I don't think there is any reasonable answer to that question, particularly because no particular requirements are specified. Is remote control a necessary feature (to me it is), is a balance control important (again a necessity for me)?
Do you really mean a preamp (meaning with a phono stage) or are you talking about a linestage? If a preamp, does it have to work with a moving coil cartridge, and if so, how much gain is needed.
If I were in the market for a fairly high-end linestage, I would look at the Atmasphere linestages and Backert linestages. I would also agree that something from Audio Note and Shindo would also be good candidates.
For that kind of money, you could even get certain builders to make custom linestages or preamps. I have a preamp custom made by Deja Vu Audio (Northern Va.) that was built to my requirements--remote volume control, balance control, input transformers and output transformers to mate with my amplifier which has input transformers. By now, this model would exceed $15,000, but they make models that are a lot less expensive.
Iv owned a number of pre-amps in my past 25 years in this hobby whilst there are tons of good sounding pre-amps out there, I always came back to an Atma-Sphere Pre-amp eventually after owing the older modes selling them off than buying new version later on after few years of bad experiences with another high endbrands, I have both MP-1 and MP-3 fully loaded.
When i sold of my older MP-1 i kinda regretted it in the end after trying so many other high-end brands such as VAC, VTL, MC, ARC, ML, Asthetix, few others custom made ones too.
A Fully Loaded MP-3 with the Volume upgrade etc etc, is not far behind the standard MP-1.
VACs are another good brand it's coloured for sure pleasant-sounding but i got very bored of it. i don't seem to get the same feeling with the Atma-Sphere gear. I get that toe-tapping feeling the speed, dynamics, transparency all almost just sounds you're being transported to a live event. They are not harsh sounding nor coloured its very hard to describe the sound especially when you use them on OTL Amplifiers. Something magical about this setup once its setup properly.
The Problem with the MP-1 is its very sensitive pre-amp in the sense you will get all the transparency you ever want but you must use very quiet tubes. This is the only issue I have. I must be careful on the tubes purchases. Tubes which pose no noise with other pre-amps seems to have some noise on the MP-1. Apart from this minor issue i honestly think it can compete against Pre-amps costing 5-6 times more easily.
I have managed to acquire quiet tubes and they work very well with the MP-1. You just need to invest in good tubes and buy them from reliable sources that test properly.
If you buy the crap from ebay you will end up with noise issues. Whilst these tubes could be quiet on other pre-amps they are not with the MP-1. the pre-amp is very sensitive thus you have to be careful how you set this up. Using good Tube Dampers, good Damping platform, good tubes. If all done well you will be rewarded with something that feels magical.
I just had this built and do agree with the people who claim that once you go to a DHT preamp, you'll never go back to IDHTs again. Just got it on Saturday and am already hearing more natural holographic detail out of my system than ever before. Really looking forward to the full journey as all the iron breaks in. Just sold my wonderful and heavily upgraded Don Sach's DS2 6sn7 linestage. I only have one source, so I'm just using it as a voltage gain device, but multiple source switching is available.
Low Price... High quality designer ( a physicist and audio designer by passion) ... NO negative reviews for at least 10 years... New revolutionary design in tube technology... Tube extended super longevity... No hot heat with the tube... S.Q. is unique because of the new technology...
It dont take much brain to think that this is probably the real deal... It will be my next amplifier...
Some has spoken about it here...
No need to repeat....😁
«Amplifiers are like children, it may cost almost nothing to make one but they are sold high price»-Groucho Marx
@mahgister I think it's worth repeating (I don't have the energy to go back and search for the reference). And always good to visually see the duplicate votes in a situation/thread like this.
The entire industry showered praises on the talents of Tim de Paravicini and the quality of his EAR-Yoshino designs when he passed recently, yet his pre-amps (and power amps) continue to be ignored by audiophiles. That mystifies me. Art Dudley loved and owned a Shindo pre, yet expressed his lust for the EAR 912 after hearing it in his system. Priced under $15k.
Paravicini is well known for his balancing transformers, used in some of the best recording studios in the world. The EAR 868 and 912 pre-amp employ his transformers to provide dual balanced outputs, those pre's providing dual unbalanced outputs as well. Four outputs, each capable of driving a 600 ohm load, simultaneously! Try THAT with an ARC, VAC, VTL, Shindo, or Conrad-Johnson. The excellent Atma-Sphere pre's are equally capable---without the need for transformers, but don't provide unbalanced inputs or outputs.
I purchased the Pass XP12 for a trial run after reading glowing reviews and hearing from a friend who owns one. I was sent a new one, with no run in time.. The first few days it was horrible and I almost gave up on it.. then it opened up and even my prejudices and bias took notice of just how good this line stage can be. I was pretty happy with the Freya+ until I optimized my room for audio. then I realized what was missing.. what was there was pretty good, especially for the money. Now I hear what was missing and how pin point accuracy adds to the experience. I still have the Freya and some very nice tubes, also my Django passive w S&B trannies which is now my second favorite.. and the XP12 is getting better with time.. Longest break in ever for me.. impressive piece.. way past trial time too..
it is a bit ironic... break in of new gear is very real
whereas you buy a good used piece there is minimal break in needed usually
anyhow, glad you are enjoying the pass
for established stalwarts in this field like pass, arc, cj, ... one thing all must understand is that these companies have not been stealing deaf people's money for all these years :)
@jjss49 , Thanks for the kind words.. Still enjoying the XP12 even more as it’s fully opened up and more relaxed after one month.. Being tubed for many decades, This is a new experience for me.. The sound doesn’t ever expose the topology being used.. It’s just music.. very pleased.. for now.. lol.
@smodtactical , I had the BAT VK5i some years ago, Hovland HP200 , Bel Canto DAC 3.5 , Django passive transformer S&B TX102, Cary slp05, I also built a couple of preamps that Dennis Had designed and some others.. I haven’t heard the prima Luna preamp, it looks descent on paper, but I can’t say. The Freya+ is very good, especially at its price point, but others I tried are more resolving and accurate, IME
I’d have to say Atma-sphere. One for sonic qualities.... and two build quality. Atma-sphere is as good as your going to get. With impeccable Customer Service.
Some people just can’t take it. $15k is a pocket change for hundreds of thousands of people in this country. If you ask me - $15k for an preamplifier is not enough if you want great sound. Used maybe enough.
@inna I am guessing you’ve never heard an Atma-Sphere MP-3 with all the options. Or the MP-1. Although the MP-1 starts there and goes to more than double. So that’s out. But a full custom Atma-Sphere MP-3 built by Ralph’s team at Atma-Sphere is very capable. You’d be pleasantly surprised.
@smodtactical I mention some of my preamps above.. I don’t use the Freya anymore. I have a Pass XP12 currently. Another preamp I enjoyed was the Blue Circle BC3. The BAT VK5i was also one of my favorites.
@mikem Sorry I misread the last post you made. Are you enjoying the XP12 more than the Caryslp05 ? Also do you find the XP12 gives you some tube quality? Like warmth, dimensionality, richness of timbre etc?
@smodtactical , no problem.. I am enjoying the XP12 very much, to the Point of asking what the XP 22 would bring me. you know how it goes, lol. The preamp is very good as it delivers a very detailed presentation with good accuracy and imaging. It is not quite neutral, leaning to just right of neutral, the Pass sonic house sound.. It will not cover up a bad recording. I’m hearing lots of details, good dynamics.. very quiet background. The imaging is more life sized than I’m used too.. Not extra big and airy like my last tubed pre, this is more real. More live. It makes me turn up the volume more because everything just sounds better and more focused. It never asks the question if it’s tubed or solid state. It’s just more real. Never fatiguing or harsh. I’ve heard sweeter on top, but I’m digital front end wise, so it could be better with a good tt. So I have a bunch of NOS tubes collecting dust and it looks like it might stay that way for a good while.
People whose ears I trust swear by the LTA. I have their UL amp and it is simply amazing so I would not be surprised if the LTA is right up there with the best. I recently bought the new Herron VTSP 360 ESP. Fantastic linestage--significantly better than the already great VTSP 3A (RO3) and should be on anyone's list at $6.5K. Both the LTA and Herron are less that half of the OP's price point but I would venture are right up there with others on the list that retail $15K but to be fair I haven't heard them because I can't afford $15K!
larryi brought up a very good point,that seemed to go totally ignored. I think there are too many unanswered prerequisites by the op. Otherwise it’s just everyone suggesting what they have.
@phantom_av it's great experience to compare different kind of preamplifier. I have the similar interesting in the past few years and just got dehavilland UV iii a month ago. I have very good impression of this preamplifier. Although it is not expensive, but the sound is great.
Have you listened to this preamplifier? If yes, how you compared with mp-3 ?
Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL is mentioned a lot in this thread.
I would appreciate it if the owners could expound on why they like it. I own a Luminous Audio Axiom 2, a Don Sachs DS2, and a CJ 17LS2 and would really be interested in how the LTA sounds compared to any of those.
I have been researching tube line stage preamps for the past month. This thread has been extremely helpful to learn about options. I ultimately pulled the trigger on the LTA preamp based on the positive reviews and my interactions with the LTA staff. I really like that it’s made in the USA and can be more easily serviced than some of the boutique foreign brands, one of which I currently own. Getting it serviced has turned out to be a nightmare, unfortunately.
I’ll share my observations once I have the new LTA preamp in my system.
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