It is a good year in my audio journey. Thankful for William of Audiosound.biz to share his passion and time with me. Here are some of the cool stuff, new and vintage that I fell in love with.
Audionet CD Player, Pre-Amp and Power Amp are some of the best in class hardware. Flank on the left is some very nice Mark Levinson 33H power amp, 326s Pre-Amp and vintage Krell power.
Closeup of Audionet Versatile Integrated Player G3
Guissani Research Delta Butterfly
I got my first integrated amp after I ROD circa ’93 a nice little Creek 4040 s3 still functioning. Tonight I unboxed to find the good old UK handy works….the transformer , chassis signed by one Barbara on 18th October 1991
Awesome power and magically musical. 
So much lights in the Audionet Preamp leading the way to music nirvana !
The massive Duntech Sovereign (130kg per cabinet) bridged with Mark Levinson 33H & Krell 350M power amp for a 1000W peak output. It drove the complex 7 drivers with ease and George Porter vocal doesn’t sound nasal at all. It’s an audiophile speakers famed for mastering works due to it’s sonic revelation of sub-sonic defects in the music. Ain’t no where to hide if it’s a bad mix. ( 音色有就有，沒有就沒有）
Combo for today is the awesome McIntosh C50 pre-amp. The warmth signature and it sound so lively and loud thru the Rockport Mira II. Bass extension is slamming !
More information regarding this 22 years old preamplifier from USA. After searching the great internet, i found out that there is a review of the equipment with its 1.1SB Revised stereo power amp in Issue 85 of The Absolute Sound (Jan/Feb 1993).
The reviewers has slightly mix recommendation for .2P, with favorable comments on it’s musicality , easy on the ear for musical enjoyment. However, it was noted that their enthusiasm will upped another level if not for the price range (suggested retail US$3200 back in ’90s) that should be subjected to higher audio standards.
Personally, I am more than happy to have a musical unit rather than “world class” that does not perform musically. Paired the .2P preamp with Rowland Model 10 as well as the Blue X XLR cable, this will be my reference standard for quite some time.
Time for me to concentrate on the music and let the equipments disappear. That my friend is audio for the win.
There is so little information about this obscure black box. Zenn Audio listed it recently for sale of a Mirror Image Audio .2P preamplifier that comes with a huge external power supply. The condition is 6/10 and I needed to use contact cleaner to remove some surface corrosion. I suspect this preamp to be at least 20 years old with the company long since gone. As i need a dedicated preamp for my system and it fits the following criteria: balance XLR output, industrial looking as well as the budget.
Some search on the internet reveal that this is a high end brand back in the early ’90s. There is even an interesting blog from a Chinese site on his encounter with Mirror Image Audio pre & power amp.
My assessment of this preamp is favorable. Most importantly, it gives the oomph-energy to the music feeding thru it. The .2P preamp simply deliver the sound with ease to the Jeff Rowland Model 10 power amp. Why i say this because I could feel my previous preamp was choking the music, whereas the .2P provide engagement, nice accentuated highs and sense of airiness.
Now i truly believe why Robert Harley says that the preamp has a profound effect on the music system’s overall performance.
Mirror Image Audio products are OEM by a company called Polyfusion Audio. This preamp estimated retail price at US$2,500 US$3,200 (so relative value in today term around US$3.8k – $5k)
Some specs on the net:
Preamp .2 / S / N: LINE 96dB / TAPE 110dB Impedance: ALL INPUT 18kΩ / OUTPUT 300Ω UNBALANCED 600Ω BALANCED / THD: 0.01%
Specs for the power supply :
|
AC Input |
|
|
Voltage |
100 to 240 volts AC (programmable) |
|
Frequency |
50 to 60 Hertz |
|
Current |
2 Amps Max |
|
Protection |
Fuse (user accessible) |
|
Connection |
Molded 3-wire cordset, 6 ft. (removable) |
|
Transformation |
Custom 210VA Power Toroid |
|
DC Output |
|
|
Voltage |
+35VDC and -35VDC |
|
Current |
2.5 Amps (max. continuous) each side |
|
Connectors |
(3), five circuit Neutrik XLR |
|
Protection |
Electronic Current Limiting |
|
Interconnect |
Custom 5-wire cordset supplied with Neutrik XLR connectors on each end |
|
Physical |
|
|
Dimensions |
3 1/2 x 6 1/4 x 14 3/4 inches (overall) |
|
Weight |
8 pounds 10 ounces (net) |
|
Finish |
Black Anodized Aluminum |
Very happy today with the delivery of Jeff Rowland Design Group Model 10 power amp. I must thank William for the wonderful opportunity to acquire this beautiful and well maintained 10 years old amp. The previous owner (original) was a violinist from Hong Kong and listen mainly to classical music to it.
Here are some of my initial highlights in reference to previous setup with the Yamaha PC2200 power amp.
a) Bass more forceful with sense of confidence and can project low frequency unheard of. Reference track is Track 1 of Stefanie Sun Kelper album. I would need to test drive James Blake’s There A Limit to Your Love too.
b) The music presentation is beefier (compact & firm)
c) i suspect the Model 10 power rating > 150Watts as similar dial setting on the Yamaha produces loudness
d) drive the Duntech PCL 15 speakers with ease
e) vocal sound intimate and sweet
f) a more articulated soundstage and the deepening perception provides a listening connection to the music
William says these are the hints of musicality of the power amp. Indeed, i had a bit of a goosebumps moment listening to it and yes that’s it : Music.
Music my friend is audio winning.
Pricing details : Introduced 2000 at retail price US$7,900. Current trade in value is US$3.1k with private party sales around US$3.8 – $4.2k