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  #21  
Old 07-09-2020, 01:09 AM
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So, my First Sound preamp arrrived yesterday, and I have installed and started burning it in. I just did the first "cap forming" discharge/re-charge step that Emmanuel recommends after about a day of playing continuously. Emmanuel recommends doing this 2-3X a day to help with the cap forming as part of the burn-in process.

This unit arrived as a First Sound Presence Deluxe 4.0 MkIII-SI version with 2 external power supplies, Shunyata Research umbilicals, and the "super special edition" upgrade, so Emmanuel really delivered with this beautiful product.

The power supply has 145,200 uF of capacitance/channel for a total of 290,400 uF of power supply capacitance.

Will post some pics in the next day or so when I have some real light in the room.

Just another 13 days or so of continual playing with 2-3 cap forming sessions/day to go!
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.

Last edited by Puma Cat; 07-09-2020 at 01:45 AM.
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  #22  
Old 07-09-2020, 01:47 AM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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I don't know anything about this brand, but congrats! I look forward to following your progress!
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  #23  
Old 07-10-2020, 04:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2fastdriving View Post
I don't know anything about this brand, but congrats! I look forward to following your progress!
Hi Marc,
They are the product and passion of a single designer and builder, Emmanuel Go.They are very much like a bespoke product, custom tuned for each customer and their sytem and components. They have a number of (rave) reviews in audiophile publications, e.g. Positive Feedback, Soundstage, etc. (IIRC). In fact, I think all the reviews I've read, the reviewer bought the preamp.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
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  #24  
Old 07-10-2020, 04:19 PM
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Thought the gang would like to see some pics of the interior of the First Sound.

Top view without the covers; there are only two tubes, a 6DJ8 and OA tube per channel. The preamp is a true dual-mono design; two mono preamps mounted in a single chassis.



Just some, but not all of the power supply capacitance...and yes, that blue and brown wire is Shunyata Research OFE wire connecting everything. Emmanuel Go and Caelin collaborated on incorporating several Shunyata technologies into First Sound preamps. The 6DJ8 triodes can also be seen in this photo. These tubes are super-durable, with mean life over 100,000 hours.



The back panel shows input jacks, wiring and huge copper bus bars for making and grounding connections. Note that there is no ground wire for each RCA jack, only a single + connection. There is also no insulation on the wires so as to not have any dielectric effect from various insulation materials; the dielectric in this case is air. The entire copper bus bar serves a ground for all inputs. There is also a switch (little red box) for each channel that lets me float the ground in the advent of any ground hum (there isn't; this preamp is DEAD QUIET).


A close-up of the volume attenuator with individual metal film resistors.


There are also large, heavy, copper bus bars for chassis-grounding.


AudioCap copper capacitors.



A view of the front panel and part of the chassis interior...
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
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  #25  
Old 07-10-2020, 06:03 PM
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Thanks for sharing the pics. The pics exude passion and workmanship in both design and finish work. Reminds me of my ASR Emitter ii. Enjoy it for many years to come!
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  #26  
Old 07-10-2020, 07:18 PM
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Beautiful craftsmanship. I am sure you will love it Stephan!
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  #27  
Old 07-10-2020, 08:21 PM
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Wow, what a simple, clean layout.
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  #28  
Old 07-10-2020, 09:34 PM
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I get the feeling tube rolling would be. Just leave it be. Very nice and congrats.
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  #29  
Old 07-10-2020, 11:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crwilli View Post
Beautiful craftsmanship. I am sure you will love it Stephan!
Thanks, Craig.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
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  #30  
Old 07-10-2020, 11:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Antonmb View Post
Wow, what a simple, clean layout.
Thanks, Tony!
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
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