A preamp to match Gryphon Mephisto

[TOGA]

Hey this is really nice, the most enjoyable to use and to operate so far. Built quality is the best, the volume knob doesn't have screw hole like those on Burmester 808 and Accuphase C3850.
Sound ? This Corus comes with Super capacitor PSU. Not dreamy creamy and sweet like Burmester 808 but I am sure it was truer to the source. It was very close to the best I have heard, but had user interface that leave the others far behind.
The umbilical cords provided were very short though, the PSU and Corus were meant to be stacked, not ideal way comsidering magnetic noise or mechanical isolation.
Toga
This Corus came with. http://hifi-advice.com/rowland-PSU.html

[imprezap2]

Hi Toga,

The screw in the volume knob means better quality to me then a clamp connection without screw. (imho)

Nice gear though these Rowland amps, the site you are reffering to is a dutch site, I like his reviews.

[flyer]

I tried the Zanden 3000, Audio Research Ref 5 SE, Counterpoint 5000(?), Lamm Reference 2, VAC, Jeff Rowland,... I tested these on the Lamm1.2 monoblocks first and the Tenor Audio 350M thereafter. All have these preamps have their virtues (the AR least I would say) but only one stood out head and shoulders; Aries Cerat Impera II

A preamp based on inverted triode technology and combines the best of both worlds as far as I am concerned. I tested it on my Tenor Audio 350M amps and it played so well I promptly ordered and tested the Aries Cerat Concero 65 monos which are now replacing my Tenors!!

Disclaimer: I have become a dealer of Aries Cerat, which is the only brand in electronics I distribute.

[TOGA]

I believed I was the very first group to have Corus with PSU for home audition.
I haven't tried std. Corus before. Now know its strength and weakness <--- in my system and based on my taste.

1. user experience . perfect, no annoying issue. similar to Mark Levinson 326s that I owned.
2. built quality both the unit and remote control, the best for me, similar to Accuphase C3850 here. But Accuphase drill the volume knob as screw hole, not on Corus.
3. Sound ? it has very low noise floor that let me hear deep in to the blackness.
it sound very smooth.. treble extension is very good.. voice is lovely. bass also strong.
it doesn't have hint of tubeness. it is smooth in a good solid state way. It doesn't rich
and creamy and syrupy. it has wonderful and transparent sound stage and phase information.
What it lacked compared to my favorite ?
1. the impact and excitement from some kind of musics , the electric guitar in rock recording is smoothed out. impact of drum sticks hitting snare drum is softened.
2. presentation generally is more for relaxing listening rather than real. I think
real live event has a lot more dynamic and solidity than this. Here Pass XS Pre and Soulution 725 do much better.
3. if expecting some richness and sweetness or lovely sound, there is not a hint of that here. it has to be Burmester 808 MK V (which also smoothed out edginess of rock music a bit, but less so).

Toga
I don't know the MSRP of this Corus + PSU.

[Anatta]

Mark Levinson No. 52

[Anatta]

Bricasti M12, only 2 analog XLR inputs, but also has the M1 DAC inside with digital inputs, so you can use these for digital sources.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TeF9_RK-G8[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLTYnqLPvE[/ame]

[TOGA]

Tonight another one joining with this beautiful Corus,

Oh here it arrived.

[TOGA]

No...no.. i wanted to avoid tubes fom the very start.
But it seem I will have more tubes than before once Ref11 arrived.
Till now I confidently saying that Ref6 together with Burmester 808 MK V are my top favorite sounding pre. Both have magical sounding that leave anything else that I tried far behind..
I am pretty sure Ref6 sounds better than Ref 40. Sad but true..
Toga

[SCAudiophile]

Esoteric C02, C02X and Grandioso C1 are amazing preamps and should match your amp and sound great!

[TOGA]

Hi,
As AA iPad apps doesn't allow me to reply since iOS10 upgrade. It took me some time
to reply yours. Thanks for following.
I am looking for pure line stage.. no DAC no Phono pre. So no ML52 and Briscati too.
Esoteric doesn't have Bypass mode in XLR input. So no.
But I think I have tried enough, ok except Boulder, Ayre, Constellation. I am sure now
my favorite are ARC REF6 and Burmester 808 MK 5. They sounded like music. REF6 was more real, Burmester was more dream-like beautiful.
Toga