My new ride !!

Marck1973

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Aug 11, 2017
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Amazing system. Out of interest are you contemplating changing the preamp to either the Momentum HD or the new Relentless matching one out shortly?

I was using the Ref 40 with my M400's but am in the process of changing to the Momentum HD.
Marc.
 

Hedgedrew66

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Aug 13, 2020
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Amazing system. Out of interest are you contemplating changing the preamp to either the Momentum HD or the new Relentless matching one out shortly?

I was using the Ref 40 with my M400's but am in the process of changing to the Momentum HD.
Marc.
So. That is a great question. Especially since left channel out of nowhere not working on pre we using dcs as pre for now. My guess is if i try and like as long as i get full credit toward new relentless pre i might make swap. I hear its coming nov dec.
 

Marck1973

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Aug 11, 2017
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So. That is a great question. Especially since left channel out of nowhere not working on pre we using dcs as pre for now. My guess is if i try and like as long as i get full credit toward new relentless pre i might make swap. I hear its coming nov dec.

So I spent considerable time doing the demo with the Momentum HD preamp. I always said I would never sell my Ref40 (I hear you laughing now, why would any audiophile say 'I would never buy another piece of equipment!), however it really is a massive step up in terms of performance. Infact mine is due to arrive in the next 2 weeks.

I can only imagine what the new Relentless preamp would be like - I hear it is a 3 box set-up. With the level of your system and amplification this is probably the way to go, however the baby brother which I have is a serious piece of kit. Maybe see if your dealer can lend you one whilst you wait for the repair of the Ref40 / release of new preamp. At least you will be able to ascertain the differences.

Btw I also have a full DCS Vivaldi stack, running Magico S7's with full Transparent Reference / Opus cabling
M.
 

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Hedgedrew66

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So I spent considerable time doing the demo with the Momentum HD preamp. I always said I would never sell my Ref40 (I hear you laughing now, why would any audiophile say 'I would never buy another piece of equipment!), however it really is a massive step up in terms of performance. Infact mine is due to arrive in the next 2 weeks.

I can only imagine what the new Relentless preamp would be like - I hear it is a 3 box set-up. With the level of your system and amplification this is probably the way to go, however the baby brother which I have is a serious piece of kit. Maybe see if your dealer can lend you one whilst you wait for the repair of the Ref40 / release of new preamp. At least you will be able to ascertain the differences.

Btw I also have a full DCS Vivaldi stack, running Magico S7's with full Transparent Reference / Opus cabling
M.
Sounds great. Yes thats what im going to do. Ar i have anniversary preamp. I loved it. Not sure how it compares to the 40. I had a vtl pre also with my original siegfrieds but that presamp was not dynamic enough compared to the ar.
 

Marck1973

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Aug 11, 2017
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Sounds great. Yes thats what im going to do. Ar i have anniversary preamp. I loved it. Not sure how it compares to the 40. I had a vtl pre also with my original siegfrieds but that presamp was not dynamic enough compared to the ar.
The Ref40 is the anniversary preamp . It takes a lot to better that preamp, however the D'Agostino certainly does.
 

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Congratulations, Hedgedrew66!
 

microstrip

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Wow - I can see you also like the Transparent Audio power cables ... I have tried several systems with the Vivaldi stack but always return to the Audio Research REF40 . It is not the nicest sounding, but IMHO by far the more realistic. But I never had in my system the new D'Agostino Momentum preamplifier that was playing in the WAMM system I listened and also impressed me a lot.
 

microstrip

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Sounds great. Yes thats what im going to do. Ar i have anniversary preamp. I loved it. Not sure how it compares to the 40. I had a vtl pre also with my original siegfrieds but that presamp was not dynamic enough compared to the ar.

The REF40 is the nickname of the Anniversary preamplfier. I should not say it, as I am trying to sell the VTL 7.5 mk3 :oops: , but I also preferred the Anniversary in my system, although the VTL could show more detail of the recording - surely it is less colored.
 

microstrip

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Micro. Professor. Sir. Wake up. Wake up. Time to be out of the dream now.

Tang :p

No, my dream only included the XVX ... ;)
 

chuck

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Dec 19, 2011
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So. That is a great question. Especially since left channel out of nowhere not working on pre we using dcs as pre for now. My guess is if i try and like as long as i get full credit toward new relentless pre i might make swap. I hear its coming nov dec.
I also had the left channel go out on my Ref40 late last year and sent it back to Minnesota to get fixed. Seems a tube went bad and took out one of the boards too. I got a Boulder 1110 in February and have not used the Ref40 since.

That is an amazing hifi.
 
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Tim Link

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Looks fabulous! I love the jacara orange. I see a center imaging trap. Are the wall panels also acoustical?
 

Hedgedrew66

Member
Aug 13, 2020
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Wow - I can see you also like the Transparent Audio power cables ... I have tried several systems with the Vivaldi stack but always return to the Audio Research REF40 . It is not the nicest sounding, but IMHO by far the more realistic. But I never had in my system the new D'Agostino Momentum preamplifier that was playing in the WAMM system I listened and also impressed me a lot.
Ya. That preamp when i heard it was like wow.
 

Hedgedrew66

Member
Aug 13, 2020
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I also had the left channel go out on my Ref40 late last year and sent it back to Minnesota to get fixed. Seems a tube went bad and took out one of the boards too. I got a Boulder 1110 in February and have not used the Ref40 since.

That is an amazing hifi.
Thank you. Interesting. You like boulder better ?
 

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