FS: Rare XTC Pre 2 (only 30 made).

[nat8808]

A rare thing and not really sure I should sell.. but I'm fairly sure I've gone balanced.

XTC Pre 2 Line Pre ! In Martin Colloms's ratings, he gives it 80 on his own performance scale, above Audio Research Ref 2, Krell Evolution 202, Conrad Johnson ART 1 and 2..and many many other top pre's.. for what that is worth anyway.

The designer of the XTC Pre 1, Chris Bryant, made the XTC Pre 2 from late Pre 1s but the updated design was never released by Orelle (XTC).. according to a reliable source who is in contact with Chris Bryant, only 30 were ever made!

The Pre 2 uses a revised circuit with different output devices, has a "never-connected" power supply, has the internal heatsinks removed to prevent magnetic interactions with the bipolar devices and a non-magnetic cover (black acrylic). Also has a nice blue power LED and is in silver - not sure if these were also part of the Pre 1 specs or not.

The XTC is remote controlled with motorised volume and of course comes complete with the remote.

Hard to price (so please dont bite my head off if you think I'm asking too much) but going to ask £550 considering that the standard Pre 1 changes hands for £350 or so. This is something special and rare and does sound superb.

The pics:

[Corruption]

Very nice! I'd surely be giving this a go if I had the funds...

[JANDL100]

I've got the Pre-1 that was doing the rounds recently and it really is excellent.

Nat - This one for sale does say Pre-1 on the fascia and rear panel, not Pre-2 ...?
(Yes, I know I'm just stating the bleeding obvious!).

[Corruption]

"The designer of the XTC Pre 1, Chris Bryant, made the XTC Pre 2 from late Pre 1s but the updated design was never released by Orelle (XTC)."

I'm guessing same chassis but different components?

[nat8808]

Hey people - slow reaction to my own thread .. Just realised I'm not subscribed to it.

It is badged as a late Pre 1 but you'll also notice that there is no serial number on it at all..

Chris Bryant made the Pre 2 as a proof of his own design concept and experiments in improving on the Pre 1. For whatever reason, probably just an end to his work with Orelle so no outlet for it, the improved version wasn't given a production run.

I was in touch a long while ago with a guy I'd met on PFM who was moving back to Aus or NZ after running a production studio here (you might remember the sale of some huge Alon Phalanx's that were his monitors). I'd originally only met him to pick up some free hifi mags he was clearing out too but when I got this a few years ago, I remembered he was working a modifying some XTC gear so got in contact. He himself had been in contact with Chris Bryant the designer (and hifi reviewer?) over the years to discuss Pre 1 mods and was part of the experimentation himslef I think.

Anyway, he took me through the modifications and confirmed that the ones already done to mine are what make the Pre 2 - the acrylic side and top being something that marks it out as certainly being carried out by Chris Bryant himself cos he had the 30 or so Pre 2s made like that.. I did buy it originally as being an "XTC Pre 1 with modifications by Chris Bryant" from the original owner and it tweaked my interest thinking that it was probably the fabled Pre 2!

A Pre 1 can actually be modified to be the same and have a list of things to do should anyone want them (would need to look at mine to get the exact parts needed). I mentioned it on a thread on here where Simon someone was comparing the XTC with a Krell and Simon in his infinite wisdom derided every single modification as set out by Chris Bryant LOL..

[nat8808]

P.S. It's also clear that the different circuit has been built from scratch onto the board rather than any components being removed beforehand.

[nat8808]

Going to put this sale on hold for a bit - think I should definately test out what sounds best out of my pres rather than reject based only on whether it's balanced or not..

[nat8808]

OK, going to resurrect this sale! I've not been using the XTC since getting a balanced TOFT so I should let go..

Now For Sale !

[firefuocco]

I have the Pre-1 that Jerry had and Simon had and worked on. I like it a lot so the Pre-2 must be special.

[graham67]

Hey people - slow reaction to my own thread .. Just realised I'm not subscribed to it.

I was in touch a long while ago with a guy I'd met on PFM who was moving back to Aus or NZ after running a production studio here (you might remember the sale of some huge Alon Phalanx's that were his monitors)..

I think this was a guy called david, he moved to melbourne. I remember he had some heavily modded XTC gear and used to work in a studio. Ain't the world a small place??!!.

[James Evans]

Sounds like dcathro on hificritic forum:

http://www.hificritic.com/Forum/yaf_...-question.aspx

[nat8808]

That's right - met him through PFM when I collected some free hifi mags he was throwing out. That's when I saw his half-cleared studio and an XTC modifying project he was working on.

And then hence my interest when I found this originally - figured it must be the fabled Pre 2. I spoke to him via PM on Hifi Critic when I got it and he listed the complete set of mods that Chris Bryant came up with, the main ones being implemented in the Pre 2 and the rest moving towards complete hair-shirt territory (single input). David's (maybe Martin Collom's too?) used some very expensive Black Gates which he says make a big improvement too.