Hi Mike-
i have owned the signal power cord and no longer use it.If you like the VHAudio cords and can afford it at this time you owe it to yourself to take a listen to the Flavor 4 with gold wattgates.I currently am running four of them with my system and it isn't even close for me in my system what they have done sonicly.He has the 60 day return policy so you have nothing to lose.Truly a remarkable discovery for me as i am rather new to this hobby.I will try the Airsine probably at some time but that is more then double the price of the Flavor 4.I know the Flavor 4 is alot more then the Signal magic but it was well worth it to me and i concider them components in my system and well worth the price i have paid.Hey they are always sought after used as well if you keep them after the 60 days.Definitey make sure you get the gold connectors as i have the one without the gold and was not nearly as good in my main system and is now delegated to my computer studio.Sounds great there by the way : )

good luck,
Craig

seekburk December 17, 2005 18:03

I hear ya on the race thing. I used to race too, MTBs though. Same deal for me, just lost time to train and could not ride competitively any more and it just dwindled away from there. Sad isn't it? Every now and then I search ebay for my dream ride...lately its a Merlin XLM. If I wasn't so lazy and did not spend all my extra scratch on audio I could be on the trails more.
Cheers, Dan.

dlwask February 04, 2005 03:10

Dlwask,
Yes, I ride a VaMoots road bike. Used to race but found that I didn't have the time to train properly and had to endure incredible pain just to be near the front at the end of a long road race. Someday I may get the Moots Smoothie mountain bike. Aren't those welds a work of art?

Carusoracer,
What are the other components in your system? I'd recommend upgrading one piece at a time. If your next purchase is the MiniMax Pre, get used to how that changes the overall sound of your system. Then upgrade the powercord and let it burn-in for a while. Then go with NOS tubes and maybe do a little tube rolling. This process will give you a better understanding of how each component effects your system.

To answer your questions, I did replace the stock powercord on the MiniMax with a Signal Magic powercord. It was a noticeable improvement in several aspects, especially frequency extension. I got the Mullard NOS tubes from Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio. Give him a call and he'll be glad to talk to you. He's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to NOS tubes. I've rolled three sets of 12au7's with the EE Pre. First were the stock tubes (Chinese -not sure of brand), then NOS RCA 6922's and then the Mullards, which sound best to me.

Good luck
Regards, Mike

mootsdude February 02, 2005 19:02

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the MiniMax PreAmp.
Did you replace the Power Chord with Frank's Magic Power?

Next big question is where do I get Mullard 12Au7 NOS?

Have you done any other tube rolling?

carusoracer February 01, 2005 20:27

Assuming your moniker relates to Moots Cycles, do you ride mountain or road bikes? After all these years, I still love their YBB soft tail.

Oh yes, the audio thing. No it never ends.

dlwask January 31, 2005 17:14

Hi Carusoracer,

The EE Minimax Pre is a fantastic value. I've retubed it with Mullard NOS 12au7's and it sounds smooth and detailed. If you can get by without a remote, and don't need more than three inputs, then give it an audition. It is living proof of the philosophy that less is more.

Signal Cable Magic Power Cords are another great value. They certainly are not the last word in powercords but you'd probably have to spend quite a bit more $$ to surpass them.

As with all components, you need to audition them within your own system. It all comes down to your personal preferences in how you want your system to sound. Ensure that the impedance specs of the Minimax match well with your amp. There is much info in the archives on this topic.

Good luck. Regards, Mike

mootsdude January 31, 2005 05:12

Hello,
How do you like the Eastern Electric Mini Max Pre Amp. I'm thinking of getting one. Also I'm very intersted in the Signal Cable Magic Power Chords.
Can you give me your review of each and its changes good bad indifferent?
Thanks in advance

carusoracer January 27, 2005 02:04