This preamp was a vast improvement with my Adcom 555-II amp, but is dark
and muddy with the McCormack DNA-125 which I bought to replace the Adcom
amp. I ask about upgrading it as it is a Class A design according to
Mondial/Klipsch. Since it's Class A (which I thought only applied to
amplifiers) shouldn't it work as easily with the McCormack as it did
with the Adcom?
A few avenues exist. Replace preamp with another, perhaps a tube preamp
to experience the supposed magic of tubes (no tube dealers in my area so
I can't audition them first), buy the matching McCormack RLD preamp in
hopes that it's a perfect match, try the one or two preamps available
with the one local dealer, or upgrade the Acurus.
My turning point is what would be wrong with the Acurus since it's a
supposed Class A circuitry. It should be as good as it gets
(theoretically). Would the hold back be poor quality components or poor
design or something else?

I run a Rega Planet 200 cd player and Revel M-20 speakers. I was using
Klipsch LaScala's but have gone back to the Revels as the sound is more
sophisticated sounding (for lack of a better word). The McCormack does a
fine job of driving the Revels though they could use more power when
playing rock. For other styles, the 125w/ch amp is fine. With the
Klipsch, it was all that was needed with lots of power left over.
Ideas, suggestions, and advice are all welcome.
John

Hi John,

I have moded several RL-11's, they mod out very nicely, and if you use
AuriCaps to replace the stock 10uF caps, UF4007 or Stealth diodes, and Black
Gate caps, you'll have some of the lushest mids I have ever heard. I think
you might be able to improve upon this mod by by-passing the AuriCaps, and
Black Gate caps with RTX multicaps.And

--
Best Regards,

Lou
"Midlant" wrote in message
news:ZGSmb.34580$Fm2.13197@attbi_s04...
This preamp was a vast improvement with my Adcom 555-II amp, but is dark
and muddy with the McCormack DNA-125 which I bought to replace the Adcom
amp. I ask about upgrading it as it is a Class A design according to
Mondial/Klipsch. Since it's Class A (which I thought only applied to
amplifiers) shouldn't it work as easily with the McCormack as it did
with the Adcom?
A few avenues exist. Replace preamp with another, perhaps a tube preamp
to experience the supposed magic of tubes (no tube dealers in my area so
I can't audition them first), buy the matching McCormack RLD preamp in
hopes that it's a perfect match, try the one or two preamps available
with the one local dealer, or upgrade the Acurus.
My turning point is what would be wrong with the Acurus since it's a
supposed Class A circuitry. It should be as good as it gets
(theoretically). Would the hold back be poor quality components or poor
design or something else?

I run a Rega Planet 200 cd player and Revel M-20 speakers. I was using
Klipsch LaScala's but have gone back to the Revels as the sound is more
sophisticated sounding (for lack of a better word). The McCormack does a
fine job of driving the Revels though they could use more power when
playing rock. For other styles, the 125w/ch amp is fine. With the
Klipsch, it was all that was needed with lots of power left over.
Ideas, suggestions, and advice are all welcome.
John

"Midlant" wrote in message news:ZGSmb.34580$Fm2.13197@attbi_s04...
My turning point is what would be wrong with the Acurus since it's a
supposed Class A circuitry. It should be as good as it gets
(theoretically). Would the hold back be poor quality components or poor
design or something else?

I would be surprised if there is any preamp that isn't class A. All
that means is that the devices in the amplifier are conducting current
full-time.

I would also be surprised if there are poor quality components in the
preamp.

One thing you might not notice is that the combination of components
has the opposite absolute phase that you're used to. Assuming you have
a normal setup with totally passive speakers using one set of cables,
reverse the polarity of the speakers cables at EACH speaker and see if
it sounds better to you.

