Help! Any views on MF preamps?

[mrmark]

Thanks everyone..........new to the internet etc....so will take me time to get my head around it....thanks for your help.......seems like the one to rule out would be the X-Pre V3 then?

[mrmark]

Jerry many thanks for your help.....think i saw your pre for sale on ebay, but was unfamiliar with that model..... looks like i should add the FBP A1 to my list and drop the X-Pre V3.......... there is an XP 100 for sale at the moment you seem to rate that over the A3cr.
I know you say this is all in your opinion, but where i am i have absolutely no chance of an audition, so given the lack of reviews online have to rely on some one.
Regards Mark.

[Effem]

I have owned quite a few of the MF pre amps and none were exceptional performers, ranging from the first "The Preamp" right up to the A308cr and many others in between.

I had one of these before I bought the A308cr:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/magnum-mp3...d=586820788340

and I nearly cried when it went and the MF arrived. The Magnum was streets ahead of the MF in every way and really did regret selling it.

[walpurgis]

I have owned quite a few of the MF pre amps and none were exceptional performers, ranging from the first "The Preamp" right up to the A308cr and many others in between.

I remember 'The Preamp'. I had a couple, the last being the 'III'. I didn't rate them much, my old Rappaport Pre II blew them away with ease. The only non-passive pre I occasionally use now is an equally ancient VTL Deluxe which sounds very sweet.

[Effem]

I remember 'The Preamp'. I had a couple, the last being the 'III'. I didn't rate them much, my old Rappaport Pre II blew them away with ease. The only non-passive pre I occasionally use now is an equally ancient VTL Deluxe which sounds very sweet.

I am not in the least surprised the Rap blew the MFs out of the water, them old birds could see off most of the competition with absolute ease. Been looking out for another one in good nick for years now. The last one I saw on ebay a few years ago look like it had been used as an axle stand and the modules had been robbed out of it too. Huge shame

[jandl100]

Have you heard the A1 FBP, Frank? - that really is a bit of a standout.

[Effem]

Have you heard the A1 FBP, Frank? - that really is a bit of a standout.

Not heard that one Jerry, although I don't doubt your word over it's abilities.

[Spectral Morn]

The good news is that MF gear works well with the Ruark speakers.

The less good news is that a lot of MF gear is pretty average sounding in my experience, especially the stuff out in the last 8 years.

The older MF gear was better (the pre jerry mentions I didn't like, smacked at the time of desperation, lost way re product design and an attempt to cash in on the old A1 kit which sounded great but wasn't very reliable - it ran way too hot) but certainly the newer MF items mentioned I have heard and was not massively impressed with any of them on any level. The power amp you have and the 308 series are about where I parted with MF re liking any of their kit, though some of the Tri-Vista stuff was nice. The metal fist in a velvet glove is used often to describe the MF sound I just think its quite often lacking in musicality - i.e lean, forwards, relentless - particularly the amplification. The older class A stuff sounds better but in your hot/humid environment that might not be a good idea.

The power amp you have could be used with pretty much any pre and it will work well with most out there - its not very fussy re partnering and certainly if you partnered it with a valve pre that would give you a nice musical sound. Thing is much will depend on what kind of sound you like and how your room is - hard wooden floors or tiles will lead to a bright/lively acoustic so partnering a leaner/brighter more lively pre - unless you like that sound - will mean you end up with a less well balanced, less musical system imho.

End of the day audition stuff from your local dealer, in your set up is the best way forwards and if you want to try S/H kit only buy stuff easy to move on.


Regards Neil

[jandl100]

Not heard that one Jerry, although I don't doubt your word over it's abilities.

Well, the A1 FBP is not the ultimate word in transparency, although it's pretty good for a cheap (at used prices) active - a loanee of my Tisbury passive who did a direct comparison says that a veil fell away when going to the Tizzie (the same would be true or worse for most actives), but it didn't have the drive and bass power/control of the MF. It is a little bit 'stark', warts and all, but it has drive in abundance.
My Restek active pre betters it in all ways, imo, just far more musically sophisticated, but that would probably retail at £3-4k these days.
If you have a budget of £400 or so, there are far worse ways of spending the moolah than on a used A1 FBP, imo.

[icehockeyboy]

I had both A3 and a 3.2, the latter was superior, but both blown away by the Classe CP47.5 that followed.