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Review 4 of 6
Price Paid:
$1800.00
from Let's Make Music Summary:
If you're looking for a flexible preamp that will deliver accurate sound then the Proceed Pre is for you. I've been using this unit for well over a year now, and I am more than pleased. It has operated without one glitch during this time, and I forsee no problems in the future.
As far as the sound goes, this is pretty much a product that tells it like it is. This is not one of those solid-state preamps that try to be a tube preamp. Your sows-ear recordings will retain their sows-ear credentials. On the other hand, the Proceed Pre manages to avoid the zippy hifi sound of other so-called revealing preamps. Therefore, images in the soundstage will be portrayed as part of said soundstage--not apart from it. The depth and width are realistically portrayed with all instruments arrayed within.
In comparison with my prior preamps, the Pre exhibits a more refined presentation in that the top octave or so is clean and concise. Where the Adcom GFP 555 was somewhat brash and forward the Pre is more level headed and matter-of-fact. The midrange follows a similar path in both preamps. Where the Adcom could sound slightly bright and in your face when played at a high level the Pre retains its composure. Voices sound wonderful through the Pre into my Hales Revelation Three speakers via a Proceed Amp 2.
Finally, in comparison with the Counterpoint Solid 8, the Pre is just a better constructed product. The volume control on the Counterpoint mistracks between channels at lower settings while the Pre is dead on. Basically, the Pre had more to offer ergonmically speaking. And too, there were some subtle improvements in performance when the Pre was inserted in the playback chain--these being slightly more soundstage depth and breadth and more air around the treble frequencies. Cymbals were set back somewhat in comparison to the Counterpoint's more upfront representation. The differences between these two preamps were much less pronounced than the differences between the Adcom and the Pre.
Finally, I must say something about the rating system on this site. Basically, it is too coarse. I'd love to give the Pre five stars for both performance and value, but I know that there are even better products out there. Still, the Pre rates better than 4 stars for either criteria. This is a very good product, but it is not state-of-the-art. Decisions. Decisions. Oh, to hell with it. 5 stars all around.
Strengths:
1) Tape loop that allows bypass of volume control so that an external surround processor can be connected, 2) Learning remote, 3) Digital readout of volume for precise settings from a distance, 4) balanced or single-ended operation for many of its inputs/outputs. Weaknesses:
It could use one or two more inputs. (I'm nitpicking here.) Similar Products Used:
Adcom GFP 555 and Counterpoint Solid 8 preamp
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5 of 5
5 of 5
