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FS: Legendary Audible Illusions Modulus 3A preamplifier with Phono


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Item Condition: Used 9/10 - mint; from smoke and pet free house
Shipping Options: Pickup available but audition is not available.,Shipping is included in price.
Suburb or Town: Frankston
State: VIC
Payment Method: PayPal, EFT, Cash on Pickup
Reason for selling: Downsizing

Further information:

This Modulus 3A was fully reconditioned by the manufacturer in 2010. Comes with comprehensive manuals, schematics and original AI box. From smoke-free home.


Current new production Russian EH 6922 tubes are in excellent condition, but I will supply five sonically superior spare tubes - Russian NOS 6N23P  made in Voskhod factory. 


Modulus is well-known for natural sound and outstanding 3D soundstage.


Has the illustrious MC phono section designed by famous John Curl.


Audible Illusions is widely regarded as a reference tube pre-amplifier.


In the Audio Review, there are over 40 users reviews with a average rating of 4.7/ 5 – exceptional.


Dick Olsher, The Absolute Sound (2016):  “The L3A line preamp [cheaper version without phono section] distills the best attributes of modern tube sound: swift transients, a detailed presentation, and natural yet non-euphonic textures. It is its insistence on the sonic truth that defines it as a true reference line preamp. The L3A’s ability to retrieve the music’s rhythmic drive and drama make it one of the most sonically persuasive line preamps on the market and one of the best I’ve auditioned over the years at any price.”
The audiophile guru Arthur Salvatore noted in his list of reference components: "[Modulus] 3 may still be the finest preamplifier with phono available today for the money".


Georgehifi, Australian designer of renown “Lightspeed Attenuator”, noted: “The AI 3A is one of the best pre’s I’ve heard”.
120V – requires step-down transformer. I am planning to sell on Stereonet a brand new Airlink (made in the UK) balanced power supply/transformer (2 in 1) 230V to 120V.  Balanced power supply makes big sonic difference - more detailed and vibrant sound. 
Audible Illusions designed and crafted in the USA and sold directly by the manufacturer. 
Current model Modulus 3B cost $5495 USD, plus add some 30% for so called “global” shipping to Australia, insurance, import fees, tax and customs fees (which also applies to used electronics) – total $7143 USD which equals to $9940 AUD.

 

SPECIFICATIONS
Phono section gain: 28dB at 1kHz (MM), 27dB (MC).
Line section gain: 30dB. 
Output impedance: 1.2k ohms (main), 150 ohms (tape). 
Input impedance: 47k ohms.
Frequency response: 2Hz-100kHz within 1dB, measured with a 1:1 probe/100k ohm load. 
Tubes: Russian new EH 6922 (4).
Phono section RIAA error: 20Hz-20kHz ±0.25dB. Distortion: 0.02% (MC phono section); ±0.015% at 20kHz (MM phono section); ±0.15% at 1.5V RMS out, 20Hz-20kHz into 50k ohms, ±0.12% at 500mV RMS out, 20Hz-20kHz, into IHF load (high-level section). S/N ratio: 74dB ref. 5mV wideband input (MM phono section); 85dB ref. 1.5V RMS wideband input (high-level section).
Dimensions: 17" W by 3" H by 10" D (preamplifier); 5" W by ½" H by 10" D (power supply).


REVIEWS
MODULUS 1
Stereophile/83-J.Gordon Holt, “A Steal For The Money”.
High Performance Review/83-L.Greenhill, “Clearly the panel was enthusiastic about the Modulus. No other preamp at or near its price delivered such sonics, especially in the midrange”.
Audio Magazine/84-”For the determined audiophile in search of the best sonics, the Modulus could easily be the lowest cost component in an ‘ultimate system’. The dimensionality, depth of image and spaciousness were remarkable. WE ENJOYED THE MUSIC AND FORGOT REVIEWING”.

MODULUS 2A
The Absolute Sound/85-M.Kuller, “A Very Impressive Preamp”.
Stereo Sound-Japan/85-”Outstanding Sonic Performance”.

MODULUS 2B
Sensible Sound/86-J.Horan, “Here is a reasonable priced product that didn’t fall apart in a week, didn’t make rude or dangerous noises, worked as advertised and was even well built”.
Hi-Fi Heretic/87-”ONE OF THE TEN BEST BUYS IN AUDIO”.
International Audio Review/88-Moncrief, Class 1A Award, “THE LEAST EXPENSIVE PREAMP YOU AND YOUR MUSIC CAN BE HAPPY WITH FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE”.
Hi-Fi Heretic/88-”ONE OF THE TEN BEST BUYS IN AUDIO”. (Repeat)

MODULUS 2C
Sounds Like Magazine/89-Reina, “At $895 Buying One Is Almost Grand Larceny”.

