Familiar with this pre ?

tonyb

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-mapletree-2a-se-tube-line-preamplifier-2012-11-12-preamplifiers-33566-plant-city-fl

Anyone get an ear on this ? The model is about 5 years old and Mapletree is built I believe by our brothers up north. Interesting selection of gear they have too. A 5 channel pre amp ? Anyway, the seperate tube powered power supply is also interesting at this price point. Few reviews at Audiogon, they all seem to dig this pre. Of course I take these blabbering reviews with a grain of salt and would rather trust my fellow Polkies who may have had an ear on it. Anyone.....?

george daniel

The one I heard at CF was very good-- performs way above it's price point.Maybe Harry will chime in.

doctor r

These are hand built with point to point wiring by Dr. Lloyd Peppard in Canada. I had a piece built by him a few years ago. Nice equipment at an excellent price. I believe the builder is a retired college professor in electronics.

tonyb

Thanks guys, I know alittle about Mr. Peppard and seems he builds some good stuff at reasonable price points. How good ? Thats the million dollar question. When I see reviews comparing it to all the big names like Joule, it kinda throws a question mark into the shebang. There's 2 on the 'gon right now, I may have to pull the trigger on one as an early x-mass present.
Anyone else get an ear on his stuff ? Russ, Mark ? Any audio show lounge lizzards ?

doctor r

They are excellent in their price range. I moved up to a VAC Standard LE after also auditioning a Joule and they are at different level of presentation. Dr. Peppard's equipment hits way above its price point and is at a great level of tube equipment that many could spend a long time enjoying. It is not on the same level as Joule, VAC, ARC, ect IMHO

tonyb

Yeah Doc, I know it's not on that level. It's just the perverbial red flag goes up when I see people spounting the usual giant killer mantra. It may very well be a good bang for your buck pre like Dared, but hopefully on another level.

doctor r

I had the Dared also at one time and unless you want to do some internal upgrades to the Dared I would say that the Mapletree is definitely a step up. The Dared was a nice unit and a lot of fun to roll tubes in, but IMO the Mapletree is better. I only referenced the Joule in response to your initial inquiry. The Mapletree units are special.