2. amps-preamps
  3. 154000-1608

Considering going back to Solid State

I have had and Audio Research REF5se now for a few years and love it. Let me be clear, I love the sound and am not wanting to trade back to SS for anything it does wrong. But I am wanting to simplify and get away from tubes and the heat and concern for hours, etc.

So I am seeking advice in the 10-15K range on solid state pre-amps that would be comparable in performance to what I now have. Considering the Ayre 5 series, SimAudio Moon, McIntosh as a few considerations. Which brings me to you, any experience that you have had making a similar comparison would be helpful.

The rest of the 2 channel side is a Mc402 Amp and Revel speakers, how ever in the next month I plan to either buy the Sopra 2's or the Sonus Olympica Nova III, all cardas wiring in case this helps.


Thank You in advance

Theo

128x128theo
assetmgrsc
58 posts
 
Based upon what you have said, I would recommend that you read the recent review of the new Pass Labs INT-25 ($7250.00). It is an interesting article and Herb Reichert calls it his "new solid state reference."
assetmgrsc
58 posts
 
Apologies for the rush job above, left out the mag:   Sterophile issue Feb 2020.
flashhog's avatar
flashhog
8 posts
 
Interesting topic, I've been looking at leaving my tube MC275 and going to SS. My Maggies need more power.
teajay
1,691 posts
 
Hey Theo,

Take a look at The Stereo Times website list of "The most wanted components of the decade" where I placed the fourth generation Coda 07x preamplifier on it.  My full review should be out this week.  It's the first solid state preamplifier in 20 years that out performed my benchmark tube based linestages regarding space and density of color/timbres, along with the virtues of transparency and dynamics.It's not just being "grainless" compared to most solid state gear, the 07x has the overall liquidity of a great tube based preamplifier.  It retails for $6,500, I have had much more expensive SS/tube linestages that were not as well built and did not come close to the the 07X, and it quite under your stated budget.
audite84
110 posts
 
By experience, I think having a tube preamp and the rest solid state is a good "compromise." I missed tube sound when I switched to a solid state preamp, so I went back to running a tube preamp. 
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