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The big picture: The Acousticbuoy Scorpio steered clear of the normal stereotypes of tube amplification and pushed down the path of accuracy. The tonal balance was non-euphonic. It favored no specific frequency range and was by and large colorless in the sense that it allowed the original signal to maintain its character. Acousticbuoy aimed at a neutral balance and was pretty much dead on the mark.
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Detail and dynamics were superb. This machine had great finesse on complex material but could pummel you with incredibly well-defined bass. The preamp excelled at rapid shifts in dynamics with breathtaking precision throughout the spectrum. With both a low noise floor and low dynamic floor the Scorpio achieved convincing gradation at natural acoustic levels. I have often used the word articulation in this review because the preamplifier’s combination of detail and dynamic nuance make it exceptional in that regard.
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The overall presentation was consistently transparent and dynamically engaging. The Scorpio was extremely revealing of both the quality of the recording and the equipment around it without becoming ruthlessly revealing. Striking that balance allowed the music to blossom and always remain convincing and often insightful. The performance capability is of high pedigree and the preamplifier’s purity and transparency demands it be mated with the right ancillary equipment. The Scorpio will faithfully preserve sonic beauty in a signal but it will not create it.
In the course of this review I sought to compare the Scorpio against absolute standards rather than comparative ones but readers may be curious to know how Acousticbuoy’s premiere piece fared against the current preamplifier in my residence, the Audio Space Reference 2S. So let’s have a look.
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In terms of convenience and flexibility, the Reference 2S wins out. Build quality? Both are overbuilt and a credit to anyone’s high-end standards. Ease of use? Certainly the Scorpio, which has made the choices simple and direct. The Audio Space encourages experimentation, Acousticbuoy is a concrete stable reference point.
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The Scorpio offers superior dynamics and bass control and is simply the more accurate of the two. No contest. It is transparent from top to bottom without making the sacrifice of becoming analytical. Frequency response extends in both directions without calling attention to itself. The Scorpio acts as a marvelous conduit and given good source material gives a thrilling and truthful accounting of what exists on the recording. And that is where the heart of this preamplifier lies. Truth and precision.
The Audio Space Reference 2S is cut from a slightly different cloth. It resides within the bounds of accuracy but is willing to trade a little precision for the goal of musicality. Call it a little more forgiving. Softer bass, sweeter highs, more limited ultimate dynamics. But, the preamplifier has what tube aficionados would call the midrange and the designers have managed to extend that character over a wide portion of the frequency range. Is it entirely accurate compared to what exists on the recording or against the Scorpio‘s precision? No, it is obviously an additive change but that enveloping "reach out and touch" effect can be addictive and exhilarating. This Chinese preamplifier aims at the spirit of the original event rather than absolute accuracy to the recording.
So there you have a comparison of the two. Ultimately it comes down to less of a difference in quality of sound and more where you want your reference point to lie - a subtle difference in presentational style.
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Conclusion: The Scorpio is a precision instrument and behaves like one. It honors the "straight wire with gain" approach that some would consider the theoretical ideal. The fact that this has been accomplished with tubes will surprise those who think of tubes as "colored". Instead, this design has played to the best advantages of tubes, namely, high-frequency distortion characteristics, preservation of dimensional information and dynamic character. This product brings you closer to the recorded event.
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Acousticbuoy has made sound quality their first priority. Build quality and execution are first rate. The Scorpio reveals itself as a Purist rather than Spartan preamplifier and those who appreciate the company’s approach will not have difficulty with the limitations of the inputs or outputs.
The level of flexibility has been carefully calculated to be functional with strict attention to detail. It may do less but it does those things extremely well. |
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Some people may have preferred a remote but the designers felt that this would be a substantial compromise. And this, above all, is a no-compromise design.The price represents the current middle ground of high-end offerings. The designers have chosen a simple approach but executed it as close to perfection as materials allow. This makes the Scorpio very much price-worthy and demonstrates sonic pedigree that makes it a real challenger. Who will this preamplifier appeal to? It’s aimed at an audiophile who wants to stay in the tube camp but demands accuracy, low distortion, wide dynamics and an absence of coloration. It’s for people who have assembled components with specific character and want a preamplifier that will leave that condition intact. It will appeal to the discerning listener who wants a truthful component which does as little editorializing as possible.
John Keats wrote "Beauty is truth, truth beauty, - that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." If the Scorpio is truthful, how can it be better described? Recommended for those who like their tubes served accurate.
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Quality of packing: Double boxed container with solid 1 inch thick ply foam for protection.
Reusability of packing: Yes
Condition of components received: Perfect.
Delivery: Hand delivered from Canadian distributor Acousticbuoy.
Website comments: Comprehensive. Informative.
Human interactions: Professional and friendly.
Warranty: 3 years part and labor warranty. 180 days on tubes. The Acousticbuoy product must not be modified in any manner or the warranty will immediately become void. During the warranty period, Acousticbuoy will repair the product to working order or, at their discretion, replace the defective module with a similar available product at no cost to the owner for the labor, materials and return shipping from factory and/or its distributor/dealer. Acousticbuoy will provide a 1-year extended warranty after product upgrade (such as DAC2488 V2 upgrade to V3)
Final comments & suggestions: A product that will honestly reflect the best qualities of the source.
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