Sorry for the late response, guys. I was in Las Vegas. I had a listening session before I left and again last night after I got home. That presumably noisy tube problem has gone away for now. The unit sounds perfect. That darned noisy pot is getting worse. Manually wiping it gives me only a brief respite. The preamp is under warranty and Charles and I have discussed it. I think it will get resolved soon.
A few months ago, I did discuss the noisy pot with the manufacturer. This preamp did not have a motorized pot in it originally and this particular Alps pot fit into the limited space. Apparently some Alps pots can be noisy due to the graphite within. It seems to me there might be room for a different brand and I’d be willing to pay for any price difference. But I never discussed that with the manufacturer. The unit is built like a tank and the workmanship inside is stellar. The sound is very, very good, especially at this price point.
I used to be somewhat of a “detail freak”, but when I listen now, I don’t even think about that. The combination of this pre, the amp and the Border Patrol dac is wonderfully synergistic.
I will let Charles comment if he wishes. I’m grateful for the nice discount and it’ll get resolved at some point I’m sure.
Nick