Audionet Stern PreAmplifier

fast.freight

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Jul 30, 2022
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hongkongfoufou

Well-Known Member
Mar 3, 2018
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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

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May 9, 2015
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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

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May 24, 2010
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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

Active Member
Jul 30, 2022
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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
 
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hongkongfoufou

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Mar 3, 2018
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Sorry,
the comparison is too long ago to make any valuable comment.
I understand. Thank you.
What is your power cord now ?
Thanks
 

shakti

Well-Known Member
May 9, 2015
1,437
2,383
480
Cologne, Germany
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fast.freight

Active Member
Jul 30, 2022
76
81
25
65
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_

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2020
144
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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

Member
Sep 20, 2021
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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.
 

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