Advice/information

[Cliff 187]

Hi guys, I picked up one of these Carmenta pre amps with a pile of other equipment, and the only information I can find on it is in the picture attached. Just wandering whether anybody has had experience with this brand and model, and what it could be worth on the secondhand market if I decide not to keep it after listening to it for a week or two. Because from what I can gather it is more suited to using with valve power amps. Thanks. I've added some pics of the internals.

Edited September 27, 2019 by Cliff 187

[Cliff 187]

Surely one of the valve guys would have to know something about this brand or knows somebody who has had experience with this brand. Thanks guys

Edited September 27, 2019 by Cliff 187

[mbz]

Can't help with the brand however the styling/knobs look a bit like my consonance

CDP and passive pre. Maybe it's something of a knock-off, probably chinese (like

the consonance).

 

No problem with using this with a SS amp, just depends how good/revealing a

system you have. Certainly give it a good listen, it may surprise or it way be an

unwanted heater...

[Cliff 187]

I don't think it is a knock off as I've seen on other websites their power amps selling for $20k+ in USA/Canada and Europe. Just can't find a price point on this model pre amp. So I am going to ask on some of the forums in America and Europe

[Guest jakeyb77]

A quick Google produced plenty of info. One site showed one for sale second hand in 2007 for £220. 

 

https://maoaudiolab.blogspot.com/2018/11/carmenta-tube-preamplifier-tweaking.html?m=1

 

Also ads for Jan 2019 selling for £650

 

English assembled from Chinese parts. 

 

 

Edited September 27, 2019 by jakeyb77

[Cliff 187]

1 hour ago, jakeyb77 said:

A quick Google produced plenty of info. One site showed one for sale second hand in 2007 for £220. 

 

https://maoaudiolab.blogspot.com/2018/11/carmenta-tube-preamplifier-tweaking.html?m=1

 

Also ads for Jan 2019 selling for £650

 

English assembled from Chinese parts. 

 

 

Thats a different model, Carmenta preamp. The one i have was originally designed to use with the CR Amphion and Remus power amplifiers, which are large valve amps. I just cant find any info on what they originally sold for upon release.

[Cliff 187]

Thanks for the info guys, Did contact a USA hifi store that sold this brand of equipment. And got a price of what they originally sold for over there.

[mbz]

I'd be inclined to keep it, assuming it sounds good, not evertyone can afford a c.a.$2000- pre, assuming it sounds as good as it looks...

[Cliff 187]

2 minutes ago, mbz said:

I'd be inclined to keep it, assuming it sounds good, not evertyone can afford a c.a.$2000- pre, assuming it sounds as good as it looks...

Surely one of the valve guys would have to know something about this brand or knows somebody who has had experience with this brand. Thanks guys

[Cliff 187]

Just now, mbz said:

I'd be inclined to keep it, assuming it sounds good, not evertyone can afford a c.a.$2000- pre, assuming it sounds as good as it looks...

i have decided to keep it. I set it up yesterday afternoon running through a music fidelity a3cr power amp into a pair of aad s-5 speakers by Phil Jones and I've got to say, the sound is very impressive. I actually think it sounds better than my vincent sa-31 pre amp running into vincent mono blocks. I was pleasantly surprised.  Here is a pic of what I put together to test it.