Mini-review...Aric 3.7 Tube Preamp
starkiller
Posts: 2,723
Well, I have had this for about 6 weeks so time for a short review I guess 
After the initial burn-in and listening, I did some tube rolling. The unit came with Baldwin 12AU7 tubes. I have settled on some Mullard 12AT7 4024's and they really helped the sound get focused, smooth but precise. Mated with a Rotel 930bx amp, Rega Planet CD player and Yamaha NS-100M speakers the garage has never sounded so good 
With a customized price of only $335 the unit is a steal! Aric changed one of the inputs to a second output so i could use it in the future for a sub if i wish. Ferrari Red and two nice glowing tubes...tis wonderful.
After the initial burn-in and listening, I did some tube rolling. The unit came with Baldwin 12AU7 tubes. I have settled on some Mullard 12AT7 4024's and they really helped the sound get focused, smooth but precise. Mated with a Rotel 930bx amp, Rega Planet CD player and Yamaha NS-100M speakers the garage has never sounded so good With a customized price of only $335 the unit is a steal! Aric changed one of the inputs to a second output so i could use it in the future for a sub if i wish. Ferrari Red and two nice glowing tubes...tis wonderful.
Computer room Hegeman 1 SpeakersM&K VX-80 subKenwood DP-7010Cambridge Audio CXC Transport Rega DACPrimaLuna Prologue Four AmpAric Audio Tube PreampGarage Jennings Research SquareCustom tube preampCrown XLS-1000Denon DCD-1500II Modded MSB Link DAC
Post edited by starkiller on
Comments
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We need pics. Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
okey-doke, pics when i get back home Computer room Hegeman 1 SpeakersM&K VX-80 subKenwood DP-7010Cambridge Audio CXC Transport Rega DACPrimaLuna Prologue Four AmpAric Audio Tube PreampGarage Jennings Research SquareCustom tube preampCrown XLS-1000Denon DCD-1500II Modded MSB Link DAC
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We need pics.
+1
Congrats on the toy Alan. Good to hear you're happy with it!
Was this the replacement for the Acurus L10 that I bought?The nirvana inducer-
APC H10 Power Conditioner
Marantz UD5005 universal player
Parasound Halo P5 preamp
Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's -
curt
no, the replacement for the acurus was the valve audio black widow hybrid preamp...the aric and rotel replaced the nad 3130 Computer room Hegeman 1 SpeakersM&K VX-80 subKenwood DP-7010Cambridge Audio CXC Transport Rega DACPrimaLuna Prologue Four AmpAric Audio Tube PreampGarage Jennings Research SquareCustom tube preampCrown XLS-1000Denon DCD-1500II Modded MSB Link DAC -
waiting on the pics as well, an **** end as well please. not familiar with this piece so looking forward to your thoughts, always on the look out for quality entry tube pieces to help folks ease the washing of the sand from ears to their toes.
RT1--Tubes Rule -
Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
I have almost pulled the trigger twice on one of his units. There was one local on e-bay awhile back and I just didn;t know enough about it. Looking back, local pick up and less than $200........I should have just bought it.
So you are using 12AT7's and they seem to work fine? I have a Dared Sl2000A I bought instead of the Aric and it takes 12AT7's and variants of which I know have several. It would be nice to use the same tubes I use in the Dared.
Have you tried any of the other variants:
I have used 6414, E180CC, 5965, 6201, 6211, 6679, 7728, ECC81 in place of a 12AT7. Some are equivalents to the 12AU7. It would be an interesting piece to pick up. It seems so far the Dared is staying in my main rig.....................tubes are nice!
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul! -
reeltrouble1 wrote: »always on the look out for quality entry tube pieces to help folks ease the washing of the sand from ears to their toes.
RT1--Tubes Rule
Add the Dared Sl2000A to this list.
WOW, I am loving mine and I think it compares to the Dodd ELP if running the right tubes.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul! -
Does it use a wall wart power supply?"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Does it use a wall wart power supply?
Yes, it does...............that was one of my main concerns about getting one. I forgot about that. Good point.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul! -
Add the Dared Sl2000A to this list.
WOW, I am loving mine and I think it compares to the Dodd ELP if running the right tubes.
H9
I had fun with that pre for a bit. I'm actually on the lookout for another one for the near future.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 -
zombie boy 2000 wrote: »I had fun with that pre for a bit. I'm actually on the lookout for another one for the near future.
If I can pry the Dared out of the main rig I'd love to use it in the office rig with a single Monarchy SM70.
I am running the Dared thru the HT bypass of the Adcom GFP-750 so I can use either pre-amp and I have to say so far the Dared is holding it's own against the 750 and with the right tubes it sounds slightly better on some recordings (as only tubes can). Mine has the Auricaps for coupling caps as well as nice Nichicon bypass caps and Allen Brady resistors. I've been extremely impressed with the little gem.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul! -
If I can pry the Dared out of the main rig I'd love to use it in the office rig with a single Monarchy SM70.
I used that exact same combo with some Totem Arros and I still consider that the best sounding set up I have ever owned. I WILL put that system back together some day.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 -
Having a hard time finding a single SM70. There is a guy on Audiogon willing to sell a single. So we'll see.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul! -
I've never heard the SM70 (as I had the SM70 Pro), but I can't imagine much of a difference.
Starkiller - I took a looksie at their site. Looks like some fun and good sound on a budget.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 -
i will get those pics, i will i will i will been dealing with my bro' on our father's estate..no fun i tell ya, especially when we are so different from each other in many many ways.
yeah, check out his website..pretty cool stuff. he told me he might get into amplifiers also. apparently an audio mag is reviewing the 3.6 preamplifier also!Computer room Hegeman 1 SpeakersM&K VX-80 subKenwood DP-7010Cambridge Audio CXC Transport Rega DACPrimaLuna Prologue Four AmpAric Audio Tube PreampGarage Jennings Research SquareCustom tube preampCrown XLS-1000Denon DCD-1500II Modded MSB Link DAC -
Congrats!Linn AV5140 fronts
Linn AV5120 Center
Linn AV5140 Rears
M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
Odyssey Mono-Blocs
SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D -
pics are lousy, i think my camera batteries are going
Computer room Hegeman 1 SpeakersM&K VX-80 subKenwood DP-7010Cambridge Audio CXC Transport Rega DACPrimaLuna Prologue Four AmpAric Audio Tube PreampGarage Jennings Research SquareCustom tube preampCrown XLS-1000Denon DCD-1500II Modded MSB Link DAC
