Initial impressions of my fresh Upgrade build

Rabco · 265

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Offline Rabco

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on: December 02, 2024, 10:11:01 AM
Thought I’d weigh in with my initial impressions of the Moreplay preamp upgrade kit.

I like it. I like it a lot.

What I’m finding is this: as mentioned in another post, my speakers now approach the quality of reproduction I’m getting with my headphones. This for me is aspirational, and, a compliment in every way.

More specifically, after listening to quite a bit of my most familiar music, the upgrade has created a dead silent background, on which more of the quality or character if you will, of individual instruments and voices comes through and is improved. This, in my system means the subtleties of attack and decay are now much easier to hear. Instruments and voices upon entrance and exit from the music can be heard in more detail be they sudden or loud, or gradual and soft. IMO this improves pacing.  This affect is not clinical or strident…..it allows the very desirable character of the *tube* sound of the preamp to be more….revealed. Mid range vocal frequencies are only better than before. Highs eg snare work is not smeared; the voice of both acoustic and amplified bass instruments is easier to hear—more lifelike.

A nice experience IMHO. It allows the Moreplay to be more……itself. The Moreplay’s existing sound comes through and its better for it.
It’s not a smack you upside of the head change……the upgrade allows the preamp to realize more of its potential. And, plays *very* well with my NAD amp. Perhaps it likes the slight change in gain.

Gotta love tube preamps with solid state amplifiers. Well, I do at any rate.

Hats off to Bottlehead. Nicely done.

First you fly, then you die!—Los Lobos

AudioQuest PowerQuest 707 pwr conditioner->Mac mini M2->Denafrips Ares II dac->Moreplay pre->NAD C298 power amp->KLH 5 (2023) speakers.
AudioQuest PowerQuest 707 pwr conditioner-> Mac mini M2->Denafrips Ares II dac->Crack/Speedball amp>Sennheiser HD600 cans