Foreplay II questions

[halo71]

First off please forgive me if this is not the place to ask this question. But I recently acquired a Foreplay II preamp. By all accounts at least I think its the FP II. And either I am not searching the right places or entering the right searches. But where can one still find the mod/upgrade kits or parts for this pre?

Also, while having tubed guitar amps for years. Tubes in home audio are new to me. I have done some "mods" to guitar amps before. But for the most part I am a tube virgin to say the least. If anyone can point me in the right direction I sure would appreciate it. This pre is stock except for upgraded RCA in/outs. Knowing what would be the first recommended upgrade would be nice.

Thanks!
Gary

[Paul Birkeland]

And either I am not searching the right places or entering the right searches. But where can one still find the mod/upgrade kits or parts for this pre?

You're in the right spot.  The Foreplay II was discontinued around 2002 if I'm remembering correctly.  It was replaced by the Foreplay III at that time, and the original Anticipation kit was also discontinued.  It's unlikely, but possible, that there may be an unbuilt Anticipation kit floating around somewhere that you could find.

All other parts for the Foreplay II are still available from various vendors, except for the chassis plate. 

Knowing what would be the first recommended upgrade would be nice.

Post a photo of the underside, then we can make some recommendations.  There were TONS of mods for the Foreplay II, but we felt that the Foreplay III built stock was an improvement over all of them. 

-PB

[Paul Joppa]

The old forum (2009 and older) was archived but can be searched:

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/bottlehead/bbs.html

[halo71]

Thanks for the quick reply. Here is a pic.

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi178.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw266%2Fhalo71%2FbottleheadforeplayII_zps7b75d896.jpg&hash=be89d6cce7b8f5cdab913bc4d88f9a2dbf6ea135)

[halo71]

Thinking a proper power connection would be the first thing to do?!?

[Paul Birkeland]

Hmm, in terms of easy-ish mods to do:

1.  Replace the green coupling caps with something else.  The cap value should be around 2.2uF and rated for at least 150V.
2.  Replace the dual mono carbon pots with a pair of mono stepped attenuators.  50K or 100K attenuators will work nicely. (But check for clearance)

[halo71]

Thanks! Another question. Will this preamp play well with an Onkyo Integra M504 power amp? I've read where with some amps it does not have enough gain?!?

[Grainger49]

All iterations of the Foreplay preamp have a copious amount of gain.  So much so there are lots of fixes for what was called "the hair trigger" volume control.  If you run into this, post back and you can get help for it.

[halo71]

Thanks! I will try hooking it up tomorrow. And will report back.

[halo71]

Been busy and have not had a lot of time to listen to the FP since my last post. I did manage to spend a lot of time listening to it this past weekend. And I really like what I'm hearing. The FP, Onkyo Integra M504, Denon SACD on Polk SDA1B's. Really liking things now. Can't wait to do some upgrades to the FP. Also listened to my Infinity RSIIIa's, Polk Monitor 10's, Mirage M790 and a few other pairs of speakers I have. Loved them all!

So what other tubes can I try out in the FP? I am guessing this pre is self-biasing? Right now I have Hewlitt-Packard 5963 tubes in it. That is what came with it. I have some preamp tubes from a few guitar tubes amps laying around somewhere. Is it possible any of those could be used in this preamp? I'd have to find the boxes I have them packed it as I really do not remember what tubes they are.

And yes, I see what you mean about the hair trigger volume pots! Damn! lol  One more question....I've read this pre can be used as a tube buffer. Is this true? Would it simply be connected between the SACD player and one of my SS preamps?

[Grainger49]

Here is a list of tubes for Foreplay 1, 2 & III that is buried somewhere in the Legacy folder:

http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=1027.msg7554#msg7554

[halo71]

Ahh thanks! So is the FP self biasing? And what about using it as a tube buffer?


Thanks so much!

[Paul Birkeland]

Ahh thanks! So is the FP self biasing?

Yes.

And what about using it as a tube buffer?

Buffers are generally around unity gain, which the Foreplay is not.  If you can get the level controls down pretty low and well balanced, you could use it as a buffer.

[halo71]

Thanks! I'd read somewhere that someone said to use it as a buffer. In between a cd player and a solid state preamp, that you turn the volume controls wide open! At least I think that is the way it read.

[Paul Birkeland]

Thanks! I'd read somewhere that someone said to use it as a buffer. In between a cd player and a solid state preamp, that you turn the volume controls wide open! At least I think that is the way it read.

You could expect maybe 34V out of the Foreplay with a standard CD player feeding into it and the volume controls maxed out.  With an "audiophile" CD player, this could go even higher.  Whoever said to run the Foreplay with the level controls all the way open to achieve a buffer might be someone who should be ignored.