Audionet Stern PreAmplifier

[fast.freight]

Stunning amplifier.

Looks Beautiful! Curious who uses single-ended (RCA) interconnects and who uses XLR?
Audionet recommends single ended.

 

[hongkongfoufou]

I had asked my audiophile friend to bring their power chords while visiting, so there were a lot of cables around, many of them were before unknown to me. The more well known were Cardas golden cross, NBS BL, Nordost Valhalla I, NAT, HMS Suprema, Kondo Avocado, MIT AC1.

I see you have test HMS Suprema and Kondo Avocado.
Can you talk about them, please ?
Thanks

 

[shakti]

I see you have test HMS Suprema and Kondo Avocado.
Can you talk about them, please ?
Thanks

Sorry,
the comparison is too long ago to make any valuable comment.

 

[XV-1]

Looks Beautiful! Curious who uses single-ended (RCA) interconnects and who uses XLR?
Audionet recommends single ended.

Does that just mean the Audionet is not fully balanced design?

 

[fast.freight]

Does that just mean the Audionet is not fully balanced design?

I will ask that question to Bill (GTT) again when he delivers my S / H's in a week. My understanding from speaking directly with Audionet and Bill is that the XLR inputs use op amps and the RCA inputs do not. Even though the op amps are very good, avoiding them with RCA is recommended. I went with all RCA interconnects with my G2.1 and Max amps. I do wish they had the solid connections of an XLR, as I have bumped them loose occasionally. But the sound is great. Also, the unique ends of the RCA Kubala Sosna cables can be tightened carefully. Ken

 

[hongkongfoufou]

Sorry,
the comparison is too long ago to make any valuable comment.

I understand. Thank you.
What is your power cord now ?
Thanks

 

[shakti]

I understand. Thank you.
What is your power cord now ?
Thanks

sold the STERN, moved over to Soulution 720.

Powerchord is NBS Black Label 3

 

[fast.freight]

I will ask that question to Bill (GTT) again when he delivers my S / H's in a week. My understanding from speaking directly with Audionet and Bill is that the XLR inputs use op amps and the RCA inputs do not. Even though the op amps are very good, avoiding them with RCA is recommended. I went with all RCA interconnects with my G2.1 and Max amps. I do wish they had the solid connections of an XLR, as I have bumped them loose occasionally. But the sound is great. Also, the unique ends of the RCA Kubala Sosna cables can be tightened carefully. Ken

Hello, bill Parish (GTT Audio delivered and installed my new Stern and Heisenbergs on Monday. They sound amazing with my Hailey 2's. I again asked about why the RCA (single ended) vs Balanced interconnects. Per Bill: When using balanced (which are recommended with extremely long runs), most, including Audionet, use op-amps to convert the balanced back to single ended internally. Yes, this means that Audionet are not true balanced through and through. And, very few components are. To be fully balanced, it very much increases the internal wiring to carry the extra signal wire throughout. I may not be technically accurate here, as I am recalling, but bottom line is that the Audionet stuff (and probably most other components) sound better with RCA (single ended) interconnects. Works for me! Ken

 

[_Alchemist_]

Hello, bill Parish (GTT Audio delivered and installed my new Stern and Heisenbergs on Monday. They sound amazing with my Hailey 2's. I again asked about why the RCA (single ended) vs Balanced interconnects. Per Bill: When using balanced (which are recommended with extremely long runs), most, including Audionet, use op-amps to convert the balanced back to single ended internally. Yes, this means that Audionet are not true balanced through and through. And, very few components are. To be fully balanced, it very much increases the internal wiring to carry the extra signal wire throughout. I may not be technically accurate here, as I am recalling, but bottom line is that the Audionet stuff (and probably most other components) sound better with RCA (single ended) interconnects. Works for me! Ken

Also my experience with the Humboldt, RCA has about 6/7 dB more gain too

 

[ICUToo]

I use single-ended inputs on my Humboldt.
Sounds absolutely wonderful, and I think slightly better than the balanced.
Fantastic amp. I use the MSB Reference as preamp.