FS: Restek Consens pre-amp - rrp £4k

[jandl100]

Simply the best active pre-amp I have owned.
I bought it 2 (or was it 3?) years ago on eBay auction for £690 iirc. It retailed at £4k.
German high end.
Full remote control, including volume in 0.5dB steps and display on/off. Active gain from -99dB to +20dB. Remote buttons to jump +10dB and -20dB, so it doesn't take forever to change volume.
Separate PSU box.

Linestage only. Headphone socket at rear.

This example is a bit tatty around the edges, which is why it sold for as low as it did on eBay. See photos.
But works A1.
-- actually is has a bit of a "feature" where the display goes a bit odd when you change inputs after first switching it on. Just needs an off/on cycle to sort this until the next time it's been off for a while / overnight ... it's always done this!

And it doesn't have proper feet - I think it used to be rack-mounted - so I have blu-tacked 3 RDC1 cones to the bottom plate. :)

Sound is superb, imho - very natural but transparent and dynamic as hell and images like a champ. Just a great pre-amp.

Looking for £600 plus £20 postage, or collect / meet-up.
-- may consider swapsies / px for interesting hifi. :)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii114/jandl100/DSCF7959.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/jandl100/media/DSCF7959.jpg.html)

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http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii114/jandl100/DSCF6279_zpstgkedse6.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/jandl100/media/DSCF6279_zpstgkedse6.jpg.html)

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[User211]

I had this in my system for quite a long time. It did sound very good in mine too I really liked it.

Nice precise imaging and very detailed without sounding bright in any way. Remote is a bit of a challenge but hey if a great sounding active pre is on your bill without valve hassles this is way up there sonically.

[DSJR]

I'm sorry Jerry, but if it's the best active line stage you've ever owned, why sell it for possibly something inferior?

[lordmortlock]

Coz That's what us box swappers do! Besides, I think the replacement is technically active, albeit battery powered.

[jandl100]

I'm sorry Jerry, but if it's the best active line stage you've ever owned, why sell it for possibly something inferior?

You've never understood, Dave, and you never will. ;)

I've had some wonderful kit pass thru my system, and I've enjoyed it mightily. But 2-3 years is too long for a boxswapper to own something, it's getting a bit embarrassing now! :lol:

[jandl100]

I had this in my system for quite a long time. It did sound very good in mine too I really liked it.

Nice precise imaging and very detailed without sounding bright in any way. Remote is a bit of a challenge but hey if a great sounding active pre is on your bill without valve hassles this is way up there sonically.

Aye, t'is a very good pre - not sure why the remote is a challenge though, apart from having the strength to lift it! :lol:

[jandl100]

Bumpsy !

Despite some active interest, this excellent pre is still available.

Offers / px / swapsies. :)

[weetabix]

Hi Jerry,

Are you seriously selling this mighty fine un-coloured transparent pre-amp?? Wow.

I can vouch for its presentation of sound.

Even more interesting, is that the headphone-output is very capable of driving a set of Sennheiser HD800's to the very same performance as Sennheisers own HDVD800 headphone amplifier, so if anybody wants to own the Consens as a multi-input headphone amp, it's absolutely superb!

Just my lil' input, good luck with the sale, it's a very, very good price

[jandl100]

Thanks for the kind (and accurate) comments, Stephen. :)

Ummmm -- you think I might regret this impetuous decision? :scratch:

You might well be right :lol: - I just love the damn thing to bits! :doh:

I just kind of fancy moving it on - it doesn't have to make sense, I'm a boxswapper! Onwards, ever onwards. :mental:

[User211]

I reckon £600 and a bit of money for refinishing the casework would be money excellently spent.

[montesquieu]

I was thinking the same. Be interesting to hear this. Hmmmm.

[jandl100]

Too late, Tom.

PX deal agreed. :)