I would expect that Audio Note should be a great performer, but no remote.
Everyone's recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who took the time to contribute their ideas!
Best Used Tube Based Preamp $2k Or Under?
As the title says, I am pondering my best options for purchasing a tube based preamp for $2k or under. Must have a remote!
Your opinions, thoughts, and expertise would be greatly appreciated. If I was spending more, I would know most of the best choices, but I'm on unfamiliar ground at this price limit. But sometimes, you can only do what you can do.
Thanks for any help.
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Best of Luck on the Warranty and repairs, and shipping back and forth if you live in the USA. Here you go, enjoy, "to and fro!" http://www.audio-gd.com/Warranty-EN.htm
Warranty, reads:
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decooney, I have had a DS1, D2, and his latest preamp, the Raven, but needed to part with Don's 300b monos so I sold the Raven in a combo deal. Each preamp version has improved SQ, but I also had a stock Tube4Hifi SP-14 at the same time in my bedroom system and it was stellar performer, purchased used for $1100. With Roy Mottram's upgrades, I'd guess the new V23-K1 is quite close in performance to the DS2 and I would have bought it but for the used DS2 I found for sale. I was looking at the Supratek preamps but as far I could tell, they are all two-box units that would not fit in my rack. The OP has gotten some excellent recommendations to guide his purchasing decisions. This forum is a wonderful source of information. | ||
Here is an Audio Note M2 for $2750 no connection to the buyer just an AN fan here.
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650185472-audionote-m2-preamplifier-balanced/ | ||
They offer that new V23-K1 too, for $1925 assembled, with remote, has 6SN7s and rectifier tube with caps shown, (scroll down) https://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm
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You can get great sounding 6's for a lot less, people with lots of disposable money push things up ridiculously, simply try some from Brent Jesse https://www.audiotubes.com/6sn7.htm He's got a lot of Baldwin Organ Factory stock, $30. each, they could match some for you. I had 6sl7 and 6sn7, Cayin OEM, (made by ____?), loved them. Blew one, had a used GE sounded like the Cayin, use it temp and get matched ones, right? Tried some new Sylvania's, matched pair $160., hated em, Brent Jesse had me 1st break them in (simply leave on for 60 hrs, no signal needed), then let me return for full credit, and tried some General Electric (based on my used GE sounding so good), matched pair only $80. They sound great, as good as the Cayin Branded whatever they are.
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@soixthe Don Sachs preamps are Tubes 4 hifi SP14 v23-k1 essentially with his take on cosmetic enhancements and some upgraded parts. I'm running one in my system (not the Don Sachs version) and had all the upgraded parts available swapped in for the standard. If you build this yourself, it starts around $800, or assembled for $1100. These are really nice, but bare bones, no XLR in or out, remote controls volume and dims display, but they now have a newer version of the kit with OLED display for $2100 assembled. Probably can't beat this preamp for the money you are spending. | ||
great suggestions here ... just for completeness, Klaus Bunge's group Odyssey Audio has the Candela preamp that fits the budget ... 20 year warranty: https://odysseyaudio.com/candela-vacuum-tube-line-preamplifier/ | ||
Audio Research SP-9 $1250 on eBay. Seller notes recent service and excellent overall condition, manual and spare tubes. This is a screaming deal from a recognized high end brand. I would add that the adjustable gain allows proper gainstaging and optimized signal/noise ratio that is simply unachievable with other preamps lacking that ability. That translates to greater transparency, definition, detail, and soundstaging, all of which require a low noise floor. If i wasn't preamp heavy right now I'd buy this myself. | ||
@mazian What's the sound signature of the Aesthetix Calypso, compared to VTL ? I would love to upgrade my VTL 2.5 to a VTL 5.5(balanced ins/Outs) I've heard it's a big jump. seems to be double the price of a used VTL 2.5. BTW, I'm different than most, I think the communication with VTL is very good. Lots of haters for VTL service. | ||
Depends on the rest of your system. I tend to go with the Hippocratic oath wrt audio: First, Do No Harm. By harm I mean overprocessing the signal. So if you agree with that and have a simple signal path with minimal processing, then get a point to point pre by decware, Apollo, Aric or similar. Apollo is an undiscovered gem and is still more affordable. If you don't agree with my methodology, than that is why I kept it short, so you wouldn't waste too much time reading it. Jerry | ||
I have a set of very nice 4+2 [quad plus two spares] of 1960s Sylvania 6SN7GT Black Plates stored away - no longer in use. No need. They were originally NOS, now low use vintage. Guess what, my current re-issues from TJ Full Music and PSVANE Art Series MKII beat them sonically to my preference. The vintage have detail just not the smoothness and texture I hear from tubes I can buy new now. Imo, the older vintage tubes are old and getting to be long in the tooth now. They are my backups.The question on the new tubes is how long they'll last. So far so good on mine. I have notes on what Dan used in the Modwrights Preamps shipped out stock 5-7 years ago. I use the same OEM tubes rebranded from same provider, originally. | ||
OP, others You can expand your buying power/choices to full featured vintage equipment without remote control: In order to get remote control for any vintage equipment, simply add a Chase Remote Line Controller, RLC-1. That let’s me use my beloved McIntosh MX110z tube tuner/preamp. You get very precise 1 db steps of remote: volume, balance, mute, treble, bass, and 1 switched power outlet. Other remote volume devices exist, but this is the only one I know of with remote balance. Once you have it, you won’t want to ever live without remote balance again. this old ad shows it well
you MUST have a KP-1 Remote, no controls on the unit. One remote listed on hifishark now. A unit without a remote for sale: if seller confirms it’s lights all blink when plugged in, that’s normal, thus no guarantee but likely a good unit.
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@nightfall and others -- sorry FOUR 6SN7 tubes rather than SIX. My bad. I still prefer having a preamp with one. Why? Cost: they range in price but maybe $30 bucks and up (times four). I'd rather spend money on having a variety of 6SN7 tubes to try different sounds with. I don't want to buy multiple quads. IMHO, having amps with that many tubes is what would push me toward a solid state preamp. Sure thing about the QS. I upgraded the caps in my preamp and still didn’t wind up keeping it. | ||
To answer your questions, as noted in the title of this discussion, my max budget is $2k, Yes, a remote is critical.
As for the Dehavilland pre's, I have not found anyone who has, has every heard of, or has any idea of how a remote could be added. I only sold the Modwright due to a forced downsizing because of circumstances quite a few years back. It was an excellent unit. There was a specific combination of tubes that Dan told me took it to another level. I don't recall what those were. I am a big Modwright fan,and have spent a bit of time with Dan, phone and at shows. And yes, the quad of 6SN7's that the Cary SLP-98 uses concerns me a bit because of what a costs for a nice quad of those NOS tubes. | ||
Slight correction, fyi. Requires FOUR (4), not SIX. The other smaller 12xx7 are for phono section, if you choose to have phono. Yep, it does require a quad of 6SN7s though. Find your best quad, and order a backup quad for spares if you like them. Tried several, still using either PSVANE or TJ Full Music in my 98 now. They are as good or better than any of my vintage 6SN7 black plates now stored away. https://caryaudio.com/products/slp-98/
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@nightfall the Cary preamp has SIX 6SN7 tubes. That's a lot of tubes. The Dehavilland has one. I believe the Cary slp-98 only requires 4 X 6SN7 | ||
I'd like to push back very politely about this a little (totally friendly-like!). First, I set an alert for the DeHavilland in USAM. I was surprised they came up somewhat regularly. To test my claim, click HERE (HiFi Shark) and search Used/Expired and look at the dates. As for remote control -- someone might be able to add one. Second, the Cary preamp has SIX 6SN7 tubes. That's a lot of tubes. The Dehavilland has one. Third, I had the Quicksilver Preamp. It comes up used often. It is quiet and sounds good but a bit dry, clinical. No tube changes made that better. I think the 6SN7 is a better preamp tube. | ||
I wonder what you decided about moving beyond the MW LS100 and why - if you don’t mind the ak? I’m a happy Cary SLP-98 long term owner, and also enjoy following Dan’s designs for MW too. Good stuff. Like hearing from MW owners. Looking back some I see Dan used/shipped some of the exact same OEM 6SN7 tubes I've used in my own 98 preamp. Can share my own preamp is hyper-sensitive to the different 6sN7s I’ve tried in it. Tried more than a few. Wondering why you moved on and what tubes you tried in our LS100 if you don’t mind sharing more as you seek another preamp.
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