Tom

Sorry, try lou then the old @ then iac.net, I use a false one here to keep
the spam down... As I said, the RL-11 properly moded rendered the lushest
mids I have yet to hear in audio gear. The bass is a little weak as compared
to some other preamps, but on par with most I suppose. If you want a real
thumper, then I
would go for a Coda Continuum Window with UF4007 diodes or stealth diodes,
black gate and nichicon caps, some caps would be too expensive in black
gates, by-passing the 2 caps nearest the preamp section with RTX Multicaps.
That is the best sounding preamp I have heard yet, it ties the F-44 Forte
with mods, but is a LOT easier to mod.... If you e-mail I can give you the
addresses of a couple of guys who I moded one each for, they can give you
their impressions. One also has the F-44, but he kept the Acurus because of
the lush mids, it really is a seductive, sensual sounding preamp with mods.

Best Regards,

Lou

--
Best Regards,

Lou
"Midlant" wrote in message
news:K_Enb.41114$ao4.89995@attbi_s51...
Thank you. I have tried contacting you offline, but your email bounced.
How have your mods sounded?
John

"Lou" wrote in message
news:Wganb.31728$9E1.118895@attbi_s52...
Hi John,

I have moded several RL-11's, they mod out very nicely, and if you use
AuriCaps to replace the stock 10uF caps, UF4007 or Stealth diodes, and
Black
Gate caps, you'll have some of the lushest mids I have ever heard. I
think
you might be able to improve upon this mod by by-passing the AuriCaps,
and
Black Gate caps with RTX multicaps.And

--
Best Regards,

Lou
"Midlant" wrote in message
news:ZGSmb.34580$Fm2.13197@attbi_s04...
This preamp was a vast improvement with my Adcom 555-II amp, but is
dark
and muddy with the McCormack DNA-125 which I bought to replace the
Adcom
amp. I ask about upgrading it as it is a Class A design according to
Mondial/Klipsch. Since it's Class A (which I thought only applied to
amplifiers) shouldn't it work as easily with the McCormack as it did
with the Adcom?
A few avenues exist. Replace preamp with another, perhaps a tube
preamp
to experience the supposed magic of tubes (no tube dealers in my
area so
I can't audition them first), buy the matching McCormack RLD preamp
in
hopes that it's a perfect match, try the one or two preamps
available
with the one local dealer, or upgrade the Acurus.
My turning point is what would be wrong with the Acurus since it's a
supposed Class A circuitry. It should be as good as it gets
(theoretically). Would the hold back be poor quality components or
poor
design or something else?

I run a Rega Planet 200 cd player and Revel M-20 speakers. I was
using
Klipsch LaScala's but have gone back to the Revels as the sound is
more
sophisticated sounding (for lack of a better word). The McCormack
does a
fine job of driving the Revels though they could use more power when
playing rock. For other styles, the 125w/ch amp is fine. With the
Klipsch, it was all that was needed with lots of power left over.
Ideas, suggestions, and advice are all welcome.
John

I have no idea why you would be surprised, the $2,795 CJ PF-R used both
1N4007 diodes, and the much better UF4007's, depending upon when it was
made, and they used less than the best electrolytic caps in it as well.
Surely a far less expensive as compromised if not more.... Me thinks you
never worked in manufacturing, and do not understand that if they can shave
a dollar off the cost of manufacturing per item, it can mean they make an
extra $100,000.00 on a run of 100,000 items...

--
Best Regards,

Lou
"Thomas Krueger" wrote in message
news:V1cnb.41643$Tr4.86669@attbi_s03...
"Midlant" wrote in message
news:ZGSmb.34580$Fm2.13197@attbi_s04...
My turning point is what would be wrong with the Acurus since it's a
supposed Class A circuitry. It should be as good as it gets
(theoretically). Would the hold back be poor quality components or poor
design or something else?

I would be surprised if there is any preamp that isn't class A. All
that means is that the devices in the amplifier are conducting current
full-time.

I would also be surprised if there are poor quality components in the
preamp.

One thing you might not notice is that the combination of components
has the opposite absolute phase that you're used to. Assuming you have
a normal setup with totally passive speakers using one set of cables,
reverse the polarity of the speakers cables at EACH speaker and see if
it sounds better to you.

Tom