Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Marsh Sound Design MSD-P2000 Preamplifier (SS) by navman

Model:	MSD-P2000
Category:	Preamplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$1000.00
Description:	SS Preamp w/ full function remote
Manufacturer URL:	Marsh Sound Design
Manufacturer URL:	Marsh Sound Design

Review by navman ( A ) on August 25, 2003 at 07:30:14
IP Address: 12.162.213.5

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for the MSD-P2000

I owned this preamp for a number of months. I bought it based on reviews online and in print magazines. The general consensus was that this preamp sounds like something 2-4 times its price.

I have partnered it with McIntosh MC202 (ss) and MC40 (tubes) with various Sony SACD players.

I have compared the Marsh against the Audio Note M-Zero, and the ARC LS7 and a Bottlehead Foreplay.

The unit is built like a $1000 unit. It comes with a flimsy remote. It looks alright, not ugly or irritating in any way. The blue light on front indicating power up is nice to my eyes.

Volume control in soft but also motorized. The various knobs, rock to and fro if you check for play and that was a let down as it doesnt feel solid.

There are enough inputs/outputs to run a busy 2 channel system.

The sound:

Well, people say its very revealing. Swapping power cables does help some. The sound is well.....not convincing. Vocals were way back in the mix. At low volumes there was not much in detail. At higher volumes, it sounded compressed in the upper midrange. Much too much sibilence killed vocals believability. The bass sounded like there was control, but compared to the ARC LS7 with stock tubes, it was flat. In the treble region, everything fused into a glob. There was grain, I think. Or maybe i should describe it as goo. Goo connected high frquency details. I find it hard to describe.

After many months of trying different cables and interconnects I gave up and sold the unit. It was too "hi-fi" for me. My 10 yr old daughter (who joined me one day while audtioning) commented the same, that the Marsh sounded like listening to equipment while (in this particular comparason) the Foreplay sounded "real"

I should add, that a friend preferred the Marsh to the ARC, and so did my spouse. But it didnt work for me.

Product Weakness: Grainy/harsh/compressed
Product Strengths: Low cost.
SS durability

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	McIntosh MC202 & MC40
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	p2000/AN MZero/ARCLS7
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony SCD333ES and SCD775
Speakers:	B&W 603 B&W 602
Cables/Interconnects:	Various homemade/monster
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Folk, World, Blues
Time Period/Length of Audition:	9 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Richard Gray and monster cable
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Grainy/harsh/compressed
Product Strengths:	Low cost. SS durability