Gunter Steinhart full function preamp Possibly unique. Definitely amazing. Get Ready for Hi-fi Fun

Here’s a preamplifier that very few people have heard of or
heard. This preamp won the coveted 2012 UPOTYA (Ugliest Preamp of the Year
Award). The Upotya (Up-ott-cha: rhymes with I gotcha) is an acknowledgment only
of a preamp’s physical appearance and has nothing to do with its sonic
characteristics.

 

This full-function preamplifier, made in South Africa by
Swiss watch maker, Gunter Steinhart, has four separate modules (for lack of a
better word) mounted in an oak cabinet that looks somewhat like a large, commercial
bread toaster. If that isn’t enough to make you want to purchase this
preamplifier, read on…

 

There doesn’t appear to be a model name associated with this
preamp, so I am going to borrow from the wonderful world of breakfast diners
and  call it the Cadco Dualit 4-Slice.
(See last photo.)

 

Two modules operate the line stage and the other two are the
RIAA phono stage.

 

Each line stage module has two Telefunken/AEG ECC83/ 12AX7

 

Each phono stage module has one Telefunken/AEG EEC83/ 12AX7
and one EEC81/12AT7.

 

Very beefy, 11-pound separate power supply, which master
tech Herb Ward described as “the real thing.”  Toaster part of the preamp weighs an
additional 34 pounds.

Toaster, in inches: 14 long X 11.75 high X 7 deep (excluding knobs and RCA connections)

Power supply, in inches: 12 long X 4 high X 7 deep 

 

This preamp has amazing sonics. I don’t speak audio babble,
so I can’t really make comments in that regard.*** I will tell you that the other
preamp I've kept for years (and not sold)  is a better-known, fully Herb-Ward rebuilt
Melos 333. The Cadco and the Melos have a similar sound, but I’d say the Cadco
has more detail. I think it’s a better sounding preamp than the much more expensive
Melos.

 

Check out the photos, and I’ll answer any and all questions
if I can. (I am not a tech.)

 

I use double heavy duty boxes for shipping. No international
shipping on this, unless you’re in South Africa (and the preamp will be headed
home) or unless you can prove to me that you own a breakfast diner somewhere
and that I’ll be offered a bottomless cup’o Joe, a free western omelet, with
homefries and dry rye toast every time I step through the door.

 

Domestic paypal users must add 3% to the total cost before I
will ship. Paypal users with funds that originate in an international bank must
add 4% to the total before I will ship.

 

Thank you

 

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***Regarding audiophile jargon: I buy (then sell) a fair
amount of audio equipment. I buy it so I can listen to it. I keep the stuff I
really really like or can afford to like and I sell the rest. Some components
stay in my big system for years (Audio Physics Virgo speakers, Melos 333
preamp, Cadco 4-slice preamp, and Well Tempered turntable) and some go out the
door after a week or two (McIntosh stuff, Krell stuff, B&W stuff). When I
sell something prospective buyers always ask me about the sound. Here’s how a
typical conversation might unravel:

 

Prospective Buyer: I’m interested in the JetBlast 5000 XP
amp you have listed on Audiogon. How does it sound?

Me: Good.

PB: What?

Me: Good, it sounds good and works exactly as it is supposed
to.

PB: Anything else about the sound you can tell me?

Me: It sounds awesome.

PB: Good bass?

Me: Definitely,

PB: Highs and midrange?

Me: It’s got those, too.

PB: Is it going to sound good with my Songbird Featherlite
FL-12 MKIII speakers, Wait, before you answer, let me tell you that mine have
the optional Hungarian goose down stuffing.

Me: I’ve never heard those speakers, sorry.

 

And the conversation goes on and on until the PB decides to
buy or not to buy the amp. I’m not being stupid or evasive, and if pressed, I
will tell the PB that I can not tell him how the amp sounds because along with
not knowing anything about his speakers or other components, I’ve never been to
the room where he listens to music, and I don’t know whether he listens to live
death metal guitar shootouts on cassettes at high volumes or solo, close-miked
(sp?) nose-flute recordings on 180 gram vinyl. If further pressed by the PB, I
will tell him my real opinion: With a few exceptions (mainly some expensive, bad
sounding speakers) all this high-end stuff sounds good. The difference is the
difference. It sounds good but it sounds different and you may like what I
don’t. You say tomato and I say single-ended triode. In the same way that you
buy music, trying to find what you really really really love, you’re going to
have to try different audio components to find what Goldilocks found: Not too
hot, not too cold, but rather just right.