[lextek]

I'm thinking about getting a tube preamp for a speaker system. A few I have thoght abouta are:
Audible Illusions
Blue Circle
Bottlehead kit
Any other suggestions? Don't mention Melos. I tried the SHA-1 I had and thought it well sucked.

I wasn't sure where to post this.

 

[grinch]

Quote:

Originally posted by lextek I'm thinking about getting a tube preamp for a speaker system. A few I have thoght abouta are: Audible Illusions Blue Circle Bottlehead kit Any other suggestions? Don't mention Melos. I tried the SHA-1 I had and thought it well sucked. I wasn't sure where to post this.

i recall that nick dangerous built the bottlhead preamp to use with his oris system, but wasn't very happy with the results so he ended up getting the creek passive preamp instead. i have also heard that the sha-1's preamp was less than wonderful.

and that's all i know on this subject.

 

[bozebuttons]

Depends on your budget.
audible illusions 3a is a good piece
you also have conrad johnson
vtl
audioresearch
joule electra la100
What is the rest of your system?
The Sha-1 Is a better headphone amp than a preamp.

 

[lextek]

Quote:

Originally posted by bozebuttons Depends on your budget. audible illusions 3a is a good piece you also have conrad johnson vtl audioresearch joule electra la100 What is the rest of your system? The Sha-1 Is a better headphone amp than a preamp.

It may consist of B&W N805's or Joseph Audio RM7si with a Acurus A80 amp. Amp is also subject to change. Cambridge Audio D500SE CD. I'd like to mix tube and SS.

 

[bozebuttons]

I would suggest looking at conrad johnson preamp by the amp your looking to use. cjpv-12 with phono stage are going about 1000.00 used on audiogon. If you just want a linestage only they are usually a couple hundred less.Also look into ear 834 linestage.

 

[darkclouds]

Check AES AE-3 or the DHJ version.

 

[elrod-tom]

Quote:

Originally posted by darkclouds Check AES AE-3 or the DHJ version.

I'll second this one...my buddy has the AE-3, and it sounds great. Natural, no coloration, and "only" $600 or so.

 

[Tuberoller]

Lex

I have used a few tubed preamps that I think you may want to consider.I really like the Synthesis Harmony preamp.It uses 12AU7 tubes and is a true dual mono unit with lots of gain.It is super quiet and sounds awesome.It seems to match well with many different amps.It sells for $1000.00 but can sometimes be found used on Audiogon.

I also love the Rogue 66.I have used one for a while and think it is way underated.It does not have as much gain as the Sythesis but sounds very good and matches well with most amps.It sells for about $1,000(street price) too and is available with a very good phono stage.

I have used the AES AE-3 and found it to be very good and sound great.It did not match well with some of my Low powered SET amps and does not provide a lot of gain but it sounds very mellow.This can be good or bad,depending on your tastes.It sells for $600.

If you can find a Van Alstine Pas 3i used for a good price,try it out.I built mine from a kit and love it.It has a very modern tubed sound.It is not slow or sloppy like some tubed preamps and has lots of inputs and outputs and a great headamp and one of the best built-in phono stages I have ever heard.

I am a big fan of the Rogue 99 preamp(magnum version) and use one currently.It too has a very modern tube sound free,from any obvious mush or slop.It has a seperate power supply a good headamp,great phono amp and lots of gain.It has matched well with all my amps.It sells for $2800 in the magnun version with phono stage.

As much as I have downed the ASL Twinhead for QC issuses,I did think it was one of the very best preamps I have yet heard.The fact that it stands as one of the best headamps ever is added bonus.It sounded magical in a way that only a 2A3 based tube preamp can.The dynamics were huge and it had a soundstage that seemed to expand across the entire room.This is one of the preamps that I think could make just about any amp sound world- class.I think you should really try to give one of these a listen.I hope Joe Lau has remedied the QC issues.If he has indeed,then this is the preamp to beat.I think the price is still $1250.

 

[kelly]

I really like the EAR preamp, just to throw something else out there.

 

[runeight]

Have you looked at the Transcendent Sound Preamp. If not, go to the website. It's about $400 and generally gets very good reviews.

 

[Nick Dangerous]

For the moment, I'm sticking with a passive preamp. Yes, it is the Creek OBH-12 w/remote. It is a tremendous convenience to operate the system with a remote!

Ultimately, I'm looking at the Placette passive. It features an all Vishay resistor built 128-stepped attenuator w/remote. Drool.