|
Tubes Asylum: REVIEW: Bottlehead products Foreplay, Anticipation Modifcation C4S Preamplifier (Tube) by badman Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
For Sale Ads |
128.6.175.122
Model: Foreplay, Anticipation Modifcation C4S Category: Preamplifier (Tube) Suggested Retail Price: $75.00 For the Modification Description: C4S (Camille Cascode Constant Current Source) Manufacturer URL: Bottlehead products Model Picture: View
Review by badman ( A ) on April 01, 2002 at 10:23:05
IP Address: 128.6.175.122Add Your Review
for the Foreplay, Anticipation Modifcation C4S
This is the C4s Modification in my Foreplay. YMMV, everythings IMHO.This is a constant current source for the Bottlehead Foreplay. While working with this device, I've managed to screw many things up, make some things very,very nice (Outboard PS, attenuators, etc) and basically learn a lot. The Anticipation upgrade is supposed to be a Nitrous Bottle for tube gear. Cool, but I liked my FP! smooth, powerful, engrossing! So, from the occasional description from a user of "hardness, thinness" I kept my very nice FP doing it's tube thing. Eventually, I got to the point where I could do no more without trying Anticipation, which I had burned to hell during a failed build of the FP, and din't want to shell out for another set.
I ordered another set, and eventually, it got installed. At first I noticed some very cool control and speed, but the hardness and thinness were there. Everyone says 50 hours is enough to loosen this thing up, and after about 42, the thing went silly on me. There was less distortion. period. The tubey warmth (which was not overblown or severe) had lifted further, making a very neutral sounding preamp, with speed and dynamics out the Wazoo. Images stabilized, a sense of reality increased, and movies got the whole treatment. It's now able to do some of the very crazy ambient effects at very low levels, which required more volume to get before. The dynamics are almost too much with this, I don't know the right level to listen to DVDs at- it's either too quiet at the conversation level, and too loud at explosions! (how it should be, BTW)
In short, this upgrade is great, though an all SS/digital system may disagree with the neutrality. But this thing is sweet.
Product Weakness: not quite as tubey- a little TOO good at revealing components sometimes.... Product Strengths: dynamics, neutrality, speed, imaging
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Acurus A100 Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Tweaked out Foreplay Sources (CDP/Turntable): EAD DSP-1000 DAC, Toshiba SD-3109 DVD player Speakers: B&W DM 605 s2 Cables/Interconnects: DIY, Kimber Music Used (Genre/Selections): various Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 10 x 8 Time Period/Length of Audition: 4 days Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Jon Risch line filter, my own PCs Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - REVIEW: Bottlehead products Foreplay, Anticipation Modifcation C4S Preamplifier (Tube) - badman 10:23:05 04/1/02 ( 2)
- Bottlehead products Foreplay, Anticipation Modifcation C4S Preamplifier (Tube) - Mister Pig 11:52:24 04/2/02 ( 1)
- high output - badman 16:02:49 04/2/02 ( 0)