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Forte Model 44 preamp

whoaru99

whoaru99

Epic Member
Picked one up on the way home from a work trip. I think this might be my new favorite preamp of my lot, considering Proceed PRE, Pass DIY B1, Yamaha C-80, and Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid.

Anyone else using one and your basis of comparisons for better than or not as good as?
 
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Used one briefly some years ago. It sounded great, but there was just way too much gain for my setup - I could barely crack the volume control before it was too loud. Gave up on it just for that reason. At the time, I ended up going with a Classe 30, which turned out to be a mistake. If it fits the gain structure of your system, I think you've got yourself a great preamp.
 
as far as i remember, forte was designed by nelson pass or it least passed his eyes for approval. forte well respected and holds its value well. i have been tempted at times to buy one but the opportunity was never in sync with my needs.

if you have all the preamps you list and have no intention of getting rid of them (its a good idea to have some extras around in case the one youre using fails and needs repair) you can always go back and re-listen. long term listening is nearly always better at refining differences that short term. this is where dbt fails. these results come to you over time after the brain quantifies the results.
 
Congrats whoaru.

Is it possible for you to describe(roughly)the difference between the Grounded Grid and the Forte?
 
RichPA said:
Used one briefly some years ago. It sounded great, but there was just way too much gain for my setup - I could barely crack the volume control before it was too loud. Gave up on it just for that reason. At the time, I ended up going with a Classe 30, which turned out to be a mistake. If it fits the gain structure of your system, I think you've got yourself a great preamp.
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You're right, it does seem to have a fair bit of gain. About 1/4 volume is all it takes in the current arrangement to get decent, but not "cranked up" volume.
 
theophile said:
Congrats whoaru.

Is it possible for you to describe(roughly)the difference between the Grounded Grid and the Forte?
Click to expand...

My very first impression was that it seems like the soundstage is bigger than all the other ones I listed with no other drawbacks noted. With respect to the GG specifically, beyond the soundstage, it seems like tighter (more defined??) bass/midbass coming from the Forte. I have thought this about the Proceed compared to GG though too. That said, I have been actively using the GG and it's not going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

The main thing again though is the soundstage just seems so expansive. I'll have to do more comparisons in line with what hifitommy said as I've experienced that initial "WOW" before, only to later find the initial difference doesn't seem so big after all.
 
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whoaru99 said:
My very first impression was that it seems like the soundstage is bigger than all the other ones I listed with no other drawbacks noted. With respect to the GG specifically, beyond the soundstage, it seems like tighter (more defined??) bass/midbass coming from the Forte. I have thought this about the Proceed compared to GG though too. That said, I have been actively using the GG and it's not going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

The main thing again though is the soundstage just seems so expansive. I'll have to do more comparisons in line with what hifitommy said as I've experienced that initial "WOW" before, only to later find the initial difference doesn't seem so big after all.
Click to expand...

Thanks,mate. :thmbsp:

Not an easy assignment. :D
 
I believe the F44 was introduced just after Nelson Pass stopped designing for Threshold/Forte, but nonetheless, it is a very fine preamp. I have a couple of Forte amps from this same time period, and they are both superbe.
 
There was a Forte Model 55 amp there too but I passed on that. Seemed reasonably priced, not a major score, but reasonable.

Another thing that seems different about the F44 is the decay of ambiance (not really sure how to describe it). Seems to fade away very smoothly almost like you can hear the decline more slowly/more completely.
 
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