SAS Audio Introduction

[dragan]

Hey guys,

Just out of curiosity, what is the cost to exhibit? I cannot even imagine.... A friend of mine (Canadian dealer, one I'm going to speak with about your line Jeff...you too Steve if you wish..) has attended Montreal for the past 2-3 years. I never asked how much it cost him.

As for hotel rooms, aren't they all pretty much pain to set up? To me, and I haven't been to a show in years, I always took that into account. Do you guys allow for any home trials?

[CarderSound]

Hi Dragan

Hey, thank you for talking to your Canadian friend about our line. Much appreciated. Like I said, I am new at this and don't have a clue what the costs might be with regards to a show event. Steve can probably answer that better than I.

I have already started promoting you....lol. I have sent an email to all my buddies in the audio arena letting them know that you exist.

One of my dreams is to open small boutique audio store only offering small cottage industry offerings with regards to just tube equipment and high efficiency speakers. lol.....just CarderSound speakers...lol. I'm rather biased. Go figure.

Best,
Jeff
http://CarderSound.com/

[CarderSound]

Hi Steve

Honestly, I just can't stop looking at the pics of your 11A. Simply beautiful. Solid looking construction, and a very understated and different "tint" with the color of the metal face plate. Just love the approach. Even the knobs scream of quality. Is there a phono option? Depending on how it sounds, which I have no doubt will be great, you might make a preamp believer out of me yet.

Believe it or not, I'm running a generation II Sonic T tripath chip amp through an EAD DSP-7000 DAC with some pretty satisfying results. I am a tube man at heart, but sold my reference system to start CarderSound. As I continue to grow, I am slowly but surely building my system back up. I am saving to purchase an Ayon 300B, and I have a hunch your 11A just might be the ticket to pair with it, but I would like to have a significant phono stage incorporated.

Maybe a trade??? lol. One pair of fully dressed Madison's for one fully dressed 11A? Don't laugh. Could happen.

Chat soon.

Best,
Jeff
http://CarderSound.com/

[steve]

Hi Gents,

Ah, the cost. At RMAF, it costs approx $2300 for the least expensive room, which measures approx 13' by 19'. Below is a link to a photo. Add to that renting a truck or shipping the equipment there, another sleeping room, food etc, and I see 3 grand or more.

http://audiofest.net/2008/exhibitor_...3d63729705bee6

Setup could be wild. I think one has about a day to setup and hope the room does not introduce wild resonances.

To me it could be a real crap shoot unless real care is taken.

"Honestly, I just can't stop looking at the pics of your 11A. Simply beautiful. Solid looking construction, and a very understated and different "tint" with the color of the metal face plate. Just love the approach. Even the knobs scream of quality. Is there a phono option? Depending on how it sounds, which I have no doubt will be great, you might make a preamp believer out of me yet."

>The knobs are custom manufacturered solid brass, not cheap as you already know.

"Believe it or not, I'm running a generation II Sonic T tripath chip amp through an EAD DSP-7000 DAC with some pretty satisfying results. I am a tube man at heart, but sold my reference system to start CarderSound. As I continue to grow, I am slowly but surely building my system back up. I am saving to purchase an Ayon 300B, and I have a hunch your 11A just might be the ticket to pair with it, but I would like to have a significant phono stage incorporated."

>Any ideas of how the Ayon 300b sounds compared to the Welbourne Terraplane 300b? I have never heard either but curious as a couple of guys like the Terraplane 300b and Terraplane 45 with the 11A.

"Maybe a trade??? lol. One pair of fully dressed Madison's for one fully dressed 11A? Don't laugh. Could happen."

I have a couple of thoughts. I live in an upstairs apartment so it is very difficult to move heavy and large components. I also have a policy to always pay either wholesale or full price for my purchases, so as no one can claim that I have affiliations/biased.

Thanks again for your opinion Jeff.

Right now I am running my test 25 watt triode PP amps, modified Technics cd player, and modified Harmonic Precision Echelon 2 speakers with series crossovers, 12 ohm impedance.

Take care.

[CarderSound]

Hi Steve

I can't help you with a comparison between the two. The Ayon 300B has a retail of $7000 new, and I have the opportunity to purchase a year old demo for $1900 + shipping. He is holding it for me for a little while longer to see if I can scratch up the funds. I have heard, though, MasterSound products, most recently at Tom's, and Ayon is made by the same people. One of my customer's has an Ayon 300B, and absolutely swears by it. When I came across the opportunity to buy one so cheap, I figured I'd give it a whirl, since I wouldn't get too hurt, if I had to part with it.

I have seen the Wellbourne stuff, and thought it looked great. Saw some very positive reviews, but have never had the opportunity to hear any of their pieces.

