2. best-of
  3. 1047405931

Best Line Stage

What in your experience is the best line stage tube pre-amplifier you have had an opportunity to listen to in the $2,000 - $3,000 thousand-dollar range (used prices)? If you have the time, please explain what you value most (detail, tonality, sound staging, dynamics etc), as this will give everyone some insight into the performance of your choice for best pre-amp.
bioman

Showing 1 response by john_l

john_l
782 posts
 
Used, I would head straight for a vk-30SE. I would guess you can get one for under 3K. The transparency, dynamics and drive of this preamp win it for me. I've heard it in the same system as my old ARC ref1, and felt it was no contest. There is a transparency and drive to the 6h30 tube that gives it this quality.

Next in line would be the vk-5i.
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