transparent and very alive sound.

Not one that I can hear.

Frank's new Transcendence 8 tube pre is perhaps the most linear and high resolution tube pre in my experience (I am 43 audiophile years old today:). So it's a tube pre that doesn't subtract anything from the music. But what it does do that no solid state pre-amp ever does is dynamic contrast in spades. Music comes alive, on appropriately mic'd recordings the performers are IN the room. Goose bump time.

Also quite notable, the bass kicks like a mule if you system goes low enough with enough power. Mid bass is tres punchy and rhythmic. You can't stop yourself from moving and groovin, and that's what hi-end audio at home is all about.

Last, frosting on the cake, the high end. Big cymbal crashes sound more realistic than I've ever heard. All the weight and energy is there along with the extension and clarity. This pre does the full dynamic spectrum in the highs from complex massive to delicate "transcendent" without ever stepping wrong.

That's the bottom line, the Transcendence 8 never looses composure, it plays any kind of music with equal aplomb. It's hard to over estimate the impact a great pre has on a playback system. This is a great pre. Good work Mr. Van Alstine!

Customer Service

Doesn't get better than this.

Similar Products Used:

Audible Illusions, digital front ends (DEQX)