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Turning point. The Kramer system has substantially evolved since 2009 and to provide some context (cables aside) I’ll briefly outline the changes. The source has remained the same but the preamplifier has had an upgrade from Mr Supratek himself. Like JE Audio’s John Lam, Mick Maloney enhanced the circuit to markedly elevated sonic performance. The power amps are the new NuForce Reference 18 monoblocks and Cymer Audio’s Southern Star SET monos. The much-loved WATT/Puppy 8 has given way to the revered Wilson Sasha W/P. The system is thus further refined in overall balance, tonal color, texture and finesse over the already outstanding previous iteration. My original point notes were still at hand (I keep a notebook record of all my reviews) and of course I referred back to the fleshed-out 2009 review to compare impressions.


The slightly cold and upfront nature of the original VL10 was going to be my first port of call for evaluating the VL10.1. Well, I’ll have to address John Lam directly. Mate, you’ve nailed that issue. The VL10.1 is a different beast. Some pretty skilled tuning ears have been at play here. The VL10.1 is a far more natural, musical and emotive preamp than its predecessor. No comparison. Music now flows in a totally involving way where instruments and voices gush forth with presence and a rhythmic fluidity that invokes the real thing. Where before you stood to attention with the music in attack formation until fatigue set in, now the VL10.1 pulls you in with a warm and stimulating but firmly controlling embrace.


Comparisons between VL10.1 and Supratek Sauvignon are appropriate again as pricing is of near parity if you consider Supratek’s direct pricing versus JE Audio’s dealer network model. Valve to valve, mano a mano comparos are in order. Firstly the VL10.1’s bass is tighter and more detailed. On Angus and Julia Stone’s "Yellow Brick Road" from the CD Down the Way the VL10.1 sounds just as clearly defined on the close-mic’ed vocals. But then the bass line surfaces and the VL10.1 grabs hold naturally motoring on where the Supratek’s added bloom almost overpowers the melody, drawing attention to itself while proudly beating its chest. The VL10.1’s bass is unaffected and organic where the Sauvignon is comparatively exaggerated or boisterously magnified.


The same descriptors can be used to illustrate the two units’ dynamic contrast abilities. Curandero’s Aras is beautifully produced and has unexpected and explosive percussive and acoustic guitar effects. Again the Sauvignon is the more outspoken and extroverted Aussie rascal, a show-off with sometimes startling moments of snap and power. The VL10.1 is the more polite Oriental with the same contrasts being slightly more measured and somewhat genteel. This also carries through to the Sauvignon’s more present midrange forward of the speaker plane as opposed to the VL10.1’s more recessed midrange presentation. But in no way does that translate to undue politeness in terms of detail. The VL10.1 is as beautifully filigreed as you’re likely to hear to savour everything the recording and the system is able to convey.