New preamp in-bound: First Sound

Puma Cat

Puma Cat

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Just an update for the gang...

Just got word from Emmanuel Go that my First Sound preamp will ship out next week.

The model is the First Sound Presence Deluxe MkIII-SI, a 2 chassis unit
w/ the Paramount Special Edition upgrade using Audio Cap copper capacitors.

The First Sound preamps are essentially "bespoke" preamps, each one crafted and tuned specifically for the owner's system and system components. The design is a true dual-mono design, two preamps in one main control chassis with the PS transformer and PS capacitors housed in an external chassis to maximize performance while minimizing the impact of noise and vibration on the main circuit. Additionally, there are two chassis in one, with an inner chassis comprised of copper-plated steel to function as a Faraday cage to further reduce the impact of external noise.

Special care is also provided to provide vibration-damping and even the fasteners were selected based on comprehensive, long-term, listening tests.
Notable are hand-assembled volume controls, utilizing individual exceptionally high-quality metal film resistors at each gain position and a massive power supply, exceeding the power supply capacitance and "stiffness" of many high-end power amplifiers.

Emmanuel is presently "crafting" it to match perfectly with the other components in my specific system.

I'll post photos of it when it arrives.
 
Wow, congratulations on an absolutely superb piece of kit. When I first got back into the hobby 15 or so years ago I heard First Sound gear at a shop in Seattle. You could build a system around that piece as you’ll have the cornerstone for remarkable sound. Nice choice — I very much look forward to hearing your thoughts as you get acquainted. I predict miles and miles of smiles and smiles!
 
Congratulations, please keep the updates coming. I’ve always wondered about the First Sound gear. I’ve never read a bad word and only seen universal praise.
 
Bobvin said:
Wow, congratulations on an absolutely superb piece of kit. Nice choice — I very much look forward to hearing your thoughts as you get acquainted. I predict miles and miles of smiles and smiles!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Bob. I've had one on loan here for some months, so I know well how superb these preamps are.
 
joeinid said:
Congratulations, please keep the updates coming. I’ve always wondered about the First Sound gear. I’ve never read a bad word and only seen universal praise.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Joe, will do. I can safely say the First Sound I've had on loan from a friend is the finest-sounding preamp I've ever heard. So, making a decision to get my own was an easy, well-informed one.
 
Great news indeed, congratulations Stephen! Hard to believe you are moving away from CJ. :)
 
Ritmo said:
Great news indeed, congratulations Stephen! Hard to believe you are moving away from CJ. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, Mike. Kinda hard for me to believe, too. The design philosophies of both companies are very, very similar: simple circuits and use the highest quality parts and construction techniques. The CT-5 and First Sound are very close and comparable tonally and in overall character (which is to say very transparent and neutral). But with fewer design compromises, the First Sound is notably quieter, more layered, 3-dimensional, and fully and finely articulated than the CT-5...its a lot like what the CT-5 would be if you went "all out" in the direction of say, the dual-chassis ART2 with an external power supply. With it's larger, external power supply, higher quality volume controls, dual-mono design, sophisticated grounding system, etc., etc.

So, I don't think of it as a moving away from CJ, but rather, moving to an "unconstrained" CT-5 or ACT2.
 
The First Sound preamps are essentially "bespoke" preamps, each one crafted and tuned specifically for the owner's system and system components.

Does that mean that you are locked in to your present set of components?
 
The only drawbacks of the FirstSound pre-amps, IMHO, was the volume control for each channel is a separate unit which means you get to set the volume twice each time you make a change, and no remote control is offered. I understand the purist approach, but personally appreciate having a remote.

Those design and implementation of the volume controls is really something!

Puma, has this changed in any way?
 
That is awesome, congratulations Puma!!! It sounds like a fantastic piece. In my view a line stage is very essential for over all system synergy.

Hey Bob, my Hattor is the same in that there are two volume control knobs, but thank God you can control them both from the same button on the remote :).... I also love having a remote.
 
Speedskater said:
The First Sound preamps are essentially "bespoke" preamps, each one crafted and tuned specifically for the owner's system and system components.

Does that mean that you are locked in to your present set of components?
Click to expand...

No, not at all. If I ever changed components, I could send the First Sound back to Emmanuel for "re-crafting/refinement". But I don't ever see upgrading my power amp or phono stage. The one I have on loan from a buddy was "dropped in" to my system and...it is AMAZING. So, no, I don't lose sleep about these things.
 
