My take on the BeePre

I have now had my BeePre for approximately 4 months.  It is slightly microphonic when I bump the stand or the case but otherwise I hear no negative feedback through the preamp and I have my speakers very close to the preamp.  Maybe I should get the silicone rings that Doc recommended and see if there is a change. 

Having said what I said, the musicality of this preamp is head-and-shoulders above my old FPII.  I have run it using a Curcio modified Dynaco MKIII and a Quicksilver Mono using EL34/KT77.  The Dynaco is very detailed with dynamic bass and pure highs, while the Quicksilver has some great mids and soundstaging.  But in both cases this preamp is stunningly musical. 

This preamp coupled with the Eros is a magical combination. 

Richard

 
I did with the 8 pin equivalent, both the 6b4g and the Russian version. I really enjoyed the Russian tube and it's the only other pair I kept. For my system and listening pleasure the EML 300B sounds the best. It doesn't have the sparkle of some others but it has a midrange that comes to life somehow.
 
Aaron, I came real close to buying your EML's when you put them up for sale...I wish I had. EML's are definitely on my list to try. I wonder if the EML 20 is a possibility? It would add some gain that would help my system.
 
Hi Robert.  I'll say that the EML's are not perfect by any means.  My buddies 6sn7 Akido preamp has better detail and highs but can't touch the intimacy of the EML's in the BeePre.  It's a compromise as is everything in audio.  300B's are always colored is some way.  I guess the trick is to find the right color for your system ;)

I know what you're saying with gain.  In my listening chair with the BeePre wide open I measure 95dB on sweeps.  Everything I've done to lower the gain though has resulted in increased fidelity.  I usually listen at around -6 to -18dB and have enough headroom even with a tape source for my listening levels.  I wouldn't go much lower in sensitivity with speakers than my current 95dB Altec's.  I miss the dynamics and punch of 100dB horns at times. 

One other reason to use them, they look great!
 

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A month out on the Dynamat mod and I'm happy with it.  The ring when adjusting volume or switching out source cables is noticeably shorter in duration and lower frequency.  It takes a little bit of work to get it cut and on the base plate but it made a difference in my system.

As far as placing the BeePre on the slab floor, this too seems to make some difference though subtle if any.  Best of all it's in my field of view while I listen :)  This also let to shorter cable lengths from pre to amp so I'm not sure the actual gain.

 
A small update.  I put a plasma TV in the two channel system to kill two birds with one stone.  I found out the hard way that you can't have the BeePre too close to the plasma with out some interesting and annoying noise.  About three feet away and it is gone.  RFI is a PITA!

 
I'm sitting here drinking my morning coffee and thinking about how content I am with my system. Yesterday I had an extended listening session that was very satisfying. It feels that I'm at a point were there is little left to fine tune.  In the last month I swapped the PF caps out in the amps for a positive gain. Thinking on the BeePre, the output caps are the only thing I would consider playing around with but prices for those big caps are prohibitive.  Many people here have enjoyed the ClarityCap MR.  I've had my eye on the Rike Audio oilers which have made a positive difference in two other builds.  Too bad dealers don't offer a demo on caps ;) Even a loan and swap program would be nice!

I really am happy with the sound but that doesn't mean I couldn't be happier with a few small changes. Someday, maybe, I'll have it just right to my ears and stop fooling around.  Until then I'll still have a smile on my face :)
 
Ha! I am an addict, we swear we will never do it again and then...  Anyway, just put in my order!  Was going to talk it over with Grainger before I did but that guy is as addicted as I am.  I know what he is going to say.  Nothing like two junkies egging each other on.

As far as tubes go, I ordered my Bee Pre without tubes. I never liked EH.  I was very happy with Shuguang when my Paramounts were configured for 300B.  I am thinking I am just going to get a pair of those.
 
johnsonad said:
Thinking on the BeePre, the output caps are the only thing I would consider playing around with but prices for those big caps are prohibitive. 
Click to expand...

No one is going to break down your door and chastise you if you use a cap smaller than 10uF on the BeePre.  We put the 10uF cap on there to be sure the frequency response characteristics when driving heavy loads would match the actual capabilities of the 300B.  If you're driving Paramounts, try a 1-3.3uF cap and call it good.

-PB
 
Paully said:
I was very happy with Shuguang when my Paramounts were configured for 300B.  I am thinking I am just going to get a pair of those.
Click to expand...

Which model were they Paully? 300B-98?
Just considering some back-ups/options.
 
Microphonics are a huge issue in this preamp where as you wouldn't notice it as much in a power amp. The EH gold grids sounded surprisingly good in my BeePre but if you read back a few pages to my review of tubes, I ultimately settled on the EML solid plates.  Before you spend a big chunk of dough there are some cheaper tubes that sound very good in this preamp with low microphany.
 
PB, I tried a 5uF cap at one point but it didn't have as much low end.  It's worth another try and I've got some random caps in that range to play with. Thanks!
 
Been a while since I had them, but sure seems like they were the 300B-98.  Pretty darn sure.  And I did really like them.
 
Yeah, I would say buy a 10uF Solen, 4.7uF Solen, and 1uF Solen, then draw those kinds of conclusions. 

Into Paramounts, we are talking about -3dB points of 0.06Hz, 0.14Hz, and 0.64Hz.  This isn't to say that you won't hear a difference, but it's good to limit the variables as much as possible.
 
Thank you PB, we had a fun afternoon of cap rolling.  I'm using 10uF KBG's in the BeePre now on extended leads.  I removed the caps and used alligator clip jumpers for the testing.  Today we did a little A/B/A/C/A/B with a 1.0uF Claritycap MR and a 1.5uF Rike Audio PIO using our usual test CD and some familiar recordings.  The MR was too polite and distant when compared to the other two.  Both of the PIO's were fuller.  The Rike started off good but after a few recordings we realized that it was much more rounded and made the system sound lower fidelity allowing us to listen to bad recordings for longer without pain but they didn't sound right at all.  The KBG's aren't perfect but in the current configuration they sounded the best of the three.  I'm using Rike's as PF caps in the Paramounts as they replaced KBG's.  This was an improvement but we may swap back to hear the difference after a month or so.  I've got some other caps in 1uF and above that we will try them in the BeePre sometime in the future.  I noticed no loss of bass with the 1.5uF caps and the 1uF caps sounded so far off that we didn't pay much attention to the low end. 
 
I'm using v-cap copper tefelons as couplers in the Paramounts. Overall I'm a big fan of KBG's and they are my go to cap until something works better.  Presently they are the output caps in the BeePre and the alternate PF cap in the Paramounts.
 
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