I completely understand about the trade. Makes sense. Maybe I'll just buy the 11A for my Christmas present. We'll have to see. Anyway, you should be very proud of your work. Great looks and great performance.

Best,
Jeff
http://CarderSound.com/

[dragan]

Originally Posted by CarderSound

Hi Dragan

Hey, thank you for talking to your Canadian friend about our line. Much appreciated. Like I said, I am new at this and don't have a clue what the costs might be with regards to a show event. Steve can probably answer that better than I.

I have already started promoting you....lol. I have sent an email to all my buddies in the audio arena letting them know that you exist.

One of my dreams is to open small boutique audio store only offering small cottage industry offerings with regards to just tube equipment and high efficiency speakers. lol.....just CarderSound speakers...lol. I'm rather biased. Go figure.

Best,
Jeff
http://CarderSound.com/

Jeff, thank you very much for your help in promoting the site. No good deed goes "unpunished" :-). I will find a way to show my appreciation.

[steve]

Hi Dragan,

Forgot, I offer a 30 day money back guarantee on all my preamplifiers, so in a way, it is a free trial (excluding return shipping).

Cheers.

[dragan]

Originally Posted by steve

Hi Dragan,

Forgot, I offer a 30 day money back guarantee on all my preamplifiers, so in a way, it is a free trial (excluding return shipping).

Thanks Steve. That is what I meant though. Same thing...

[steve]

I can say my preamplifiers have been compared "very very favorably" to at least 45 different brands (up to 15 grand or more), if one counts both the customer and professional reviews. They include some pretty big names. I think Martin DeWulf summarized things nicely.

Martin DeWulf, publisher of Bound for Sound, issue #178 states:
"Direct comparisons to my old friend, the Symfonia Opus 8 ($7,000), revealed the SAS to be cleaner, more transparent and more organic through the midrange... Remember, it was the Symfonia Opus 8 that went toe-to-toe with the exalted CTC Blowtorch ($15,000.)." (The CTC Blowtorch team included John Curl, Bob Crump, and Carl Thompson.).... "Other than the PBN, there is no other preamp, tubed or solid state, that I'd rather listen to"...

A review of the 11A from:

"Gene, New York:

"Dear Steve,

I can't believe my ears!!!! Awesome, wonderful, soulful, preamp! You'll never see this one again unless it breaks!!! This is the first product I didn't even open up to see what's in it that makes it tick, because I don't care - it just makes real music! At last - an honestly priced, beautifully conceived and executed, really high-end preamp. It's zero degrees out and I'm happy to be housebound, because all I want to do is listen to music....

Gene owns an Audio Illusions Modulus 3A"

Martin DeWulf, Editor of Bound for Sound, uses the 11A as a reference preamplifier in the Big Rig, and BFS reviewer Richard Weiner uses the 11A as his sole reference preamplifier.

The 10A was only one of three that made the "Exceptional Component of Merit" category at Bound for Sound.

Reliability is also important with audiophiles. I can state the 10A, which has been around since the inception back in Jan 2, 1997, has never had a breakdown.

I am sure many realize that reliability is not a given in the audiophile world.

Anyway, I offer the 7A, 10A, and 11A line preamplifiers, all superb.

[steve]

A new review just came off the presses.

Martin DeWulf, editor of Bound for Sound, Issue 199/200, compares the $7800 McCormack (now through dealers) VRE-1 to the 11A.

"But in a direct A/B with the SAS 11A tube preamp into high input impedance
power amplifiers (Monarchy SE250 and Clayton M300, both mono amps with a 100k
input impedance), the SAS seemed to be slightly more bold in its presentation,
as if it went from 0 to 100 just a little bit faster, and with a hair more
impact when it got there.

Further comparisons of the VRE-1 with the tube SAS, revealed the VRE-1 to once
again be King of the Hill when it came to tone density, though I felt the SAS to
have a subtly wider range of colors, same for the SE PLC and Loesch. The ever so
slight darkening that I heard with the VRE-1, lessened somewhat its ability to
differentiate ultra fine tonal distinctions in the lower midrange, distinctions
that the tube preamps I auditioned were able to make.

Maybe this boils down to a tube vs. transistor debate, but for me the VRE-1
still clearly outperformed many of the tube preamps I've auditioned in the past,
including models from Wyetech, ModWright and ASL (not a bad one in that batch).
I also keep open the prospect that it may simply be my personal preferences
(prejudice) which cause me to prefer the dynamic contrasts of the SAS to the
VRE-1; I own the SAS 11A and I don't own the VRE-1."

Cheers.

ps. Have just introduced two power amplifiers, a 2 stage 25 watt all triode P_P amplifier and a 2 stage 50 watt ultra-linear P_P amplifier. Each amplifier uses separate power supplies for superior fidelity, musicality.