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REVIEW: H-Cat P-12 Preamplifier (SS)

128.194.112.183


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Model: P-12
Category: Preamplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price: $2995
Description: Holographic Cloning technology
Manufacturer URL: H-Cat
Model Picture: View

Review by Norm ( A ) on July 11, 2002 at 09:23:39
IP Address: 128.194.112.183
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for the P-12


Despite many conversations with Mr. Roger Paul and some EE background, I have only a vague understanding of what he is doing with his preamps, amps, and phono stages. Had I not known him for many years and without the money back offer, I probably would not have tried this unit. It would have been at my great loss. You have never heard a preamp that sounds like this, regardless of how much you have paid. I am told that my experience would be much more favorable had I both the preamp and amps.

I used the preamp in a system including Beauhorn speakers, Exemplar SET 300B parafeed amps, a Zanden dac, a Marantz SA-1, Siltech G5 and Stealth PGS interconnects, Siltech G5 speaker wires, Mana stands and Aurios 1.0s with tungsten carbide balls, EPS3 and Absolute cables, and Sound Application CP-X filters. The unit showed substantial break-in change for three days. It has three settings on the back, affecting the phase of the ac, and the degree of bandwidth in the grounding, separate for each channel.

What will most impress you is the sound staging. Performers are narrower as their location is more specific; this is one of the design goals of H-Cat. No more yard wide mouths! This all contributes to a more plausible sound stage and realism. Applause on live recordings is real. The timbre of instruments and vocalists without the smear of normal electronics is truly exceptional and real.

Volume settings are a real problem with this preamp. Because there is no smearing around the sounds, you are likely to turn up the volume to get to what you previously liked. This works fine until there is a crescendo when you may clip your amps!

I cannot believe that I much prefer a solid state preamp! I have heard some exceptional tube preamps and have never been able to stand even the best transistor preamps. I cannot believe that I am now considering buying the SS amps from H-Cat.

Listen to these units at your own peril. You will buy them.


Product Weakness: ?
Product Strengths: Sound


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Exemplar 300B parafeed
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): H-Cat
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Accustic Arts tt, Zanden dac, Marantz sacd
Speakers: Beauhorns
Cables/Interconnects: Siltech G5, Stealth PGS, EPS, Absolute
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz and classical
Room Size (LxWxH): 28 x 18 x 14.5
Room Comments/Treatments: Room Lens 15
Time Period/Length of Audition: one month so far
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Sound Applications
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: H-Cat P-12 Preamplifier (SS) - Norm 09:23:39 07/11/02 ( 0)