Counterpoint SA-5000 Preamplifiers
Counterpoint SA-5000 Preamplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[Dec 22, 2005]
pangl
AudioPhile
Strength:
This is one superbly sweet preamp!
Weakness:
Picking up RF/EM big time - got to pay $250 @ Alta Vista Audio to have it fixed. The top cover screw could damage the unit, and if you messed up the transit screws, get ready for an $400 repair bill! Not the most detail nor holographic tube preamp on the streets. My ownership of the SA5000 is an mixed bag. I could not be more elated when I got this at a steal price of $975. And the preamp simply sound wonderful as advertised. If I go picky, I'd ask for better dynamics and wider/deeper soundstage. This is not an reference preamp by strictest term - it's resolution is great but will not satisfy detail hungry person (like me). The downward spiral started several days after I owned this. I noticed that the unit is picking up RF/EM - I could listen to radio thru the unit! Of course, it would take a hundred bucks or so to get it rectified by Alta Vista. IMHO this is an corner cutted during design, no? Why am I paying for this? I got the parts myself from Parts Connection, but decided to move on to something else because I am really an detail-hungry guy and this is not my cup of tea. Then I picked the wrong screws as transit screws by mistake. So when I shipped the unit, it was quite damaged. To make ait worst, it turned out the top cover's screw length is important as well. If you mixed the top cover screws like I did, you'd cut the internal wire and make the unit dead! (which happened in my case!) I ended up issuing full refund to 1st buyer, got the unit shipped express to Alta Vista, and doped out about $700 to have everything fixed. Then on the return trip from factory, the unit got damaged again. I ended up having it sold at $1100. Months of hassle, hundreds of dollars lost. You do the math. This is pretty much the last straw for me to consider buying any Counterpoint product again. If you happen to get the updated the unit, well, this preamp warrants serious consideration to be a keeper (and don't ship it if you choose to move on!). Similar Products Used: Sonic Frontiers Line 3; Kora Eclipse; Melos SHA Gold; Audio Research LS-7; ... too many to recall |
[Mar 08, 2001]
Jim Germann
Audiophile
Strength:
Imaging, bass response, a good built-in moving coil preamp
Weakness:
treble response, dynamics Mr. Philipps' review is quite short! The 5000, though an older product, is a very fine unit. I've owned mine for 7 years, so I should know. It has served me faithfully through the years. It just sounds like music, or so I thought. Similar Products Used: McIntosh C-20- Spatial Coherance |
[Mar 31, 1998]
JAQUIER Philipp
an Audio Enthusiast
ARGGGGG, i finaly buy my dream preamplifiers....a COUNTERPOINT SA5000.It's.....no word to say what i feel. |