Audio mirror PP1

cbl117
cbl117 Posts: 285
edited May 2007 in 2 Channel Audio
ok this should be the last thread I start...promise:rolleyes:

I'm about to pull the trigger on a audio mirror pp-1 on the Agon. I haven't had the chance to hear it in person. I know russman sold one on here a few months back...stating it was a nice pre. Can anyone tell me a little about it? I've searched online and here, there isn't much info. Audiomirror's website it down for construction. TUBES TUBES TUBES!!!:eek:
2 Channel

Vandersteen 3a Sigs
Music Reference RM-200
Hovland HP-100
VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
Rotel RCD-1072
Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
Cardas Golden Power Cords
PS Audio UPC-200HB
Black Diamond Racing Isolation
Post edited by cbl117 on
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Comments

  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2007
    It has received some pretty good reviews.I never listened to one though. Some of the folks on AC give it a good rating. Good luck.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited April 2007
    I pulled the trigger! now to get my roll on...
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited April 2007
    That's funny... I almost jumped on it myself. Let me know what you think once you have some time with it.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited April 2007
    why don't you pm Russ and get his opinion on it.
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited April 2007
    dudeinaroom wrote: »
    why don't you pm Russ and get his opinion on it.

    I did...

    From the man himself...and I quote...

    "It's a great preamp, especially for that amount."
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited May 2007
    Alright guys time for the mini review of the audio mirror PP1...

    Old System:
    Polk LSi15s
    Parasound A23
    HK AVR630
    Rotel 1072
    Monster speaker cable
    AQ sidewinders

    The new system is in my sig.

    I'm going to let my thoughts just flow, so if it sounds like i'm rambling...sorry.;)

    The biggest improvement I notice is the soundstage is 3 dimensional. The soundstage is very wide...extending about 3 feet on either side of the speakers. I used to be able to point at where the vocals were coming from, but now the vocals sound as if the person is right in front of me. That might sound clishe, but I think the amount of detail on the reverberations is what causes that effect.
    The midrange smoothed out a bit. Norah jones doesn't sound as harsh. The low end is very tight and not too overly pronounced. Jack johnson used to be unbearable with all the bass, but now the low end is under control and the vocals are more up front.
    The instruments seem to have their own spot in the mix now. You can pick out every instrument and each one is clear and crisp.
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited May 2007
    Congrats on the PP-1!

    I got the model that Luther started with and Russ sold awhile back and use it daily in my 2 channel rig. It is really a nice unit with lots of potential for some tweaks. I found that if you want to roll tubes in different stages of the preamp, some will sound great while those with more gain will induce more noise into the signal than others. I have always liked the JJ Tesla 12AX7s, but they don't work well at all in the final preamp stage in my PP-1. They are way too hot, while I like them in the first stage alot. Finding the right mix can take some time with 7 tubes. On a bright note, the phono stage in this unit is as nice as I have come acrossed at any pricepoint and rivals the Modwright 9 as a phono rig. Tons of flexibility with the vast dip switch settings to get it just right with my vinyl rig.

    I contacted Vlad at Audio Mirror about upgrades and he was very happy to do anything I wanted and was reasonable in pricing for extra outputs and a HT bypass along with changing the remote to work better with these options.

    Great preamp for the $$$ and stopped my jonesing so badly for the Modwright.

    Cheers,
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited May 2007
    Hey dennis thanks for the reply. I've been wanting to do some tube rolling now that I've gotten familiar with the stock sound. Can you recommend any tubes to try out? I'd like to try different tubes in the power supply as well.
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited May 2007
    I am currently running JJ Tesla in the first 12AX7 stage, Telefunkens in the finals and a JAN Phillips 12AT7. I like the sound of Ei in both stages and have found Dynacos, EH, and Sovtek LPS to all be too smooth/warm for my taste in this preamp.

    Alot of my gear tends to be on the warm side of the spectrum as I run a Marantz 8260 CD/SACD front end with my Odyssey Stratos amp, into ADS L1230 towers. Anything that softens the sound too much just comes out as mush. I seem to look for clarity out of my tube selection in the preamp and I am sure that my choices are far different than others with different gear, but I really like what I have heard so far. This preamp isn't going anywhere soon.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 935
    edited May 2007
    Dennis, Vlad starts with LiteAudio boards and modifies them. If you're going to have him work on it, you could also have him do the cap upgrade.

    You can see some LiteAudio stuff from Ebay sellers: DIY-Gene and eAudioGuy. Then there is always the main shop in China - DIYCLUB.biz
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited May 2007
    :eek:
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited May 2007
    HaHa....

    We can see your reflection in the knobs.

    Congrats on the new toy. Enjoy!!!!
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
    Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited May 2007
    Congrats
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited May 2007
    cmy330go wrote: »
    HaHa....

    We can see your reflection in the knobs.

    Congrats on the new toy. Enjoy!!!!

    haha,

    I think I was wearing only boxers and a t-shirt at the time.:o
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2007
    I like your system! Umm your toenails need some attention.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited May 2007
    Dennis, Do you know what tubes are in the PS of the PP1. I know the rectifier is a 6X4 and the voltage regulator is a 12b4, but what is the third tube used for voltage reference?
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited May 2007
    Follow up to our pm's - I wouldn't sweat the PS too much, it's not in the signal path, and if they (the tubes) are up to spec and doing their job, roll on the front end and leave well enough alone.

    I just put NOS JAN in there, because I had them.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited May 2007
    Sounds like a plan russ. Thanks for the follow up. If you happen to have a quad of NOS 12ax7s laying around, I'll be happy to lighten your load.:D
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter