This is the deluxe version with the Furutech terminals, fuses and special chassis construction (CDN$4500 new ). The unit and power supply are in excellent condition.Nothing in this price class will equal the RCM in dynamics and musicality. In fact even compared to the $8000 Tom Evans Groove Plus SRX and the $6500 Zesto Andros 1.2 the RCM held it's own and in some areas, like texture and body, I found it was better! I've also compared it to the EAR 834P, the RCM being much more neutral with vastly superior bass (detailed/ low) and dynamic. Even bettered the Simaudio 310, Fosgate Signature and some preferred it over the Pass Labs Xono/XP-15. From top to bottom it is incredibly musical and has a wide/deep soundstage with full/ fleshed out musicians in scale. A very neutral and natural sounding phono stage with excellent tonality. With 7 different gain settings ( up to 76 db gain ) and 6 different loading positions, the RCM Sensor offers outstanding flexibility to get the best out of any cartridge. A few industry comments on the RCM Sensor:
1. The treble is sweet but detailed... Bass notes have real power and real staying power. Each note starts and fades in its own proper time, not the slow, edge-blurring beginning of a note or the quick fade we hear from inferior products. The midrange is a perfect marriage of the best qualities of tube and solid-state sound: natural warmth combines with focus and clarity. Simply wonderful!
RATING: 9.5 out of 10 / Jerry Segal - 10 Audio
2. From the outset it was clear that this RCM unit is a highly capable design, preserving the various elements of a piece of music, its melody, harmony, rhythm, together with the timbre of different instruments used to create colour and dynamic counterpoint delivering what I can only describe as musical splendour.
John Bamford - Hi Fi News ( John bought the review sample ).
3. Having a vinyl based system for some years, I listened to many different phono preamplifiers... with bad results. I tried to go forward, but the RCM Sensor Prelude stood its ground against all possible contenders, tube and solid state, showing them their place, outside the door.
Jacek Pazio - Mono and Stereo High End Magazine
4. Sonically, the RCM Sensor has a unique mix of clarity and grooviness. Many a 'clear' sounding component tends to sound somewhat lean or even stuck-up. The RCM is fully fleshed out in its presentation which, in combination with a strong PRAT factor results in a moving reproduction of swing. The most special thing about this phono stage is that it doesn't position itself at one side of the ' pleasure verses perfection' dilemma. Detail? Yes. Transparency? Absolutely, but combined with a very good sense of musical communication. The Sensor Prelude raises the delicate signal of a Moving Coil cartridge with care, dedication and enthusiasm. Very, very, highly recommended.
HiFi Journal of the Netherlands
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