McIntosh preamp?

[frenchmon]

I am interest by your impression of Ayre VX-5 since Ayre would be one of very few brands I would ever consider next to Pass Labs. Your impression make me more content with my X150.5.

I was also interest in you preamp comparison. Since I value air & transparency higher above "texture" the ARC LS27 might be my choice of those you auditioned. I have an LS9 which, of course, is solid state: if I were disposed to go for a tube pre I might consider an LS16 or LS17 since the the '27 would be 'way out of my range.

Regarding the original topic I wouldn't mind hearing the MAC but there are probably better sounding preamps for money -- though the C220 has tone controls, phono, and balance outputs. I'd probably be happiest, though, with a Pass Labs for that kind of money, though I'm I kind spring that at the this time. BTW, though it has balanced outputs, the MAC isn't a "fully differential" design.

Feanor..a buddy of mine here in St. Louis has the LS16 and LS17 and both have lots of air & transparency!

[Feanor]

Feanor..a buddy of mine here in St. Louis has the LS16 and LS17 and both have lots of air & transparency!

Regarding these two, it's good to know other people's experience. If I'd had the cash I'd got one of those instead of the LS9 but they were both over twice what I paid for it.

[blackraven]

I would like to know how the ARC LS 26 compares to the LS 27. You see the 26 on audiogon frequently. I still would also like to hear a BAT. While I would love to have the MP-3, the extra $950 for a remote is probably a deal breaker for me. Also the stepped volume control does not allow for fine volume control. I talked to the guys at Atma Sphere and it took them 2 years of R&D to develop the motorized control which is just now being offered as an option.

[Feanor]

I would like to know how the ARC LS 26 compares to the LS 27. You see the 26 on audiogon frequently. I still would also like to hear a BAT. While I would love to have the MP-3, the extra $950 for a remote is probably a deal breaker for me. Also the stepped volume control does not allow for fine volume control. I talked to the guys at Atma Sphere and it took them 2 years of R&D to develop the motorized control which is just now being offered as an option.

Not having a volume control would put any preamp ABSOLUTELY out of consideration for me. As far as I can see "2 years of R&D" to develop a motorized remote is either bull**** or bull****, (even if they mean elapsed time, not man-years). Frank Val Astine's price of $300 is more than enough for remote control, (though Frank should make r/c standard).

Stepped volume control is OK provided there are enough steps. My previous Bel Canto eVo2i and Sonic Frontiers Line 1 were stepped and now my LS9 is too: all are adequately fine. There are various kinds of stepped controls. Pretty much all are resistor arrays, some controlled by a logic chip (with some having an opamp in circuit, others not), others employ motorized "manual" selectors. The former usually have miniaturized, integrated circuit resistors make many steps practical. Mostly the latter employ discrete resistors thus tending to reduce the number of steps possible, though, some would say, make higher quality possible.

[frenchmon]

I would like to know how the ARC LS 26 compares to the LS 27. You see the 26 on audiogon frequently. I still would also like to hear a BAT. While I would love to have the MP-3, the extra $950 for a remote is probably a deal breaker for me. Also the stepped volume control does not allow for fine volume control. I talked to the guys at Atma Sphere and it took them 2 years of R&D to develop the motorized control which is just now being offered as an option.

Can you add a universal remote?

[blackraven]

The MP-3's volume control is not digital, it is a ladder type and it need a motor installed and it takes up 12-15hrs to install the motor so you can't use a universal remote. Apparently it took a while because they did not want any interference with the sound. The stepped control has large steps and it works well but you can't get fine control. When you turn the volume knob, it goes "thunk" into the next step (it does not make any noise but you feel the thunk).

The Van Alstine remote use to be a $200 option but it has gone up in price. It is also motorized and makes the knob turn. The remote control unit is basic and only does volume and mute. A little pricey at $300.

[Feanor]

The MP-3's volume control is not digital, it is a ladder type and it need a motor installed and it takes up 12-15hrs to install the motor so you can't use a universal remote. Apparently it took a while because they did not want any interference with the sound. The stepped control has large steps and it works well but you can't get fine control. When you turn the volume knob, it goes "thunk" into the next step (it does not make any noise but you feel the thunk).

The Van Alstine remote use to be a $200 option but it has gone up in price. It is also motorized and makes the knob turn. The remote control unit is basic and only does volume and mute. A little pricey at $300.

The MP-3's volume control is of the latter type I described, i.e. using discrete resistors. The new Ayre AX-5 has very similar design according to the Stereophile review, HERE. Of course the designs can extremely good but so can potentiometer, (such as AVA), or so-called digital designs.

"Ladder type" is a topology and can be implemented in what you refer to as "digital" in which case the digital only applies to the switching logic which, in turn, is no different than, for example, remote input selection. The difference is whether one considers discrete resistor to be potentially better than printed circuit resistors; certainly the former are more expensive, especially taking hand-fabrication in to consideration.

[blackraven]

Bluetrain, I see you have a Parasound Halo A21 there. How do you like it? I have one. I replaced it with my Pass X250 and gave the A21 to my son to use for now. I love the attack of the A21, it is much better than my Pass in that respect. The leading edge of guitar and piano is much more real, where the Pass smooths that over and many smooth or liquid sounding amps do. I miss that in the Pass and it is my only real complaint about the X250. The Ayre VX-5 that I listened to had the same problem.

[blackraven]

Feanor, if you get a chance, go listen to the new 3.7i's. They sound awesome. I would love to have a pair in my system.

[bluetrain]

Bluetrain, I see you have a Parasound Halo A21 there. How do you like it? I have one. I replaced it with my Pass X250 and gave the A21 to my son to use for now. I love the attack of the A21, it is much better than my Pass in that respect. The leading edge of guitar and piano is much more real, where the Pass smooths that over and many smooth or liquid sounding amps do. I miss that in the Pass and it is my only real complaint about the X250. The Ayre VX-5 that I listened to had the same problem.

BR, I love my A21. Great amp. Very competent. Just not "audiophile politically correct" ;-)
It replaced McCormack dna225, which I had for a few months, and couldn't live with it.
You won't believe how good it sounds when connected to the BAT 42se. Unbelievable. One has to listen to believe it.
I'm thinking about getting the Bat vk255se in the near future. Should be interesting shootout.

[frenchmon]

The MP-3's volume control is not digital, it is a ladder type and it need a motor installed and it takes up 12-15hrs to install the motor so you can't use a universal remote. Apparently it took a while because they did not want any interference with the sound. The stepped control has large steps and it works well but you can't get fine control. When you turn the volume knob, it goes "thunk" into the next step (it does not make any noise but you feel the thunk).

The Van Alstine remote use to be a $200 option but it has gone up in price. It is also motorized and makes the knob turn. The remote control unit is basic and only does volume and mute. A little pricey at $300.

Man....the remote Peabody got with his AVA was like a toy....I couldnt believe the way that remote look...it was like out of a cracker jack box...a little plastic thing.