Sully, I have a Emotiva XPR-2 I’d part with if interested.
Let me know what you think of the BHK, I just connected the Janus this morning. Smooth…
In my main system, I’m using a Pass Labs XP22 preamp with a Pass X250.8 amp. It’s warm, detailed, delicate, deep, weighty, dynamic, fast, believable, engaging, never fatiguing. I’m a huge Pass fan after 30 years of being a tube fanatic.
If I could afford it, I’d have a different system in every room.
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Darren,
Have you spun vinyl yet? As stated in earlier posts, I had the Calypso Signiture line stage. I’ve heard great things about the Rhea (warm and liquid but still digs deep for detail) but have not heard one, so I’m curious…
Did you go with black or silver? How are you liking the volume control?
Thx,
-JP
My brother use to have the Rhea phono preamp. He upgraded it to the signature which sounded even better. I also tried it in my system and it was not bad. It was better than the Manley steelhead that he tried before. More full bodied and musical. He then sold the Rhea and got a Wavestream Kinetics phono which was quieter background and more detail sounding. He then sold the Wavestream and got the Boulder 1008 phono preamp. The resolution shot way up and he was closer to the sound being real in his room. Super quiet and super real sounding preamp. The next step is the Boulder 2008 phono, only he can’t afford it right now.
I built the ACA (Amp Camp Amp)class A DIY amp, designed by Nelson Pass, for 8 watts it drives my Klipsch very well.
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I built the Pass DIY Pearl II phono preamp and loved it for years. Just replaced with a Parasound JC3 Jr to get more gain for my Rega Apheta 2.
I have not, but Saturday eve I plan too.
Just picked up a JC3jr also. Wanted to resurrect my turntable set up and got a deal I could not pass up. Did some listening last night – it’s early but it sounds pretty promising. How are you liking yours so far?
Very pleased with the JC3 Jr. Favorite feature is the variable loading for MC carts.
I bought a silver, but I have a black panel on order. I heard from Aesthetix and if I send the unit in they will swap the panel for me for 300.00 and add a trigger for another 125.00. Seems reasonable. I may at that time have the signature upgrade done. 3500.00
Volume control? I think it’s trick that the display is the volume button. Slick. It’s a series of resistors ( Paul isn’t a fan ) but that is the way many builders do it. I think the control is fine. Maybe a slight degrade at numbers below 10. But since I am running around 16-25 now with 93DB speakers soon to use Maggies at 86 DB. So I assume I will be closer to 50-60 on volume. So with less than half the resistance, I assume it will only get better!
The Janus has 24 hrs on it only. It is definitely more laid back than the BHK. ZERO fatigue. More tube sound. I’m a fan of preamp tubes. I hear the difference between the two preamps. Hard to say yet which I truly prefer?
Anyone wanna chime in on tube rolling for the Janus?
Yeah, I will, Darren. (quelle surprise!!)
As I’m sure you know, the Janus, as are all Aesthetix products and PSA and most high end mfrs’ components, are voiced with the tubes that they ship it with. There’s no rule that says different tubes will sound better. They’ll likely sound different, but its up to you to decide what you like better.
I’d leave it to settle into itself and also to your brain for a few months. This way, you’ll be intimately familiar with the baseline sound and you’ll be better able to separate different from better or worse.
And I’m jealous of your Janus!
Ron
It is a nice life when I can choose between a BHK and a Janus on any given day! BTW Upscale has 1 more new in box if you want one. Killer price. 
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Oh crap, you had to tell me?
PM’ed waiting for you. LOL
The Janus is smooth. Bass is a so smooth, and hits low and even. I can say, the Janus seems to make the BHK sound way more solid state than I thought it was? I still am very impressed with the BHK don’t get me wrong. It’s killer for sure. But the Janus is so easy to listen to. It’s starting to get more detailed too after 50 hrs on playback. I read 400 hrs is really needed before it settles in. I really like it so far. Impressive. Cool features on it too.
Just felt a bass drop to 25 hz easy on the Amused to Death SACD! Sweet!
Just a tad weak in the mids still. A tad thin yet. Gonna spin some LP’s tomorrw afternoon!
VPI Classic 3 with 3DR Nordost wired tonearm, Sumiko Starling cart.
Ron, you sure you wanna pass up the Janus? LOL Deals like that are hard to find. Bills are not hard to find. LOL
uuhhhhh, weddings are expensive…