If I may, I'd like to make one or two comments about the remarkable VTL 7.5 III. I have posted some system notes previously about this pre-amp, but in a system that is a very different one from my current configuration which no longer uses DSP and uses Alexandria IIs rather than Pipedreams in addition to a pair of JL Gotham subs. To begin, it's interesting to note that Dave Wilson uses the 7.5III in his WAMM Chronosonic system, and has used the 7.5III for several years in many of his modern XLF and Alexx system demos as well as his personal system at home.. There are several good reasons for this, not the least of which is it is a flat out masterpiece of a pre-amp sonically. Dave uses two main amps in his Chronosonic demos; a tube VTL Siegfried and D'Agostino Momentum monoblocs depending on the flavor he seeks. What the 7.5 III allows anyone to do then, is the tailor the system sound by rolling the only two front end tubes in the 7.5III which are two 12 AU7s. Having used the Siggies previously, my tube preference for that combo was NOS Teles. However, now that I use the Spectral 400 monoblocs (yes, I know I'm not supposed to use anything other than a Spectral preamp but I've written about this extensively before so let's just move on). With the Spectral amps, my tube preference for the 7.5III are 1957-58 Mullard long plates (CV491 actually) with the "D getters. I have not found a more musical tube, and believe me, I've tried many. Of course, YMMV. I find it interesting that no matter what Dave Wilson is running for his amps, his preamp always remains the venerable 7.5 III. That ought to tell you something. Aside from a superb tube front end, its solid state low impedance output stage will drive the crap out of anything in a way that other tube preamps can only dream about. It really is a hell of a reference caliber pre-amp.
What is less well known is that there have been some quiet rolling line changes in the 7.5 III over the years. I suggest that if you are considering purchasing a 7.5III, you should get the serial number and speak to Bea Lam directly. Mine was updated in July and the improvement was quite noteworthy and beneficial. What I like about Bea and Luke is that they will generally update any of their units for a modest fee so purchasing a 7.5 III assures that you can maintain long term value with future iterations. That's the kind of service that results in customer loyalty, which IMHO, is very well deserved indeed.
