Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Joule Electra Marianne Electra Memorial Preamp, LA-300ME Preamplifier (Tube) by RafaelDob

Model:	Marianne Electra Memorial Preamp, LA-300ME
Category:	Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$14800
Description:	Joule-Electra Flagship Tube Line Stage
Manufacturer URL:	Joule Electra

Review by RafaelDob on January 19, 2009 at 08:53:33
IP Address: 64.12.117.73 Add Your Review
for the Marianne Electra Memorial Preamp, LA-300ME

Joule-Electra Marianne Electra Memorial Preamp, LA-300ME,

My system consists of Marantz-7 SACD player, Spectron monoblocks with Bybee and V-cap upgrades and my speakers are B&W 802D. Cabling is by Elrod Power Systems and power conditioner is Hydra-8. Two months ago, I auditioned prototype of Joule-Electra Marianne Electra Memorial Preamp, LA-300ME, fall in love and wrote check on the spot.

Now, after two weeks I have it, the sound, excellent to begin with, dramatically changed for the better. The highs became something magical, I never heard such before. Totally silky and extended to heaven!!!! The "see thru" soundstage became full of air around and in-between instruments, and soundstage huge to begin with became even more specious! Midrange became "alive" better then in any pre or power amplifier I ever owned or even auditioned, its magic feeling!!!! Base have now both: more authority and startling clarity -. I am not sure I can physically hear very deep bass but I can feel it, my chest is "shaking" my listening chair leather is vibrating etc. I feel it now!.

However, I am a cello player, so the accuracy of the representation is paramount for me. I can hear minute details now {my reference disc is Janos Starker Bach Mercury Living Presence SACD 470 644-2}, which I could not hear before and most importantly, these are true details. Itâ€™s the most natural-sounding component Iâ€™ve ever heard. Itâ€™s timbre is downright spooky â€“ every note is reproduced with a tonal correctness and warmth that is as close to the real cello or piano as Iâ€™ve every experienced in live concert.

Another attribute of this preamp is vastly improved three-dimensionality of the soundstage representation. Cello was really â€œthereâ€ and to such a degree that itâ€™s simply stunning. When I close my eyes I felt that the instrument is here in the room â€“ and yet, on another lever, I know perfectly well that nobody is here. My head is full of conflicting information and I am dizzy and canâ€™t leave my listening chair...
.
The LA300ME recreation of an orchestra 's sheer size and scale was unmatched by any other component in my experience (may be except Elrod Signature Speaker Cable..). The soundstage has a "see-thru" clarity that made even quit instruments at the back vividly palpable. The instrument placement is done with stunning precision (razor-sharp) and air between them was "seen" or "felt" . In big orchestral climax, the LA300ME was totally effortless and yet composed. Despite this staggering dynamics the presentation has no hyped details or transients. This is more or less accurate description of orchestral presentation of this preamp. It has unprecedented resolution of fine detail yet - you do not hear these details - you hear or you feel the flow of music, you are surrounded by music be it orchestral or solo cello and you can't stop listening - you discover and rediscover your familiar discs again. Oh, boy!...and yes, the magnificent bass, powerful and crystal clear - its not something you would expect from tube preamp.

Instrument's timbre particularly these dominated by low order harmonics were depicted with wonderful warmth , richness, sense of 3D body and presence. The sound had tremendous weight and power in the bottom octaves. I never experienced it in any preamplifier before - and I owned and auditioned countless preams - so POWERFUL SLAM this preamp slam is immensely powerful, and bass is so deep and yet crystal clean. I was feeling the fury of symphonic music crescendo like I was THERE...Also, full body, rich and warm - the bottom end was extremely articulate, with exquisite rendering of texture and clarity of pitch.

The most important characteristic of LA300ME which separate it from anything I ever auditioned is its unbelievable magic ability to remove all these details that I described above from mine and my friends perception and leaving us with a pure music, just MUSIC. May be hugely powerful Spectron monoblocks can recreate similar dynamics and other components can recreate similarly extended highs or spacious soundstage but in sense of the sheer musical involvement, - as a professional musician (and some of my friends also professional or amateur musicians) I never experienced it before nor even close from any "electronics".

I deliberately did not compare it to other preamps because I can't - my reference was and is live music (solo cello the best). I never expected in my lifetime that I would be able to travel in time and attend musical performances of50's and 60's and be there and experience it time and time again. To finish: to anyone who loves acoustic music (and its not the same as this or that audiophiles attribute by far...) I can't recommend highly enough Joule-Electra Marianne Electra Memorial Preamp LA-300ME.

========================================

Product Weakness:	may be some in egronomics...<br>
Product Strengths:	Oh gee - I don't know where to start. I know where to finish. Its representation of LIVE MUSIC is UNPRECEDENTED!!!!!!<br>

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Spectron monoblocks Mk2 with all upgrades
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): CAT Ultimate, VTL 7.5
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Marantz 7
Speakers: B&W 802D
Cables/Interconnects: Elrod
Music Used (Genre/Selections): mostly classical, some jazz
Time Period/Length of Audition: two weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Hydra-8
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Spectron monoblocks Mk2 with all upgrades
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	CAT Ultimate, VTL 7.5
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Marantz 7
Speakers:	B&W 802D
Cables/Interconnects:	Elrod
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	mostly classical, some jazz
Time Period/Length of Audition:	two weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Hydra-8
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner