My first real tube preamp that I bought to pare with my Mac MC40 monoblocks was a Audio Research LS15 with 6922 tubes. I was really hoping to get some tube warmth from it as the MC40's don't have a lot. I tried rolling tubes and I got it a little better but never to my satisfaction.
I didn't want to stray from Audio Research because at least the LS15 showed me what there build quality was about and I really liked it.So I did a lot of research and knew that either a SP6 or an SP8 should fit me just fine as it uses 12AX7 tubes. After a few months of shopping around on all the usual sites I found a super clean and serviced SP8MkII just under 2 hours from me.
It adds just the right amount of warmth without going overboard and has great synergy with my Mac tube amps and Altec speakers.
During my research I had discovered that Audio Research had shifted the house sound when they switched to the 6922 tubes and Jfets. It had become more dry and clinical, very good at bringing out the most tiny details but not as much to my liking.
Not having heard the 6H30 tube based preamps they build I will reserve comment on them. Well, I have heard one, but it wasn't in my system unfortunately and the system is very different from mine.
BillWojo
I didn't want to stray from Audio Research because at least the LS15 showed me what there build quality was about and I really liked it.So I did a lot of research and knew that either a SP6 or an SP8 should fit me just fine as it uses 12AX7 tubes. After a few months of shopping around on all the usual sites I found a super clean and serviced SP8MkII just under 2 hours from me.
It adds just the right amount of warmth without going overboard and has great synergy with my Mac tube amps and Altec speakers.
During my research I had discovered that Audio Research had shifted the house sound when they switched to the 6922 tubes and Jfets. It had become more dry and clinical, very good at bringing out the most tiny details but not as much to my liking.
Not having heard the 6H30 tube based preamps they build I will reserve comment on them. Well, I have heard one, but it wasn't in my system unfortunately and the system is very different from mine.
BillWojo