Best Used Tube Based Preamp $2k Or Under?

grannyring

6,535 posts

02-16-2025 at 03:19pm 

@steakster is 110% right. That Audio Horizons preamp is going to be a best buy for sound quality based on your budget. I owned one much like that one as well as many other tube preamps with retail prices up to $12,0000. The AH is the best of the bunch with with exception being the TRL Dude completely tricked out.

Bill, coming from you, that means a great deal. Thank to you I have the worlds greatest value in DAC's. And you certainly know audio equipment. 

Bill, can you give me any sense of the Audio Horizon's tonal tendencies? 

As I noted earlier in this discussion, I love the bit of warmth, depth and richness which a good tube design can bring, without being at the expense of clarity and presenting all the elements of the musical performance. 

You might find an LTA MZ3 for close the $2K, for sure you can find the MZ2 at that price. And either will double as one of the best headphone amps you'll ever hear. 

One the worst regrets I have is  not listening to more seasoned Audiophiles earlier. I purchased a Conrad Johnson ls 17 last year . It has 1 year of smiles .The only other brand I would consider  is ARC LS 25 or LS 26 . Both brand are built like a tank . If you want to sell or trade up no problem in finding a buyer . Buy once and cry once .

A lot of my favorite ones were 6sn7 preamps. I prefer four 6sn7 preamps, 2 per channel so I can blend 2 different brands sometimes if I need to use as tone control. Ken Rads and RCA’s work well together plus many others or load it with four of the same tube.

I really enjoyed the Don Sachs with the Kootenay. Spratek is very nice. I really liked the Conrad Johnson but ones in the $2000 range may be a little fuzzy and slow great with blues and jazz but can struggle with other complex music. Audible Illusionn or Bruce Moore are nice but can be hard on tubes, I had a VTL 5.5 long ago and really in joyed it. Cary or Dennis Had are very good amps.  I had an ugly black box Don Allen preamp that was very special 20 years ago I wish I would have never sold. There are some nice ones out there in your price range.