FPIII > ParamourII downsizeing

[Natural Sound]

I've been thinking about downsizing my system a bit. My audio rack is getting a bit cluttered. I currently use an Extended Foreplay III into a pair of Paramour II monoclocks configured for 45's. The Paramour II's have been upgraded with the same Bottlehead plate chokes and output transformers as the Stereomour and SEX 2.0. My output tube of choice is the 45.

I'm thinking of replacing this arrangement with a Stereomour (45 version). That way I can eliminate 2 of the 3 boxes, 2 power cords, interconnects, etc. Are there any pro's/cons that anyone can think of that I might run into?

I'm also considering upgrading my Seduction phono pre to an Eros. My other source is a MyDAC fed by my ALIX music server. A Bottlehead DAC has been pre-ordered and should arrive sometime in Jan. And occasionally I listen to a blues show from a local collage radio station on a Dynaco FM3.

Thoughts? Comments? 

[Paul Birkeland]

The extra gain of the Foreplay can be pretty helpful when running a low power amp with low efficiency speakers.  To get an idea of what the Stereomour would be like, you can try your MyDAC running right into the amps, using the built in volume control to get a feel for gain.

-PB

[galyons]

You will be giving up a gain stage.  If your system doesn't need the additional gain from an active preamp, you will be fine.  Most systems have too much gain.  PB's idea is great to try it first.

I prefer an active preamp, but understand your desire to simplify the kit!! Listen and let you ears be the guide!

Cheers,
Geary

[Natural Sound]

Thanks guys. I don’t have any issues with gain. I actually did an experiment a while back where I cobbled up a set of "Sweetest Whispers" in a passive attenuator set-up in front of the Paramour II's. I never found that I needed the extra gain. In fact I padded the inputs of the FPIII pretty heavily on the digital input. Even the seduction had enough drive as far as I was concerned. I'll have to kick this around for a while. 

[Jim R.]

Tom,

 I'm going this way myself -- eros, custom preamp, stereomour as power amp, some version of Orcas and some version of a blumenstein sub and that's it (except for sources, that is.) It all fits easily in the rack, nothing on the floor between rack and speakers, and many less cables and boxes, etc.

I also re-oriented my system in the room so it is on the short wall, and will be using a few diffusers instead of acoustic panels. This brings me slightly more into the near-field, which we'll just have to see how that goes.

I'm therefore going to purge a lot of iron, parts, complete or nearly complete kits, etc. but that will have to wait until I can inventory and organize everything -- meaning sometime early in the new year.

First priority is to get things more organized in the office and get some tunes playing and new components on their way to full break-in.

This stuff is starting to get fun again as I lift anover-zealous buying spree of things that sounded interesting but really just disrailed me and left me feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

Simplify and enjoy.

-- Jim

[Natural Sound]

Thanks for the reply, Jim. Actually it was one of your e-mail's that gave me the idea. I'm still kicking it around a bit. I'll pick up a Stereomour and build it when time and funding allows. Then I'll do a proper comparison once completed and take it from there. Are you going to run your Stereomour in 2A3 or 45 mode? I think you know where I stand regarding the 45.  That's how I'll build mine.