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Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
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Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
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In Reply to: Looking For Tube Pre Amp ..................... posted by TjMV3 on January 9, 2009 at 06:40:46:
Let us see about this. How many preamps would you like at once ? How much gain do you need in phono ? How many phono inputs needed ? How about other needed controls, like Mono/Reverse/Blend, Noise Filters, Variable Phono EQ ?...
Going vintage is definitely your best bet, as you can afford two stereo preamps, or, one great stereo pre plus two mono preamps, at the same time. If you have high output carts, there are a few early stereo and mono vintage preamps that have passive phono EQ that have not caught up pricewise. Passive EQ is not usually warmer than the Feedback EQ variants, but some very vintage units are sweet and detailed sounding.
Junping ahead to the '70s,'80s and beyond vintage, Paragon 10 or 12 preamps are fetching less than one large, with their endearing sonics and versatile controls. Being all 12AX7/ECC83s, it is easy to tube roll pleasant tunes. An Audio Research SP3A- can do it, also, much easier than with an ARC SP6-. Some CJ and Audible Illusions gear can win your heart, but VERY tube dependent. It sounds like you want easy listening, quickly, so you might want to avoid the 6DJ6/ECC88 tubed units. Luxman made great phono preamps.
Back to the very vintage, weigh your needs first. Mono collectors are in hyperdrive, struggling to find nice playback systems form their newfound treasure discs. Buying one mono preamp channel at one time can save hundreds on each unit. Like, a single Fisher 80C or Bogen PR2A can cost a few hundred each, while a pair can approach or surpass one large. Early stereo vintage preamps fit your desires, easily. HK Citation IV is sweeter than the now too costly Citation I. The Acrosound preamp was a super, sweet sleeper. Lafayette's KT-600 remains the legend it deserves. Dynaco's PAS 2 or 3 can be made a fave, as can an Eico HF-85, even an Arkay SP6. Lots of choices from this underrated era...
I use an ARC SP2-, but it is costly in time and money to make sweet.For my phono stage, I still prefer my hot rodded Shure M65, hooked to the aux/line stage of my SP2 or Eico HF85 or Lafayette KT600. My lowly dual 12AX7 ShureM65 phono preamp has a beefed up power supply and tweaked phono RIAA caps. After I got it right, almost 20 years ago, I sold my ARC SP3A, Lux CL30 and CL32, soon my Paragon E, without looking back. The Eico HF85 line stage with an optimized phono preamp can compete with anything, plus save you lots of $$$ for turntable and vinyl items...
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Follow Ups
- That's Quite A High Budget...Think Vintage.................. - Interstage Tranny 01/9/0910:31:17 01/9/09 (0)
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