current M7. Spent quite a fortune on it with separate PSupply. Unfortunately, no money to get a real hi class transformer. This one uses the Matisse rectifying board and RMG resistors together with Jensen caps. So far, this is the best Tube Pre-amp I have ever built. Sweet sound, moderate clarity, sound stage okay but not outstanding. Female vocal sounds nice and bass is not too deep.
Finally the Pass Labs. As some of you pointed out already, transistors built pre-amp gives more clarity and details. It is true. Sound stage noticably wider than the M7. More punchy bass and match with my CEC CD player well. Some Singers seem to have "improved" their singing skills when I use this Pass Labs to play their songs (tho' not true for ALL singers).
The Pass Labs still needs around 1 month to run in. See how it goes then.
Too busy these days. Just turn on the two Aleph by turn to run them in. No chance sitting down there and listen.
Anyway, I don't really like "punchy" bass; that is why I mainly have female vocal CDs. My speakers can adjust the base level by narrowing or widening the gap at the bottom. I set it to minimum bass too.
Situation will be better after next week. Then I can have more time to play with the toys and assemble the third Aleph for my colleague.
Spent two hours today to change the front panel to the one at the bottom.
Haven't got Chloroform at home, so I can't fix the back plate for the Volume Switch yet. Will try to get some Chloroform tomorrow to have it done.
Still haven't finish yet. Will try it make it better tomorrow, just ran out of time today. Will need also to spend some time to shop for screws to make the front panel looks even better. :wink:
8N copper (Tara Labs), Military Silver Plated OFC copper wire and finally 99.9999 pure silver wire.
The pure silver wire gives the best clarity and sound stage. The 8N copper is a bit sluggish, I still don't understand why. The worst is the silver plated copper. Good only for power supply.
However, I still use the 8N copper for the Grounding. Save me some money, ha...ha... :
The TaraLabs were bought at SSP Wing Shing. Yes, you are right, they are not cheap (around $ 36 - 38 / foot). Connecting everything inside the Pass 1.7 requires around 2 feet.
The Silver ones are around $ 70 / foot --- doubled the price.
There are kits for Aleph 1.7 and 2.0 as well. The 1.7 you saw here is from a group buy (parts + transformer + case) which we did long time ago. The most troublesome part is the case.
PM me your phone number and I will talk to you directly.
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