BA2018 is clean and very detailed. Dynamic, great imaging, strong bass. With the BA2018, you will have to solder SMD JFETs. Good to have extras if it is your first time messing with that. The BA-3 is a great amp if you want to experiment with distortion. It can be less exciting if you don't have a distortion analyzer. The BA-3 is dynamic. People seem to either love it or they don't.
It seems like you want a preamp with phono in the same chassis. I like the more modular approach of a seperate chassis so you easily move it to different setups or arrangements.
I have a tube amp that I use sometimes. I go back and forth between a BOSOZ XCCS that I have and the BA2018. I think I may prefer the BOSOZ because it has a very dynamic sound while still being detailed enough for the tube amp.
It seems like you want a preamp with phono in the same chassis. I like the more modular approach of a seperate chassis so you easily move it to different setups or arrangements.
I have a tube amp that I use sometimes. I go back and forth between a BOSOZ XCCS that I have and the BA2018. I think I may prefer the BOSOZ because it has a very dynamic sound while still being detailed enough for the tube amp.
How about something completely different. Break out of the minimalist mode and go full function pre. My vote is for Doug Self Preamp. A fantastic pre.
Thanks Mike, I'll check out the BOSOZ, I haven't looked at that one yet. And I'm not totally sold on the phono in the same chassis, I'm open to anything.
Freecrowder, yes actually I would prefer a full function pre to be honest. Just not sure I'm up for building one, biggest problem being the chassis. That's why I'm also looking at the possibility of some vintage commercial design that can be refurbished and/or modded. The one thing that is attractive about newer minimalist designs are the years of advances in both thought and designs, plus easier to build. I don't need a ton of inputs, just phono and a couple of line inputs. I'll check out the Doug Self.
Thanks, gabo
Freecrowder, yes actually I would prefer a full function pre to be honest. Just not sure I'm up for building one, biggest problem being the chassis. That's why I'm also looking at the possibility of some vintage commercial design that can be refurbished and/or modded. The one thing that is attractive about newer minimalist designs are the years of advances in both thought and designs, plus easier to build. I don't need a ton of inputs, just phono and a couple of line inputs. I'll check out the Doug Self.
Thanks, gabo
You don't have to build the chassis for the Self. check it out. The front and back panel designs already have been laid out from Front panel. You also end up with something that looks like it is commercial design. It doesn't come w/phono but you could add it. I outboard it and an excellent one from DIY. Let me know if you want to see some pics.
So I am using the CNC phono by Hypnotoad along with the Omishra's power supply. Great setup. I went through half a dozen phonos before settling with this one. the rest were mix of all tube or discrete but had some kind of issues with noise or sound quality until this one. Ran on batteries first and was dead quiet. Put on Omishras PS thinking it would be nosier
but not. dead quiet. He uses a LCL filter at output and it makes a difference.
