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Apt holman

hunter00

hunter00

Super Member
tonight I pulled my Dynaco pas3 preamp out of my system as it will be going in for some recapping and Had to chose between a pioneer spec 1 or my Apt Holman preamp to use.I prefer to run my tube pre's with my tube amps but was too lazy to take my other pas2 out of the bedroom system.
So pulled out the Apt Holman and hooked it up to my dynaco st70 tube amp and very impressed.Speakers are EV interface D;s.These preamps sold for big money in the early 80's and have a real industrial build quality to them and sound fantastic,any other APT fans here?
 

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I have never heard one or seen one in person but until proven otherwise, I am a fan. Have been looking for one the last month or so to hook up to a ST-70. Really looking forward to hearing that combination.

Do you use the phone output and if so, what do you think of the sound?
 
No I didn't try the phono but will shortly,I use a technics sl-1400 mkii turntable nothing special,but its been doing duty for 25 yrs here.The more I listen id say it comfortably competes with my tube preamps,great separation of channels and good detail
 
I'm a fan, and use one with my MC60's. sounds great.
I've used it in the past with an ST-70, also with very good results.:thmbsp:
 
Naptown Rob said:
I'm a fan, and use one with my MC60's. sounds great.
I've used it in the past with an ST-70, also with very good results.:thmbsp:
Click to expand...

I agree its seems to be a different animal with tube amplification.I used to run the apt back in my solid state yrs .I think if remember correctly it was awefully good with my old Soundcraftsmen ma-5002 SS amps.This Apt has never been recapped either,you never know it from the sound quality
 
I love my apt pre amp. It won't be leaving my gear. I switch it back and forth between my bel 1001 mkII amp and b&k amp.
 
Big fan here. Mine is recapped/upgraded. My tech said the distortion was so low, he had to get DH Labs to make him a special connection for his equipment to measure it; it just read 00000000000. There seems to be a lot of renewed interest in these lately. I can't imagine doing a whole lot better(just my opinion).
 
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Original owner here! Almost $500 new. Can't imagine how many thousands of hours of service it has delivered. Never re-capped or modded.
There always has been a market for these used. The phono stage is its' claim to fame. The owners manual is an education in itself.
Problem areas are the push buttons and the mute relay.
Also had an issue with the PC board mounted RCAs.(weight of all the cables can cause a intermittent solder connection) All easly repaired.
With the renewed interest in vinyl it is easy to see why they all get sold over on the bay.
Happy listening!
Jimmy
 
Anybody still watching this thread?

Have a ebay Apt Holman pre that I paid good money for from original user didn't test it for months... Was quoted as very good condition unqote.

Left channel is absent from all inputs, but I believe the problem is fairly new. Noob with tech stuff, have not mess with it but will be using Detox dn5 spray and faberlube soon. Hope to see something when I take a look around. Have the manual/sch. so if anyone can direct me closer to a common/central (left input) source fault please let me know! Any advice is probably a step ahead for my limited experience. The other functions of the channel balance settings seem to be operational.
 
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I just bought one (NOT at a bargain price) from that auction site to use with my class D amp build. I bought it on reputation alone and would love to hear more about them.
 
After owning numerous SS preamps iam all tubes now,but the APT I wont sell.No discernable sound quality difference really over the dyna pas tube pre's and way more room for cables as the rca's aren't as tightly packed as the Pas 2/3's pre's.As far as SS is concerned just about the best I used.
 
They have a couple of little peccadillos (the output relay and the Tape Monitor switches one to mind) but my GOODNESS is it a nice preamp. Super flexible, with a really great phono stage, and a VERY solid headphone amplifier.

While not a daily driver, I listen to (and enjoy) mine at least weekly!
 
Can't use mine as yet; see earlier entry.

But would anyone care to comment on any of there own personal uses of the Stereo mode L minus R balance functions with there particular setups or L>R toggles and bass mode toggle?
 
I switched to the APT Holman and matching amp at new years. The volume control goes dead silent, first click you get sound, really cool. For low volume late night jazz with a kick through my Bozak B4000 it and the amp cannot be beat.
 
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