General Asylum: REVIEW: Anthem Pre 2L Preamplifier (Tube) by mcdonald.robert@mayo.edu

Model:	Pre 2L
Category:	Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$1600
Description:	Tube Pre-Amp from the late Sonic Frontiers
Manufacturer URL:	Anthem
Manufacturer URL:	Anthem

Review by mcdonald.robert@mayo.edu ( A ) on July 01, 2002 at 23:53:26
IP Address: 129.176.151.122

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for the Pre 2L

I purchased this unit used for a fair price and replaced my Lexicon DC-1 as my 2-channel preamp, as I have split my 1 room system into music and HT components... After letting the unit break in (the former owner used the Anthem for a few hours then bought a SF Line 3 instead), I noticed a few things - cleaner more defined soundstage boundaries with better separations between musical "events"... If that makes any sense??? More to the point, the Anthem presents a much better 3D soundstage and places the distinct elements of a song in a more convincing manner than the DC-1... Before music had great horizontal soundstage, but now it seems like music has layers!!! A great improvement!
Other nice touches:
HT bypass on the remote - using a unity gain input, a music and HT system can exist in the same room!
Excellent construction

The Bad news:
The volume control is terrible - even at the 8 db gain setting, the remote cannot finely tune the sound.
Bass is less robust vs solid state preamps.
I have yet to roll the stock tubes, but I understand that the unit will only sound better when the Svoteks are tossed.

Product Weakness: Volume (remote).
Product Strengths: Soundstage, smooth without being muddy, HT bypass

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	NAD S200, Anthem MCA-3
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Anthem Pre 2L, Lexicon DC-1
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	NAD S500 --> CAL Sigma Tube DAC
Speakers:	Paradigm Studio 100 v2, CC, ADP's
Cables/Interconnects:	MIT T2 Biwire 2000's, MIT 330, MIT digital reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Jazz, Vocals, Trance, Ambient, techno, 80's (yup - I'm an 80's junkie)
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 14 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	4 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster Power HTS 2000, Loewe Calida HDTV (the best TV I have ever seen at ANY price)
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Volume (remote).
Product Strengths:	Soundstage, smooth without being muddy, HT bypass