Guys/Gals, tell me about your Foreplay (preamp, that is.

[Jim R.]

I am seriously considering the FP III+ for my system and would love to know what tose of you who have built and usethem think, especially anybody who went active after a passive volume control (LDR) as I am considering doing.

I'm also especially interested in what sonic improvements/compromises -- body, dynamics, tone, detail, and noise changed with the addition of the foreplay III+.

Thanks,

Jim

[Paully]

I have used a home built passive and FPII as well as the FPIII, though mine is not extened.  It is difficult for me to describe, hopefully someone else will chime in as well.  But it seemed to me that the system was more dynamic with the FPIII in versus the passive.  And compared to a fairly stock II, it is just a better preamp without question.  In the end the system just sounded better, more alive.  I personally didn't notice any downside in terms of noise, etc...

[Jim R.]

Thanks, Paul, and if I'm remembering correctly, most of your speakers have been in the high 90s - 100 dB sensiti vity, which would surely let you know if there was a noisy component in the chain.

C'mon folks, sell me here :-).

-- Jim

[Paully]

Well you will never know until you try of course.  I think we can sell you on it, but this is the choir.  I don't remember what Bottlehead equipment you have, but what do you think of it?  Does the quality of that equipment convince you of the overall quality of the company?  Mine does, so I have bought everything they have produced that I had a use for, and even one I really didn't.  I have heard a number of different amps and set-ups and I everytime I do I realize that Bottlehead is the most bang for the buck available in audio for those of us who can't build from scratch.  And even then, with DIY, you probably don't get the benefit of a tested and proven design.  The FPIII was developed not only by a great engineer or two with significant listening tests, but from what I know inocorporates some ideas from the community at large that were widely used as tweaks in the FPII.  Plus the significantly beefed up power supply.  It is the best of what Bottlehead and its community has to offer at an affordable price.  I don't want to sound like someone out of Sterophile, but I don't think preamps many mulitples its price sound any better.  But, like I said, I am in the choir.

[denti alligator]

Yeah, try and sell me, too. I currently have three sources (PC, TT, and CD) going through a cheap, self-built switch and into my SEX amp. (Oh, the TT is amplified with a Bugle.)

So I'd like to get a Seduction, eventually, to replace the Bugle, and a DAC, of course, but how much would putting the FPIII as a line stage instead of my switch do sonically? Would you recommend going for the FPIII before replacing the Bugle with the Seduction?

[Paully]

Someone else needs to play prophet here!  But since I have had a Bugle (that's the battery powered one, right?), Seduction, FPIII, and S.E.X. amp I will chime in.  First, I was one of the few that liked the S.E.X. amp better with the FPIII than without.  So the opinion of the community seemed to be that the S.E.X. amp was more than fine alone.  I disagreed, but really I was one of, I think, one to feel that way.  And the change wasn't huge if memory serves.  My personal opinion, even with the fact that I liked the FPIII/S.E.X. combo a great deal, is that your biggest bang for the buck would be to upgrade to the Seduction first.  That is the opinion of this Latin teacher and it is worth what you just paid for it, lets see what others say!

But also whether I would buy a good DAC or the Seduction first would be determined by which format I listened to more.

[Jim R.]

Ok, sold! :-)  Yes, I'll be getting an FP II+ soon enough, and if one of the new preamps under development happens to be any better, then at some point I'll probably get one of those too... but not for a while.  The FP III+ will bee very nice with my living room setup and drivin something like 20 foot interconnects.

-- Jim

[Paully]

Let us know how it goes!

[denti alligator]

Was the consensus of the community that the FPIII *negatively* impacted the SEX or that it made no difference?

If it made no or little difference then it's just a glorified switch, no? You guys aren't doing that great a job of convincing me....

[Jim R.]

Sam, I'll just speculate here a bit, but would probably guess that a seduction or Eros would be a much more significant upgrade to the system as your signature shows.  I honestly don't think that the extra gain would be at all needed with the headphones, though I also don't know what tonal or prestentational aspects may be different with a preamp, but it seems that the less stuff in the chain, the better.

For the same money as the FP III+, I'd think the Eros would be the better upgrade.  Again, I've not heard either the FP III+ or the Eros, but if it were me, that's the choice I'd make myself.

HTH,

Jim

[Grainger49]

Sam,

I can't remember if the SEX came first or the FP III.  But when both were on the scene there were many Bottleheads who liked the sound of the combination.  An active preamp gives "drive" to music that is missing in a passive, or most passives least I get dissenting posts from the passive pre users. An integrated amp has an active stage in front of the driver/output stage.  This is something that the SEX lacks to meet the price point for good sales.

If you pad the input of your CDP to match it with your phono an active preamplifier will make up for that loss.

No one that I remember thought it subtracted from the sound.

[andy2667]

I am now using a really good TVC with nano amorphous c core. I am also considering the ForeplayIII + to try out different taste in sound. Experience from users that have used both TVC and foreplay is much appreciated.

Concerning the LDR light sensive resistor type passive pre, I can advise my experience. Once the wave of LDR type passive pre hit the audio market, I bought one using wood enclosure immediately to try. Initially, it seems that The LDR pre was better with deeper sound stage and more HiFi sound. However, after longer term listening and comparison, I definitely much prefer my TVC passive pre to the LDR pre. The LDR sound thin and a little bit harsh on comparison. Break in was not able to improve this deficiency. My LDR is not removed and I reinstall the TVC.

I have once used a reasonably good tube pre with separate tube regulated PSU using NOS 6F6 as regulator. The tube pre just sound different compared with the TVC. The tune pre gave bigger sound stage and lush sound but TVC gives better details and high end sparkle. Micro details is particularly good. I love both but the TVC got the upper hand and remains in my system.

Really eager to get the Foreplay III+ to try and compare. Any user experience is very welcome.

I am using a 100db open baffle speaker system and am using the bottlehead paramount 2A2 amp with Shuguang 2A3C tube and upgraded parafeed cap.

I also use other amps from time to time as there is no single perfect amp IMHO. EL84 type small amp can easily give beautiful sound in particular for vocal. 6c45 single stage amp with loads of details! Small T Amps are interesting sounding.......Also very eager to get the Stereomourw to UAE 45 tubes.

Andy

[Hank Murrow]

I cannot reply concerning the Foreplay lll linestage, but my Bottlehead Customs linestage uses I.A.G. TVC's based upon Shallco switched Sowter trannies. It has dual shunt-regulated power supplies and the 6C45Pi tubes work into MagneQuest B7 all-Cobalt output trannies. Dead quiet, and with drive to spare, it gives a very good account of itself in listening comparisons. Paul Birkeland did the build for me, and Paul Joppa contributed a very quiet PS. You can check it out in detail here: http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,64.0.html

[denti alligator]

Stupid questions: There are three volume knobs. Is there a switch to select the inputs like with the Quickie? And why do there appear to be two sets of outputs?

[Jim R.]

Sam,

One knob is the selector switc for the three inputs, the other two are mono volume pots, and the second set of utputs can be for whatever you want -- a subwoofer amp, a headphone amp, or a bi-amp setup with the appropriate filters either built-in to the FP or the amps themselves.  You don't have to use it if you don't want.

HTH,

Jim