A new(to WBF) tape preamp- The Aria and Tube Guru(Hungary)

[U47]

Two audio visits from the last week, along with the King/Cello visit are documented here. The Aria is another contender which gets short shrift from consumers. Great sound on this as well as the TubeGuru from the hardcore audio tube crazies in Hungary, courtesy of Bill Demars of Beauty of Sound. We had a 5 hour session and I could listen to his system forever. It was astounding with the new 100 pound 14 watt 6C33 amp. Please excuse the bad videography from the U47 lighting and video team. I fell over some empty reels during the second video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRkXUiaVre8&list=UU4gW24yyVGFf0Z8U4v9NbbQ&index=2&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3R3Evt9sxs&list=UU4gW24yyVGFf0Z8U4v9NbbQ&index=3&feature=plcp

Rich

 

[Mike Lavigne]

very interesting stuff. thanks Rich for sharing.

those are two tape preamps i've always wanted to hear in my system. hopefully at some point we can figure out the logisitcal issues to try them. is the Tubeguru now 'ready for prime time' for idiots like me? or does it still require Ki or other nuclear grade scientist on hand for system integration?

 

[U47]

new tape preamps

I was VERY impressed with both the ARIA and TubeGuru preamps. Both systems were quite outstanding. I'm hoping that Bill will come out and be able to demonstrate the TubeGuru preamp in your system later in the year or early next year. I think my top 3 are the K/C, TubeGuru and Aria. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. Tape is just GOOD

Rich

 

[MylesBAstor]

I was VERY impressed with both the ARIA and TubeGuru preamps. Both systems were quite outstanding. I'm hoping that Bill will come out and be able to demonstrate the TubeGuru preamp in your system later in the year or early next year. I think my top 3 are the K/C, TubeGuru and Aria. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. Tape is just GOOD

Rich

Yeah I was hoping that Bill would bring down the cartridge and Tube Guru

 

[Bill Demars]

Myles, I am anxious to come down to your place with cartridge and TG tape pre. My tennis season is winding down and I should have more time in September and October. Ikeda has also come out with a new cart-KAI to challenge the best out there, so I would be anxious to hear it compared to the Atlas.

 

[Bruce B]

I had the ARIA in the studio for about 2yr on an ATR-102. It was really... really clean. So much in fact, I felt it took away the properties that people love so much about tape. I didn't use it that much either. Every time I'd do a transfer, the clients always picked the Studer over the ATR/ARIA. I had the ARIA again in the studio about a year ago and felt the same way.
I have other equipment by Dave Hill (Crane Song) in the studio as well. It's very well made and thought out, but it wasn't too my liking.

 

[Bill Demars]

The TubeGuru is not that difficult to set up in a system, but does require one to adjust the gain pots based on each system. I would also run a test tape to see how the heads are interacting with the preamp, with respect to the high frequencies. The highs can be easily adjusted with high frequency eq pots. I can provide this setup with each purchase. Once set up properly it is a great sounding unit.

very interesting stuff. thanks Rich for sharing.

those are two tape preamps i've always wanted to hear in my system. hopefully at some point we can figure out the logisitcal issues to try them. is the Tubeguru now 'ready for prime time' for idiots like me? or does it still require Ki or other nuclear grade scientist on hand for system integration?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

The TubeGuru is not that difficult to set up in a system, but does require one to adjust the gain pots based on each system. I would also run a test tape to see how the heads are interacting with the preamp, with respect to the high frequencies. The highs can be easily adjusted with high frequency eq pots. I can provide this setup with each purchase. Once set up properly it is a great sounding unit.

thanks Bill; the way you put it, integrating the Tubeguru sounds reasonable.

when Rich brought over the Tubeguru to my place he could not get it to work correctly in my system. it's one thing when i can't figure it out since i don't expect to, it's another when Rich has trouble as my expectations of him are much higher.

i'm a plug and play guy pretty much.

 

[U47]

I'm pretty much technically incompetent :-(. Ki and Charlie
are the true 'techies'.

R

 

[c1ferrari]

I had the ARIA in the studio for about 2yr on an ATR-102. It was really... really clean. So much in fact, I felt it took away the properties that people love so much about tape. I didn't use it that much either. Every time I'd do a transfer, the clients always picked the Studer over the ATR/ARIA. I had the ARIA again in the studio about a year ago and felt the same way.
I have other equipment by Dave Hill (Crane Song) in the studio as well. It's very well made and thought out, but it wasn't too my liking.

Very interesting, Bruce.
Thanks for contributing your first-hand observations.

 

[flez007]

very interesting stuff. thanks Rich for sharing.

those are two tape preamps i've always wanted to hear in my system. hopefully at some point we can figure out the logisitcal issues to try them. is the Tubeguru now 'ready for prime time' for idiots like me? or does it still require Ki or other nuclear grade scientist on hand for system integration?

good one Mike!