Advice? Less than $4k, solid state preamp, neutral to gentle


There are many many posts about recommendations for preamps, so many to sift through that I thought getting a couple answers off the top of your heads might be ok to ask for.

Here's my situation: I am looking for a backup, solid state preamp to work with (a) Quicksilver mono block amps and (b) a Pass XA 25. I have (c) two DACs that I like, a Schiit Bifrost 2/64 and a modded-out MHDT Orchid. My speakers (d) are Ascend Acoustics Sierra Towers w/RAAL tweeters, and I have three subs.

My current preamps are both tube -- one is a 6SN7 preamp similar to an Ultraverve 3 and the other is a Quicksilver Line Stage.

I like having solid state alternatives to tube gear both to hear different sonic presentations and also in case I want to give tubes a break or if a tube goes bad.

I have tried autoformer preamps (more or less a straight wire with gain) such as the Bent Tapx and I don't like it on my system. I need a bit more.

If money was no object, I'd probably go drop $5k on an Ayre KX-5. That is a bit steep for me at the moment.

So, the question is: What solid state preamp, less than $4k, used or new, would you recommend to give a fairly neutral to warm/gentle presentation? Or that you simply like for reliability, interface, etc.?

Thanks.

hilde45

Showing 6 responses by hilde45

Thanks to you both! 

I am hoping some come in with other options, much lower down.

See, the thing is: I'm paying for college right now, and that is a financial root canal. I shouldn't even be spending on audio, but a man has to be a man (and a woman, a woman), amirite?

Thanks so much to all for the additional suggestions. You've helped me form a short list.

I especially appreciate that the suggestion are breaking out into two fairly distinct price classes.

This would be the equivalent of a second car, but I need it to sound decent, or there's no point in getting it.

Continued appreciation for the suggestions. That Schiit Freya might really be the sweet spot if I get chickensh*t about spending up to the Ayre or Pass levels.

Thanks all, for the further suggestions and especially to @lanx0003 for the advice.

Yes, matching the amp and preamp will be important -- I've done that matching before and it would be a necessary criterion applied to any short list of options.

@tomcarr Thanks for the additional info.

@liquidsound The XP-12 appeals to me in part because I really really like the XA-25 already. Not that Ayre would be a bad match, but perhaps a Pass-Pass match is a special one...