S120 AMPLIFIER
Suono-Italy/89-Molinari, “Excellenti Prodotti”.
Sounds Like Magazine/90-J.Jarvis, “The Michael Jordan Of Amplifiers”.

MODULUS 2D
New York Magazine/90-D.Denby, “Super Sound Issue” (Author’s Reference Preamp)
Hi-Fi Heretic/90-”It Makes a Strong Case for Being the Best Value Component in Audio”.
Hi-Fi Exklusiv/Germany/90-”It’s Reality! The Ultimate Musical Illusion”.
Suono/Italy/91-B.Moroni, “Ideal Preamplifier-No Functional Limitations”.
Audiophile Voice/91-D.Blackburn, “The 2D is the first affordable tube preamp I’ve heard that doesn’t compromise the music”.

MODULUS 3
Bound for Sound/94-M.DeWulf, “I’M NOT KIDDING-THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT HAVE ATTAINED CULT STATUS IN PERFECTIONIST AUDIO”.
Stereo/Italy/93-diMassimo Allia, “La Leggenda Continua-Fidelta Esoterica”.
The Absolute Sound/94-VOL.19, Issue 95-Chiarella, “And There Was Much Rejoicing”
Fidelta del Suono/Italy/94-”OSCAR AWARD” (Tube Preamplifier)
Sound & Image/94-Greenberg, “The M3 offers the sound and parts quality of a $5000 model at a reasonable price. If you still play LP’s it’s got one of the best phono stages at any price”.
The Absolute Sound/94-(Recommended Component)
Academy for Advancement of High-End Audio/95-(Nominee) Golden Note Award
Bound for Sound/95-”COMPONENT OF MERIT”
Hi-Fi Exklusiv/Germany/95-von Reinhard Wendmuth, (Test result “EXCELLENT-3 STAR RATING”)
The Absolute Sound/95-F.Doris, editor-(Recommended) “Component of the Year”
Rolling Stone Magazine/95-M.Fleischmann, (Recommended) “HIGH-END SYSTEM”

L1 LINE STAGE
Stereo/Italy/96-”COMPONENDI DI GRANDISSIMO”
Fidelta Del Suono/Italy/96-A.Morotti, Selected for magazines “Hi-Dream System”
Sound Stage Magazine/96-”A Critical Component Worthy of a Fair Amount of Your Audio Budget”.
MusicNet.com.my – 2000

MODULUS 3A
Stereophile/96-Vol. 19, #2-M.Fremer, “All this adds up to what is clearly one of the finest-sounding, best-built preamps in the world and the reviews from around the world reflect that.”
Bound for Sound/96-”COMPONENT OF EXCEPTIONAL MERIT”
Academy for Advancement of High-End Audio/96-(Nominee) Golden Note Award
Fi Magazine/96-Kaplan-(author’s ref. Preamp) “I Don’t Plan on Parting With It For A Long Time”.
Positive Feedback Magazine/96-Blackburn-(Author’s Reference Preamp)
Audio-Video Shopper Magazine/96-”Currently the Benchmark By Which Other Preamps (Solid-State or Tube) Are Measured”.
Times Digital/97-Kaplan-”Truly a Modern Classic, Makes Recorded Music Feel Like a Live Concert”.
Audio Review Magazine/98-”HALL OF FAME (Preamplifiers)
Audiophilia Magazine/98-(Recommended Component) “Uniquely conceived and executed, the M3a reflects one man’s vision of how art should imitate life, a feat the M3a manages like few others. With affordable full-function preamplifiers becoming as rare as a ‘57 Rothchild’, Audible Illusions should be applauded for continuing to develop and market the Modulus 3a, a superbly musical and highly affordable device capable of extracting the best from both analogue and digital sources.”
Fi Magazine/99-(Recommended Component)
Clube Audio Magazine/99-(Brazil) “Outstanding Value-Five Star Rating”
Stereophile/96,97,98,99,2000/April-(Recommended Components)-”CLASS A”- (Preamplifiers)
The Absolute Sound/2000-(#124) Recommended Components/Markwell, Single-Ended-Heaven
Sensible Sound/2000-(#82) Recommended Components/T.Lyle (Preamplifier)
Audio Review.com-a consumer review site-(Preamplifier)
ConsumerREVIEW.com CHOICE Award 2000 -(Audio Preamplifier)
The Absolute Sound/2002- (#138) Recommended Component
Stereophile/2002- (Vol. 25, #11)
Selected #31 of 100 Most Important Audio Products of Past 40 Years
The Absolute Sound/2012- (#223)
Selected One of 12 Most Significant Preamplifiers of All Time


 

 
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My apologies - correction for the ad, as Wilco kindly suggested:

"Tape output buffer {not MC phono section} is designed by famous John Curl".

 

 by faTape output buffer designed by famous John Curl.mous John Curl.

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