The Elekit TU-8500 tube preamp looks like a big winner. The only issue is it's SE only. If you need a balanced preamp look elsewhere.
http://www.elekit.co.jp/en/product/TU-8500
http://www.elekit.co.jp/en/product/TU-8500
It would be interesting to hear your impressions.My chain is as follows:
I stumbled onto the Violectric PRE V630 for a very good price - I ended up ordering one
My chain is as follows:
Fiio X3 > coaxial out (bypassing its dac) > Schiit modi multibit > Schiit Jotunheim > Yamaha HS8 powered monitors.
Or Jot > Sennheiser HD600s
Vinyl: Rega RP6 > Jot phono module > HS8s or HD600s
I'm currently using the Jot as both a headphone amp and the preamp to my powered monitors via balanced outs. I read in a review that using Schitt Saga is significantly better than the Jot as a preamp so was considering getting one mainly for use with my monitors but then I stumbled onto the Violectric PRE V630 for a very good price - I ended up ordering one after researching Violectric/Lake People and after asking their CEO Fried some questions. He was most helpful.
The V281 seems to get good reviews as a preamp but there isn't much info on the V630.
It would be interesting to hear your impressions.
By the way, I suggest you to think about Violectric amp. Can`t say anything about their preamps, but all V2xx amplifiers are really great.
Nice let me know what you think of it. Good to see a fellow vinyl user!
My vinyl setup is: Sota Nova > VP600 > V281 > HD800 (originals no mod). I absolutely love it but it is an aquired taste for sure. How do you like your Rega? I was lookng at Rega or a Project as a secondary TT.
I love my Rega - I've had no problems with it and no complaints. I can only recommend them based on my positive experience. I thoroughly enjoy the music that comes from it. I may upgrade the cartridge in it one day as a relatively inexpensive upgrade. Aside from that I get the feeling that I'd have to spend a whole lot more for minor gains in sound quality.
Your Sota Nova looks like a serious piece of equipment. Do you use the V281 only for headphones or do you also utilise its preamp for speakers?
On a different note. Could someone suggest a reasonably priced dac to pair with the violectric amp. Im afraid my dragonfly red does not do the amp justice.
Oh so true. Id like to say the least expensive one worth buying, I don't believe id spend more than $1000.It would help if there is a price range. The definition of reasonably priced varies widely especially in niche hobby communities.
Oh so true. Id like to say the least expensive one worth buying, I don't believe id spend more than $1000.
The RME ADI-2 paired really well with my V281. If you don't need DSD the XMOS addin DAC was by far the best match of all the DACs I tried with the V281.Oh so true. Id like to say the least expensive one worth buying, I don't believe id spend more than $1000.
All of the MQA capable DACs that I own didn't sound to my liking with the V281. I have an iFi Micro iDSD BL. The rest of the DACs under $1000, that do MQA, I'm not familiar with so couldn't tell you what pairs well or not.Thx, MQA option could be nice.
I use my SP1000 Cu (MQA-capable) balanced out to the V281 XLR inputs and the sound is very good to my ears. Digital out via the SP1000 to the V281 DAC is hit or miss for me...All of the MQA capable DACs that I own didn't sound to my liking with the V281. I have an iFi Micro iDSD BL. The rest of the DACs under $1000, that do MQA, I'm not familiar with so couldn't tell you what pairs well or not.