You should be able to find a Doge 8 preamp within your price range, depending on the tube set it comes with..
I had one before I replaced it with a Don Sachs preamp.
The Doge 8 is *very* sensitive to tube selection (4 X 12AX7, 4 X 12AT7). I really liked the sound that Siemens ECC801S and Mazda 12AT7 tubes gave me.
The Doge 8 also has a very decent phono section (both MM and MC). If you don’t spin vinyl, then you can put any cheap 12AX7 tube in.
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I think the Quicksilver preamps are very good.
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The basic Linear Tube Audio Micro Zotl Mark II is $1295 . I am using one and would not want more, Read reviews compare. Try to hear one, can't be beat at this price.
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Used Modwright Instrument LS100 or LS 36.5.
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I too am looking for somethin like the OP. Hard to find an ideal product under 1500-2000$
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thank you all.
At times I am about to throw the cane with the freya+ and at times I read many problems with the freya. My doubts is that I live far away in South America and I cannot send to the factory if it comes with problems.
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Try to save more $ and look for a used Rogue Audio RP-5. A huge difference from the others being mentioned.
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I had two of the Freya+, both bad from the factory.
They run very hot. Volume control and remote were nice.
The sound was fine in the two SS modes, but trying to use the tubes was impossible. I would call the sound neutral.
FWIW - Schiit was very responsive and replaced the first unit and refunded on the second.
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I too think the Freya+ is hard to beat for the money. I keep thinking about upgrading and then I listen to my system and say what for.
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I'm an "original version" Freya owner (using NOS GE tubes) and it holds up against pretty much anything out there easily earning it a "class A" rating. The only issue seems to be the fact that the thing is just too inexpensive for some and hey, that's just fine.
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Rogue RH-5 might be had for around that price. Hard to find though.
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The Freya+ is tough to beat. It’s very versatile, has a great volume control and has great resale value. Will something @ $1500 be “better” than the Schiit? Maybe. More versatile, doubtful. Better resale, doubtful. Better volume control, doubtful. Yet who knows. Wait 10 minutes and technology changes…
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Firstly, for what you’re going, for I was just change the dac
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Buy an cold Counterpoint preamp and upgrade it. It then becomes a reference preamp.
Happy Listening.
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It is pretty amazing especially for the money. But like everything else in our hobby you normally get what you pay for and $1,000 is just not enough for a really good preamp, tube or SS, balanced or not.
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The Schiit Freya+ is balanced and is AES48 compliant.
Wow, that’s amazing and I stand corrected. Manufactured in the US and fully balanced from input to output at that price point? What?!? Truly amazing.
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@matias1979.
The Schiit Freya+ is balanced and is AES48 compliant.
Mike
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@soix
The literature says the Freya+ is balanced, I am surprised. The Schiit I have purchased has been good for the money. But it is highly likely the Cary will be a better sounding preamp. I have heard various Cary equipment during the years.
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I had the original Freya for several years. For the price I don't think it can be beat to get some tube sound.
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hi, im using dac benchmark directly to my ss amp. looking to add some tube sound
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What preamp do you have now and what improvements and sound characteristics are you looking for? This should really be your first concern over connection type IMHO. Plus, you’ll have a hard time finding a fully-balanced preamp in this price range — pretty sure the Freya is not but not sure about the Cary — and if it’s not fully balanced you might as well just use RCA connections because it’s basically the same thing and you’ll have many more preamps to choose from, especially in this price range. Just my $0.02 FWIW.
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