Best Tube PreAmp - McIntosh vs. Audio Research vs. VAC vs. Atma-Sphere


I’m in the market for a Stereo Tube Preamplifier for around $5k-8k in a used market. The reason I want a Tube PreAmp is because I love listening to Male Vocals with smooth velvety sound of Tube.

I will eventually be integrating it into a HT setup. When I’d Parasound Halo A51 5-channel Amp, I typically listened to Music 30% & watched movies 70% of the time. You never know but the % might change after I get the Tube PreAmp.

Source: Oppo BDP-105, Nakamichi RX-505 tape deck

Amplifier: Luxman m900u

Speakers: Tyler Acoustics Linbrook System II Floorstanding (89db, 8 ohms)

My question to you is which PreAmp would you recommend & why? I would prefer feedback from someone who has done some sort of comparison with atleast two of the following or similar type of PreAmps. I understand more you spend, more you get for your money. But I would prefer to stay at the lower spectrum of my price range than the higher.

  • McIntosh C2600 / C2700
  • Audio Research Reference 6 / 6SE / 40th Anniversary
  • Atma-Sphere MP1 / MP3
  • VAC Signature / Rennaisance / any other model
  • Cary Audio SLP-05 / any other model
  • PS Audio BHK Signature
  • Allnic L-9000 / L-7000

Later on the plan is to build a HT system & will add Amp for surrounds & center.

hitsofmisses

Showing 2 responses by soix

Yup.  Totally makes sense.  But, unless you’re an extreme videophile who demands  every last detail of sound I think the prospect of not burning through tubes while watching TV/movies outweighs whatever you might lose in sound quality for watching video.  But, that’s me. 

I will eventually be integrating it into a HT setup.

If this is the case, I think you’d be well served to pursue a tubed pre that can deactivate the tubes when using the HT bypass.  I’m not 100% sure, but I think Backert, Rogue, and maybe VAC offer this feature, and are excellent preamps in their own right.  FWIW, and best of luck in your search.