Bobvin said:
The only drawbacks of the FirstSound pre-amps, IMHO, was the volume control for each channel is a separate unit which means you get to set the volume twice each time you make a change, and no remote control is offered. I understand the purist approach, but personally appreciate having a remote.

Those design and implementation of the volume controls is really something!

Puma, has this changed in any way?
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,
I don't know the design history of the volume attenuator since when you heard the First Sound. Originally, Holco resistors were used, but for the model I'm getting, the III-SI with the Paramount Special Edition upgrade, the resistors are Vishay resistors. As for a remote, my listening space is so small, its not a problem to get up and change the volume. And I listen at the same gain setting for 90% of my content, so the percent of time I need to change volume is minimal.
 
So, here's some more detail on the First Sound preamp I'm getting:

Basic Model: Presence Deluxe Mk III

Dual Mono Construction using Copper Plated Steel Chassis
• Step Attenuators, Ladder Type using individual resistors (see below), designated as LTH 92
• SPS 2.0 External Power Supply w/ detachable umbilical cord

The First Sound on loan from a friend...standard silver face plate and knobs.
First-Sound-Pre-Daylight_2.jpg


Interior of chassis (photo from a review)
Interior.jpg


MkIII-S upgrade
• MPDA (multi-phase differential array) developed by Shunyata Research. A sophisticated and innovative proprietary power line noise reduction filter array. Uses advanced 30 element surface mount components that significantly reduce power line noise.
• PSDS (power supply delivery system) An advanced system utilized for the power supplies..
• Upgraded main circuit boards
• Upgraded power supply circuits boards
• Additional 500 extra steps in the craftsmanship of this upgrade
MKIII-SI Upgrade
• As above with the addition of proprietary component filters that isolate electrical noise.
Paramount Special Edition upgrade
As the Presence Deluxe MKIII-SI with the addition of:
• LTV 92 Step Attenuators, Ladder Type attenuators using naked Vishay Resistors
• Upgraded (Stage 3) Capacitors using AudioCap copper capacitors
• Expanded power supply capacitors
• Special Edition grounding topology

Volume attenuator
firstsoundattenuators.jpg


Interior copper chassis
firstsoundcage.jpg


My unit will be a black chassis with gold knobs, for an MBL-vibe.
 
So even the inputs are selected separate. That is unique :). My Hattor is using a similar volume system, except Arek offers 4 different levels of resistors with the Vishay being the introductory level. But the input selector is unified. I don't know if I have ever seen a line stage where the inputs are selected separately for each channel.
 
I'm happy you've refreshed my memory... should the day come I part with my ARC REF10, FirstSound would be on my shortlist. Black with Gold should look terrific, it is already a very aesthetically pleasing design. Whomever loaned you one must be a true friend!
 
Randy Myers said:
So even the inputs are selected separate. That is unique :). I don't know if I have ever seen a line stage where the inputs are selected separately for each channel.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is unique. Emmanuel designed this as a "no-compromises" preamp.

And I don't think I've ever seen a line stage with separately selected line input either, but this is because it is literally is two completely separate, mono preamps contained within in a single exterior box.
 
Puma Cat said:
Thanks, Mike. Kinda hard for me to believe, too. The design philosophies of both companies are very, very similar: simple circuits and use the highest quality parts and construction techniques. The CT-5 and First Sound are very close and comparable tonally and in overall character (which is to say very transparent and neutral). But with fewer design compromises, the First Sound is notably quieter, more layered, 3-dimensional, and fully and finely articulated than the CT-5...its a lot like what the CT-5 would be if you went "all out" in the direction of say, the dual-chassis ART2 with an external power supply. With it's larger, external power supply, higher quality volume controls, dual-mono design, sophisticated grounding system, etc., etc.

So, I don't think of it as a moving away from CJ, but rather, moving to an "unconstrained" CT-5 or ACT2.
Click to expand...

The CT-5 and ACT 2 are at least 15 years old and several generations superseded by cj.

Have you heard the current cj preamps like ET6 / ET7 or GAT?

cheers
 
No, I haven't heard a GAT, I would love to, but I also don't have $20K for a GAT S2.

The ET-6 is an ET-3 with WBT RCA jacks, other than that, it is virtually identical to an ET-3. This was confirmed to me by a friend that was in the market for a new CJ pre and called and spoke directly to Jeff, the principal owner at CJ, and asked what the difference between the ET3 and ET6 was. Jeff said the chassis for the ET6 is taller because the size of the WBT jacks mandated a taller chassis. I've heard the ET-3 and it was really very nice, but...it was not as good as my Pr17LS, and the CT-5 is clearly superior to the Pr17LS.
 
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